Media Release: Ngāruahine celebrates treaty negotiator receiving New Year’s honour

For Immediate Release

Sunday, 1 January 2017

Ngāruahine is celebrating today on the news that its Treaty Negotiator Tihi Daisy Noble has been awarded an ONZM in the New Year’s honours.

Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust Pou Whakarae, Will Edwards said: “Daisy is a voice that cannot go unheard but in her own way is a quiet contributor. She embodies Ngāruahine in being fearless in seeking outcomes for our people but as the proverb says e kore te kumara e korero mo tona ake reka (the kumara doesn’t speak of its own sweetness)”.

“She has already expressed her hesitation to accept the honour but has done so on behalf of her iwi Ngāruahine and her hapū Kanihi-Umutahi. In that way this honour is for the many, not only in our own iwi but others, who have worked tirelessly mostly without reward or recognition”

Noble was one of 200 to receive honours in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list, of whom 21 were Māori.

Daisy is well loved and known throughout the South Taranaki community – known as a fearless fighter for her people who can’t but help make friends along the way. One of those who has known and worked with Daisy in a number of capacities over the years is Chester Burrows, MP for Whanganui. Mr Burrows said: “Daisy has always been 150 percent pragmatic while being 300 percent aspirational for iwi interests. She is dignified, transparent, and wise…and an immovable object totally committed to what is best for her iwi. I am so grateful for her contribution to the Ngaruahine and wider Taranaki claims settlement process and her legacy will last through. ”

But the bestowing of the honour as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit shows her work has been noticed by those further afield. One of those is Minister of Treaty Negotiations, Hon Christopher Finlayson. In describing Daisy Minister Finlayson said: “Daisy Noble has been a wonderful negotiator to deal with. She approaches negotiations from a principled perspective but always fighting hard for her people. I look forward to working with her in 2017 on the maunga and takutai moana claims that Ngāruahine and the other iwi of Taranaki are working through.”

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