Rahui Katene: Poroporoaki - Saana Murray

Maori Party MP for Te Tai Tonga, has added her tributes to the whanau of the late Saana Murray who passed away on Saturday night.

"Our whanau has had a deep and abiding love for Aunty Saana that grew out of her association with my father (John Hippolite) and the historic claim they first took to the Waitangi Tribunal in 1991 (WAI 262). Through that relationship, we had the privilege of learning from her leadership as a keeper of the stories and practices around taonga such as harakeke, pingao, nga mahi toi, korowai".

"Saana has been a leader in the recognition of the whanau, hapu of Ngati Kuri and a keeper of the traditions and teachings of their tupuna. She has been one of the kuia who has marched in all of the land hikoi, fighting to preserve tino rangatiratanga and promoting Te Tiriti o Waitangi; she has been a consistent supporter of kohanga reo and kura kaupapa Maori.

"Saana has also been at the frontline of advocacy around mana whenua issues connected to takutai moana - such as nga mataitai, continental shelf, white silica sands, mineral exploration".

"Over the time in which I have come to know her and her whanau, I am aware just how driven she was to paving out a promising future for the next generation. It was for them that she started out investing in new business ventures such as with Pacific oysters and manuka honey; or in supporting new developments in radio and television (Te hiku o te ika).

"We will all miss her greatly.

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