Te Ururoa Flavell, Member of Parliament for Waiariki
Thursday 20 December 2007

Poroporoaki: George Paramena REHU, of Rotorua

Māte tuku o te roimata me te hupe kia rere, kia ea te ngau o mate, o aitua. He piki raukura, he kotore huia, ka whatia ka ngaro ki Paerau, ka ngaro whakaoti atu. Manukura o te hoko whitu-a-tu, amorangi o te kahui koroheke haere, haere, haere. He aroaro kua anga ki te wa kainga he murimuri aroha ta tatau ki a ia. Haere e koro e, haere atu ra.

Local Member of Parliament for Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, has reflected on the life of George Paramena Rehu, a treasured kaumatua of Te Arawa, who passed away yesterday.

“George held a special place in our hearts as we recall the honour he brought to our people, in his role with the 28th Maori Battalion, serving in the Middle East and Central Mediterranean in World War Two” said Te Ururoa Flavell.

“He was President of the Te Arawa Maori Returned Services League and was awarded a New Years Honour in 2001 for his commitment to returned servicemen and women” said Flavell.

“He was also on the executive of the Rotorua RSA; a member of the iwi Consultative Group for the Rotorua District Council; and a member of Te Pukenga Koeke o Te Whare Taonga – an advisory group set up to advise Rotorua Museum on the preservation and placement of taonga”.

“Nationally George earnt respect in his role as a member ofthe Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund Board” said Flavell.

“He was held in great esteem throughout Te Arawa, and worked on many levels” said Te Ururoa Flavell. “I know, for example, that he was instrumental in establishing kaumatua flats in Maketu”.

"We will remember him with great sadness" ended Te Ururoa Flavell.

George Rehu will be buried at the tribal cemetery of Ngati Rangiwewehi at Puhirua, Rotorua on Friday following the church service which will start at 11.00am.

ENDS

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