Thousands honour lost chief

Mourners (from left) Joe Hawke, Prime Minister Helen Clark, and MPs Parekura Horomia and Shane Jones joined others yesterday at Orakei Marae to pay their respects to Sir Hugh Kawharu. Picture / Greg Bowker

Hundreds continued to descend on Orakei Marae yesterday to pay tribute to Ngati Whatua chief Sir Hugh Kawharu, who died on Monday.

Dignitaries included Prime Minister Helen Clark, former Governor-General and Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves, Manukau City Mayor Barry Curtis and Auckland City Mayor Dick Hubbard.

Sir Hugh, a distinguished academic and holder of the country's highest royal honour, membership of the Order of New Zealand, died at his home in Auckland, aged 79. His body will lie in state at Orakei until his funeral tomorrow.

He will then be taken to Reweti Marae, about 35km northwest of Auckland, for burial.

Helen Clark said Sir Hugh's passing was a time of great sadness and marked a further loss to Maoridom, following shortly after the funeral of the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu.

"It is hard to imagine Auckland without you."

About 2000 visited the marae yesterday, following on from more than 1800 who paid their respects on Wednesday. Ngati Whatua kaumatua Maurice Te Pouri Wirihana said it was the largest tangihanga at the marae in his 75 years.

The big crowds demonstrated the connection Sir Hugh enjoyed in Maoridom and the wider community.

Large delegations from Tainui, Ngapuhi, Ngati Whatua, Te Arawa, Ngai Tahu, Tuhoe and Ngati Porou have dominated attendances.

Tainui kaumatua Tui Adams said Sir Hugh had maintained strong ties with Tainui and had been instrumental in helping with its 1995 Treaty settlement.

In June Sir Hugh led a delegation of tribal leaders to Parliament to sign an agreement in principle with the Crown, one of the final stages in the settlement process, for a claim covering 33,000ha of some of the country's most valuable land.

The agreement includes $10 million in cash and the return and co-management of parts of One Tree Hill, Mt Eden and Mt Roskill, and a purchase and lease arrangement that will give the tribe ownership of as much as $80 million of Navy land in Devonport.

The development marked a watershed for the tribe that has battled for generations to get compensation for losses in Auckland, and was a major focus of Sir Hugh's considerable talents.

Many speakers, including Sir Paul Reeves, commended his work in seeking compensation for his people.

Dr Adams said the loss for Ngati Whatua of its paramount chief was immense.

"Losing someone like that leaves a huge gap, unless the nurturing of new leaders has occurred over many years."

Mr Wirihana said discussions on a new leader would occur in the coming weeks.

Whakapapa and a history of service for the people were the key determinants to the selection process, he said.

Former Labour MP Joe Hawke, respected kaumatua Dan Tumahai, Matt Maihi and Joe Pihema were likely contenders.