Sir Peter Tapsell treasured Maori leader

As a cub teenage reporter arriving in Rotorua 16 years ago from the South Island, one of my first tasks was interviewing Sir Peter Tapsell.

The article was of a political nature and The Daily Post was interested in Sir Peter's views having recently retired from politics.

I'd never interviewed someone as "politically famous" as him before and was a little nervous.

It wasn't helped by the fact esteemed Maori men were a little daunting for this Pakeha from Timaru.

My tactic was to name drop - mention my late grandfather, Sir Basil Arthur, was also a former Speaker of the House and Labour MP.

It worked a treat. Apparently they were friends. Sir Peter was friendly and accommodating.

After reading tributes to this great man following his death at the weekend, I'm convinced no such "tactic" was required. He would have been helpful no matter what.

Sir Peter can easily be described as an over achiever. Whatever he turned his hand to, he excelled at. He studied medicine and became a surgeon, he played rugby and became a Maori All Black, he entered politics and became and the Speaker of the House.

Although Sir Peter spent much of his later years on his farm in Ruatoria, Rotorua claims him as our own.

Descended from Ngati Whakaue, one of his greatest gifts to his city was helping see his whanau's village at Ohinemutu have sealed roads - achieved by him helping to pass a special Act of Parliament.

His friend, Terry Morrison, said Sir Peter's death on Thursday last week was a sad day for Te Arawa. Indeed it was.

He will forever be treasured as one of the great Maori leaders.

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