He Mihi Aroha
23 August 2006
A gracious woman who portrayed humility to an art.
A quiet, unpretentious pride, forever fixed in the minds of people.
An image recognised throughout the world.
A leader, not above nor below her people, but within them.
The smile so powerful, the spoken words so soft.
The strength of mind, the hidden exhaustion,
The burden of responsibilities, carried with that smile.
Our Queen, our Ariki, our Lady, we honour you.
A huge totara had fallen, another had risen.
E Te Arikinui, Te Atairangikaahu, moe mai i roto o te whare whakairo a Te Atua.
E te rangatira, e Whatu, me too whaanau, kei iaa koe te taimahatanga o te waa, heeoi anoo, kia kaha, ma te waa hei rongoa i ngaa ruuhaa kei runga ia koe, ia koutou.
Ki te Kaahui Ariki whaanui, i ngaa raa kua hipa, he roimata mamaae.
I teenei raa, teenaa pea, he roimata harikoa mo Tuuheitia.
Ngaa mihi aaroha kia koutou katoa.
E Te Arikinui, Tuheitia Paki, ara mai i roto i ngaa ringa aawhina/tautoko a Toi Maaori Aotearoa, mai i te poari, ki te tari, atu ki ngaa whaanau koomiti katoa.
He whakatauki mai i te tari;
"He kupu anoo, ka puta i te maangai, he kupu anoo,
ka mau ki te ngaakau, e pupuu ana, e pupuu ana".
Teenaa koutou katoa.
Naa, Tepene Mamaku.