MEDIA STATEMENT
Maori Party Co-Leader – Dr Pita Sharples
Maori Party MP for Waiariki – Te Ururoa Flavell

8 June 2009

Poroporoaki ki a Taini Morrison

Te Arawa e! Te tangi, te mamae!

E ngā iwi o te motu, e kore tātou e ihiihi, e kore tātou e wanawana i te reo tātaki wahine o Taini Morrison, kua hinga i te atatū nei, kua wahangū.

E kore e kitea tērā toa i runga i te atamira e whakatū waewae ana, e whakaatu ana i ngā pūkenga o Te Arawa ki te haka, ki te waiata, ki te whakangahau.

E kore tōna ringa āwhina e toro atu ki ngā tamariki o Te Arawa whānui ki te ako i ngā tikanga tuku iho mai i Whakaue, mai i ngā tīpuna rangatira, ki ngā uri whakaheke.

Kua tau te kapua pōuri ki runga o Pukerangiora, kua pōkarekare ngā moana o Rotorua i te makeretanga iho o te kura o ōna karanga maha.

The Maori Party is very sad to hear of the sudden death this morning of Taini Morrison of Rotorua.

“I knew Taini from her work with cultural groups throughout Te Arawa, most notably as co-leader of Te Matarae I Ōrehu,” Maori Party co-leader Dr Pita Sharples said.

“Her stunning leadership of the triumphal return of Te Arawa to Te Matatini was enough to win Taini the title of Kaitātaki Wahine Toa this year. She performed to a very high standard, with great integrity. To many Māori women, Taini was the icon of expression of performing arts.”

“Taini was a mana wahine who epitomised on and off the stage ‘te ihi, te wehi, te mana,’” Maori Party MP for Waiariki Te Ururoa Flavell said.

“It’s a real tragedy that her death follows that of her aunty Atareta Maxwell two years ago. Taini was a true leader within the realm of Te Arawa kapa haka and she was a really humble and genuine person to know,” Mr Flavell said.

Taini is a member of the very talented Morrison whanau.

Taini was also recognised as a mentor to younger performers, and she worked as a cultural adviser and teacher at Rotorua Primary School.

She was one of five Mana Wahine featured in a documentary for their contribution to Māori development.

ENDS

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