Sir Archie Taiaroa loss mourned

Tributes continue to stream in for Sir Archie John Te Atawhai Taiaroa, leader of the Whanganui River iwi, who died suddenly last night at Waikato Hospital.
Sir Archie, 73, suffered a stroke at his Taumarunui home last night and was taken to the hospital.
Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples said his party was distraught at Sir Archie's loss and said he was an internationally recognised figure for his work protecting indigenous people's rights and with the World Council of Whalers.
``Yet he always related to people personally, with such warmth and kindness and courtesy.''
Dr Sharples said Sir Archie tackled complex challenges.
``He was at the heart of the protracted Maori fisheries struggles, he was a leader of Maori broadcasting litigation that spanned over 20 years, and he took on the longest-running court case in New Zealand's history - the Whanganui River claims.
``But even more importantly, he did so with such integrity, humility, dedication and love. He was an inspiration to others, he achieved much more in his lifetime than one person could ever do.''
Prime Minister John Key said Sir Archie's leadership was inspirational.
``This is a tragic loss - not just for Whanganui, not just for Maori, but for all New Zealanders,'' Mr Key said.
Sir Archie was born at Tawata, on the banks of the Whanganui River in 1937. While working as a welfare officer in Whanganui for the Department of Maori Affairs and later the Iwi Transition Agency, he began to take on a leadership role for his people.
A long-time resident of Taumarunui, Sir Archie served on its borough council and as deputy mayor.
He led the discussions and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations for the Whanganui iwi with the Crown and advanced the development and growth of the Whanganui River tribes.
He was appointed to the board of the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, Te Ohu Kaimoana, in 1993, and remained a member until his death. He served as deputy chairman from 2000 and was appointed chairman in 2006, a position he held until voluntarily stepping down last year.
``Anyone who knew Archie would understand that his leadership inspired thousands of Maori. His influence was unrivalled. His passing comes as a huge loss not only to Maori, but to Aotearoa,'' commission chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana said.
Sir Archie was a peacemaker during the turbulent 1990s as iwi debated how to carve up the $700 million Maori commercial fisheries settlement. He spearheaded the drive for recognition of freshwater rights for iwi and was a key driver in the creation of a million dollar annual fund for tertiary students to study fisheries management, aquaculture and marine biology.
He was also urged the commission and iwi to take a prominent in promoting global indigenous rights and was a founding member of the World Council of Whalers, based in Victoria, Canada.
He was the co-convener of the Maori Congress and a trusted adviser of the Dame Te Atairangikahu, the late Maori Queen.
In the past decade, Sir Archie undertook the role of negotiator and peacemaker between the Crown and wider Maoridom on issues affecting all New Zealand.
He was knighted in a ceremony at Hato Paora College, his former school, in Feilding by Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, last year.
Family spokesman Peter Douglas said Maori throughout the country would mourn the death of a great Maori and New Zealand leader.
``Sir Archie Taiaroa is leaving behind him a legacy that will be hard matched by future Maori leaders. He was widely respected, a man who had the greatest empathy for all people, and was the most honest and dignified man you could hope to meet,'' Mr Douglas said.
Sir Archie is survived by his wife Martha, Lady Taiaroa, and their son Rakei Poho.
Sir Archie's body will be taken to Ngapuwaiwaha Marae in Taumarunui today for a tangi and his funeral will be held on Saturday at 10am, followed by interment downstream at Poumaanu Urupa, Tawata.