Aunty Tari was my mentor and mate. Helen Leahy with Dame Tariana Turia.
Aunty Tari was my mentor and mate. Helen Leahy with Dame Tariana Turia.
Opinion by Helen Leahy
Helen Leahy has a Masters of Education Policy and a background in sexual and reproductive health. She is a former chief of staff for the Māori Party and has previously been on two ministerial advisory committees
Dame Tariana Turia was a transformative leader who championed inclusivity and self-determination.
She inspired change through Whānau Ora and Enabling Good Lives, empowering whānau and disabled persons.
Her legacy includes founding the Māori Party and opposing the foreshore and seabed bill.
OPINION:
He wahine marae; he pou tupua, he mareikura.
The Honourable Dr Dame Tariana Turia has been described in many ways since her passing last Friday. A woman who loved her marae; a voice for te awa tupua (the Whanganui River); a treasured leader.
If we had asked Dame Tariana she would have said, he wahine hūmārie; he wahine pono: an unassuming woman; a woman of belief. She always resisted talk about status.
Aunty Tari – as I knew her – saw her most profound role was to be a devoted mother, a kuia to over 90 mokopuna.
Her character was shaped by the lessons left by her ancestors; the principles that guided her life came from her whakapapa (genealogy); her vision was futuristic; for her mokopuna to live their best life.
Such leadership directly contrasts with Western models of power where a single autocratic leader sets the pace and determines all the decisions. Turia lived by the mantra, leadership resides with us all.
She was transformational – inspiring change by her ability to mobilise and engage. She championed inclusivity; demonstrating an approach which lifts others. She would say, “Me whakapono koe ki a koe ano”. Believe in yourself; back yourself.
In essence, that is the hub of the Whānau Ora approach – do what is right, not what is popular. Take action which strengthens the collective; which lays a pathway for future generations to follow.
Dame Tariana Turia shaped the Whanau Ora approach – do what is right, not what is popular. Photo / Michael Craig
She opposed any thinking that whānau “needed” services, programmes, providers, to improve their circumstances. She saw whānau as the best architects for their own life plan.
She inspired change in the disabilities sector through “Enabling Good Lives”; let disabled persons determine their own destiny.
She would challenge officials to be brave; to let whānau lead rather than Wellington. It was a principled approach; defined by consistency; loyalty and fortitude. Rangatiratanga in action; self-determination in practice.
The outpouring of grief from across the motu exemplifies the incredible connections she made across cultures and communities. She was everybody’s aunty or Nanny Tari; she saw in every mokopuna the seeds of greatness; she would urge whānau to step up; that change begins at home.
Dame Tariana Turia.
Another saying of hers was “Lead, follow or get out of the way”.
I am sure that Aunty Tari would hope her tangihanga was a call to action to us all; to stand up for what is right. With some irony, the day of her burial is also the last day for submissions to be received on the Treaty Principles Bill.
She would want us to fight to uphold the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi; and then to move to the next legislative impediment to wellbeing – the bootcamp bill that gives powers to use force against young people.
She would be saying don’t sit, noho puku – being silent. Build on the gains we have made; protect Whānau Ora – it works! And make time for hui ora – to celebrate our wellbeing; to share our successes.
She could be fearless; forthright; and formidable but also act with a generosity of heart that embraced us all.
When she crossed the floor to oppose the foreshore and seabed bill, and at the same time establish the Māori Party; she was called Te Whaea o te Motu – the Mother of the Nation.
Our sense of loss is indescribable; but we take comfort in knowing her influence will inspire generations to come.
Aunty Tari has had a significant impact on my life, both personally and professionally; indeed she has shaped the way I live my life.
She was my mentor, my source of inspiration; my aunty, my best friend. I will miss her forever.
Hotuhotu te manawa, tangi te ngakau. Kia au te moe e te Kahurangi.
