To the world she was Kahurangi Tariana Turia, but to the rangatahi of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa, she was Nanny Tari.
“Ki a mātau o te kāenga, [he] kuia whāngai mātauranga, he kuia tiaki mokopuna, tiaki tamariki, tiaki i te tangata ahakoa ko wai,” says Ihaka Whanarere-Tauri.
For us at home, she was a source of knowledge, she nurtured children and anyone no matter who you were.
Rangatahi are joining many others in honoring the founder of Te Pāti Māori and celebrating the enduring legacy of their whaea.
“I know that Nanny Tari was a huge advocate for us as rangatahi and her mokopuna. And to me, her walking across that stage was to ensure that there was a better future for us,” says Nyssa Nepe of Maripi Tuatini, a rangatahi leadership programme for Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa—an initiative in which Nepe says Nanny Tari played a pivotal role.
“It gathers rangatahi from Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa - not just those who live here, but around the motu as well. So it brings a lot of us back home,” she adds.
“A lot of the mahi she did [in] Parliament, I feel like for us as the next generation the tools and the knowledge that we’ve gained is the embodiment of who Nanny Tari was – to always be tika and pono to every kaupapa.”
Charlie Peina hadn’t known Nanny Tari for long, but was very inspired by her legacy.
“I was actually really proud to hear what she’s done for us as rangatahi – she’s done a lot for us, she’s done a lot for Maripi too.”
Nanny Tari’s strength and leadership continues to inspire those who follow her path. Another rangatahi reflects.
“Koia a Nanny Tari e tū kaha, ko te tōtara haemata o Ngā Wairiki o Ngāti Apa. Koia e tū pakari nei ki mua i te mura o te ahi mō [ana] tamariki, mō [ana] mokopuna,” she says.
Nanny Tari stood strong - she was a leader of Ngā Wairiki Ngāti Apa. She stood strong in the heat of battle for [the] children and mokopuna.
“Ko te ao kei te kapu o tō ringa. Ko te hiahia o Nanny Tari, kia kapohia tātau katoa.”
The world is within your grasp. What Nanny Tari wants is for all of us to seize it.
