Poroporoaki ki a Parekura Horomia

Monday 29 April 2013

Hon Dr Pita Sharples; Hon Tariana Turia; Te Ururoa Flavell

Kua eke te kohu ki runga o Titirangi, pokarekare ana nga wai o Uawa-nui-a-Ruamatua, kapi katoa ana te ao torangapu whanui i raro i te kakahu putaratara, a, haehae ana te ngakau tangata
He mamae, he mamae i a koe e Parekura kua riro atu nei haere e te Kaita o te whakaaro nui ki tenei mea ki te tangata e pepehatia nei ko ia te mea nui o te ao haere!

Whakatauiratia mai e koe te momo e kiia ana ko te kanohi kitea ina te motu ko to kainga tera, me ona tini kauapa tae atu ki ona huihuinga tangata katoa a uhunga nei a whakanui hunga ora nei kare he aha ki a koe. Pau te kaha, pau te wa, ko te aroha o to ngakau tera e arahi nei i a koe, ao pō, po ao, mutunga kore nei!

Kotahi anake te huarahi ka arohia e te tangata a nga ra nei a hunuku atu nga karangatanga maunga maha ki to maunga kore nekeneke ki a Hikurangi; moe mai e te Reo taketake o Te Ikaroa Rawhiti e te rangatira moe mai okioki mai!
The Maori Party is mourning the loss of our dear comrade, our friend, and our whanaunga - Parekura TÅ«reia Horomia, of Te Aitanga a Hauiti, Ngati Porou, Ngati Kahungunu and Ngai Tahu.

"Words cannot express the sadness that we feel. He was such an open and warm person, he was always there to support each and every one of us when we needed it."

"I have loved Parekura as a great friend - not just since his early days in Parliament, but before that. We both worked on employment, when he was stamping his mark on CEGS" said Co-leader Tariana Turia. "He was a confidant; my special mate through thick and thin, and I am heartbroken to lose him."

"Although many tributes will be expressed, his greatest legacy will be in the heartfelt memories of whānau throughout Aotearoa. Over many years I have known Parekura to do a full day's work, then leave Wellington late at night and travel all over the country to pay his respects to those who have passed on.

He would quietly slip in, provide comfort to the whānau pani, and then slip back out, driving all night for a full day of appointments ahead. That absolute compassion and love for the people will never be forgotten," said Mrs Turia.

"Parekura will always have my respect for the dedication and commitment he gave to the people in his time as Minister of Māori Affairs" said Pita Sharples. "He was a community man, he came out of Mangatuna like a breath of fresh air. He was sharp, witty, and also strong, and he took that great flair and passion to Parliament to advocate for the needs of our communities."

"The last time I saw him in action was just ten days ago, when Parekura stood as the first speaker to welcome seventy Pacific leaders to parliament. His utter determination to welcome these rangatira to our Parliament demonstrated the importance he placed on he tangata, he tangata, he tangata".

"As new Māori MPs in 2005, Parekura welcomed us as one Māori to another; always according us due respect and that incredible sense of manaakitanga that he was loved around the motu for," said Te Ururoa Flavell. "Whether on the campaign trail or across the debating chamber Parekura always debated with great humour and an inbuilt respect for tikanga me ona kaupapa".

"Most of all, I think we will all remember him for his big heart, his aroha, manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. It was always a great pleasure to see him here in Parliament, because no matter what Party we were in - we were always comrades in arms, friends, and whanaunga."

"Parekura will be remembered as one of our most loved MPs. Our thoughts at this time go out to his three sons, and his wider whanau who will be mourning the loss of their father, brother, uncle, and Koro."

"Moe mai e te rangatira, moe mai e te hoa. Hoki rerenga kotuku ai ki to wahine, ki to whanau ki tua o te arai. Haere, haere, haere atu ra.
ends

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