The tangihanga of Dame Tariana Turia began this morning at Whangaehu Marae, and Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is attending the poroporoaki this afternoon.
Today is reserved for Te Ranga Tupua, an iwi collective representing Ngaa Rauru, Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, Mōkai Pātea, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Rangi, and Whanganui.
On Sunday and Monday the marae will open to the motu to bid farewell to Dame Tariana.
Pōwhiri will be held at 9am and 2pm on both Sunday and Monday, before the nehu (burial) on Tuesday 7 January at 11am.
The livestream will be available on MĀORI+, here on the Te Ao Māori News website, and broadcast live on Te Reo Channel (Freeview channel 10, Sky channel 82) from Saturday 4 January, 8.55am, though timing is subject to change.
LIVE UPDATES:
2:30pm
Rawiri Waititi, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, is in attendance, along with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
Toitū Te Tiriti flags are draped as mourners gather to pay their respects to Dame Tariana Turia.
The founding member of Te Pāti Māori, the political party itself which would go on to found the Toitū Te Tiriti movement, Dame Tariana Turia was a frequent attendee of activations that carried the Toitū Te Tiriti banner.
2:20pm
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, Te Pāti Māori co-leader, is reflecting on the life of Kahurangi Tariana Turia.
“A woman who lived with intention. She was a woman who never ever forgot her roots, who she was here to serve, and made sure we never forgot that as well.”
“Whāea Tariana always spoke about her whakapapa, and the legacy of those who made her who she was, who looked after the whenua, who looked after the moana.”
“For me, her lgacy was to remind our role as wāhine, our role as kuia, our role as whāea.”
“She was getting up to leave.. she didn’t want to get into the wheelchair... as as she walked through, you saw the tens of thousands that were there, they all parted like the ocean.”
She said it was a representation of her mana, and one of her last memories with Dame Tariana.
1:35pm
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is expected to attend the poroporoaki when Taranaki arrives this afternoon.
Dame Tariana was the founding member of the party.
This afternoon’s processions at Whangaehu Marae remain reserved Ngaa Rauru, Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, Mōkai Pātea, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Rangi, and Whanganui.
The livestream is set to recommence shortly before 2pm, and is available to stream at the top of this page, on the Te Ao Māori News website or on MĀORI+.
9:58am
That wraps up the proceedings for this morning - the livesteam will resume at 1:55pm, and is available on the Te Ao Māori News website or on MĀORI+.
9:49am
Kaikōrero are underway.
9:39am
Che Wilson and Adrian Rurawhe are among the mourners gathered at Whangaehu Marae this morning.
9:33am
Earlier this morning, Te Ao Māori News reporter Whatitiri Wake, who is at Whangaehu Marae, spoke with Elijah Pue about yesterday’s events, where hundreds gathered as Dame Tariana Turia carried down the awa.
Te Pāti Māori’s Debbie Ngarewa-Packer will attend the pōroporoaki when Taranaki arrives.
Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō of Waikato and Te Heuheu of Tūwharetoa are set to arrive tomorrow.
The rest of the motu will arrive on Monday to pay their respects.
9:16am
Mourners from Te Ranga Tupua have now come onto the Marae.
8:52am
Mōrena and welcome to our live updates at Te Ranga Tupua gathers to mourn the death of Kahurangi Tariana Turia.
Yesterday, hundreds turned out to pay their respects to Dame Tariana at Pākaitore, the very place she rose to national prominence when she led a 79-day occupation in 1995, before she joined the Labour Party in 1996.
Today, mourners from her iwi will gather at Whangaehu Marae.
The livestream, brought to you by Whakaata Māori, is due to start at 8:55am.
It is available to watch on MĀORI+.
