The late Tuta Ngarimu (on motorbike) set up, in his crusade against methamphetamine, an anti-P awareness motorcycle ride. He's pictured here with (from left): James Aston-Nielsen, Jama Kemp, Regan Kaa, Mark Tutauha-Gray and Hope Jones. Photo / Paul Rickard
The late Tuta Ngarimu (on motorbike) set up, in his crusade against methamphetamine, an anti-P awareness motorcycle ride. He's pictured here with (from left): James Aston-Nielsen, Jama Kemp, Regan Kaa, Mark Tutauha-Gray and Hope Jones. Photo / Paul Rickard
Tuta Ngarimu, a staunch advocate for the people of Tairāwhiti, died unexpectedly a fortnight ago, but his legacy will live on forever.
Tutarangi Hohepa Ngarimu, 61, of Ngāti Porou, passed away on Monday, October 9 after a heart attack. He had been having health complications for the past five years.
Tuta was a well-known and loved figure in the Tairāwhiti community who worked tirelessly to help those who did not know where to go or what to do.
He made a name for himself advocating for drug addiction services — namely methamphetamine — better access to health services, gambling addiction services, suicide awareness, housing issues and a desire to stop violence happening in the region.
Tuta was also pivotal in resurrecting club and representative rugby league in the district in 2004 after a long recess.
Although he became the man many people knew, he was also a life member of the Mongrel Mob. That part of his life helped Tuta connect with many whānau who had gone down the same path.
Tuta wasn’t afraid to work alongside gangs, police and organisations wanting to keep the community safe.
Tuta was a connector of people, someone who could make things happen. If he didn’t know somebody who could help, he would call out to see who could.
He wanted to help change the world, one person at a time.
Tuta Ngarimu's legacy will live on. Photo / Liam Clayton
Tuta is survived by his five tamariki - Hohepa, Anaru, Vanessa, Munokoa and Matariki - and his seven mokopuna, who he called his mokotaonga: his treasures.
Tuta was the son of Joe and Maxine Ngarimu and brother of Tony, Maria and Cam.
The day Tuta died was a special day, daughter Munokoa recalls.
It was his moko Piripi Haapu’s first day of kura kaupapa at Horouta Wananga, and Tuta made sure he was there to send him off for the pōwhiri and to pick him up when he finished for the day.
“It was a really special moment for him [Tuta]. He was just smiling from ear to ear,” Manokoa said.
Matariki and Munokoa were also meant to get tā moko at Toihoukura, but only Matariki had it done.
“It was a magical day. He [Tuta] was holding my hand through it and taking all the pain away. Thinking about it now, we were all brought together,” Matariki said.
She was speaking to her brother Hohepa on the phone while she got her tā moko.
The whānau spent the afternoon together, then later around midnight at the whānau house, Tuta gasped for air, Munokoa said.
Emergency services tried to resuscitate him but were unable. The Ngarimu whānau thank all those who came to help during that time.
By Tuesday, plans had been made for a service in Gisborne, before Tuta would be taken to his marae, Whareponga, where the tangi would take place.
It was standing-room-only at the service, and over 450 people attended the last day of his tangi in Whareponga.
Even whānau from Waiheke Island came to pay their respects.
“There were so many different people from all across the country who came to farewell him. It showed all the people he loved and all the people he had touched with his mahi,” Munokoa said.
The whānau were grateful to everyone who helped farewell their dad: whānau from the NZ P Pull movement, Nati 4 Life Trust, his Mongrel Mob and Black Power whānau and all those he touched.
Tuta’s Facebook page was also flooded with posts that showed different parts of his life, with many sharing their personal stories about their relationship with Tuta. The whānau said they find comfort in these posts.
One special moment the whānau thinks of was Tuta’s 60th birthday last year, for which Munokoa organised a surprise birthday party. Tuta was shocked when son Hohepa - who had been in Australia for 11 years - turned up.
“He was so happy, it was such a magical moment for him,” Munokoa said.
But what most will remember about Tuta are his ongoing endeavours to highlight whānau were facing in Tairāwhiti.
He created walk-in support nights for anyone dealing with a P addiction. This initiative grew and was set up in Uawa/Tolaga Bay as well, and he would travel to Tokomaru Bay to host nights there, too. He always wanted to help people get off P.
He also started Manaaki Moves Trust, which focused on helping whānau with housing or other social issues. He was also an original member of Ka Pai Kaiti.
Tuta also won a Tauawhi Man of the Year award.
Matariki said the first Nati 4 Life concert in Ruatōria in 2015 is a memory she will cherish forever.
The concert was a way for the community to take a moment to reflect, heal and be aware of the impact of suicide not just on whānau, but the whole community.
“I had a job there helping the nannies sell the T-shirts, or just being Dad’s water boy, going around getting him water. Getting that message out was so important.”
Anaru said: “Dad had the most genuine, pure, unconditional love — a non-judgmental way of adapting to any situations and always finding the solutions. [He was] a real-life superhero in my eyes.”
“Dad was that guy who whānau sent their kids (our cousins) over to live with because they would be playing up and misbehaving. So they would come do a lag at our house and be set on the right path,” he said.
Hohepa said he was so inspired by his father that he now works to help youth in Australia and is also involved in the union movement, making sure workers are getting what they are entitled to.
“His commitment to the youth and wanting to help people really inspired me to do this. He is the person I want to be,” Hohepa said.
Along with these kaupapa, Hohepa says the greatest thing about his dad was he was the best father figure.
“Watching him raise us, I’ve seen a different dad over time, and no matter what, he was always the best father figure.
“I want to be the same, too, for my sons. I want to be the best father I can be for them.”
Hohepa said the changes Tuta made in his life to be the man he became were inspirational.
“He was never biased; he never judged anyone. He could associate with all sorts of people.”
He was political, spiritual, educated and experienced.
Last year, he graduated from Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi with a master’s degree in Maori studies and was working towards his doctorate.
“Yes, they may be big shoes to fill, but if everyone comes together and works together, we can fill those shoes and accomplish the end goal,” Hohepa said.
“To all the whānau and everyone else he has touched - we have to be together, be present and take his teachings and lessons, appreciate them and practice them daily.
“I know that we can do this together and move forward, because that’s what he would have wanted. He wouldn’t want us to grieve to the point where we can’t carry on,” he said.
Some advice from the whānau to all those who will work to keep his legacy alive through different kaupapa is to always think about his voice, his laugh, ask, “What would Tuta do?” - and “kia kaha”.
Moe mai ra rangatira.
Matai O’Connor is the Kaupapa Māori reporter for the Gisborne Herald. This article is republished with permission.
