Hundreds farewell Whanganui leader

Sir Archie Taiaroa's casket is taken down the Whanganui River by jetboat to his birthplace Tawata, where he was buried today. Photo / Supplied

Around 800 people attended the funeral service of Sir Archie Taiaroa at Ngapuwaiwaha Marae in Taumarunui today.

The 73-year-old Whanganui Maori Trust Board chairman died on Tuesday after suffering a stroke.

Iwi leaders from around the country were joined by the Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Attorney General and Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson, former Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Jenny Shipley, former Treaty Negotiations Minister Sir Douglas Graham and former Fisheries and Maori Affairs Minister Sir Doug Kidd.

After the funeral service Sir Archie was carried in a waka down to nearby Cherry Grove at the confluence of the Whanganui and Ongarue Rivers. He was then put on a jetboat for the hour-long trip to Tawata where he was born and where he was buried.

More than three thousand people attended his tangi over the last three days, where speakers talked of his dedication to Maori issues, his ability to walk both the Maori and Pakeha worlds and his ability to find solutions to problems.

Speaking on behalf of the Government today, Mr Finlayson reaffirmed the Government's commitment to resolving Whanganui River Treaty claims. Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger agreed it was time for the river claim to be sorted out.

On the first day of the tangi on Thursday, Ngati Porou leader Apirana Mahuika, one of Sir Archie's longtime friends, said the process needed to flow much faster.

Mr Mahuika met Sir Archie in the 1980s, when both men were getting their iwi's Treaty claims moving.

But while Ngati Porou is on the cusp of settlement, not enough had been done for Whanganui, Mr Mahuika said.

"His [Sir Archie's] dream was to have the river back in the hands of his people. I think the Crown has an obligation of sitting down seriously and positively talking with Whanganui about the river," said Mr Mahuika.

"When you see the river you see Archie, it's a living obituary to him. That's all I want to say about my mate - that and I'll miss him like mad."

Sir Archie is survived by his wife Lady Martha, his son Rakeipoho and three grandchildren.