Tariana Turia: Our whanau seek the best connections

Over the weekend, the amazing entrepreneurial spirit of Sam Morgan came to the fore again, as he shared his latest passion for super fast international connectivity.
The founder of Trade Me, Sam is now thinking about the vulnerability of the Southern Cross Cable, the single cable provider connecting us to the United States. It's his view that without fast connectivity creative and technology industries won't work in New Zealand and talent will be reluctant to move here.
And so his proposal is to establish a second link, to ensure we boost our international capacity.
It is timely to be considering such things as we reflect on the announcements last week of a great deal brokered by the Maori Party, ensuring Nga Pu Waea - the Maori Broadband Group - is a key stakeholder in the latest developments initiated by Vodafone and Telecom.
The broadband deal enables Maori to have access to cutting edge technology; while also providing opportunities for trade training and employment.
The extended powers of Nga Pu Waea means that marae, kohanga, kura, wananga, iwi runanga, Maori providers will also benefit from the rollout of ultra-fast broadband.
Notwithstanding how exciting all of these developments are, there is nothing better than the greatest connectivity of all - the connectedness that comes from our intimate relationships, the strength of whanaungatanga, the generosity of friends.
This last week I felt very proud as a descendant of Rangiwhakaturia when our nieces, nephews, mokopuna all returned from Australia for their father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, nephew, in-law and friend who passed suddenly.
There is no wealth as precious as the richness of these relationships, especially when we see evidence of the collective working in the interests of each and everyone of us.
There is no technology that can be superior to the bond that unites us all, through whakapapa.
Tangihanga is the ultimate time for us to look at life in perspective. As we grieve together, we also lean on each other, gaining clarity about what it is that is most important to us all.
We ask ourselves the searching questions - have we allowed distance to get in the way of our whakapapa links as we strive to maintain our employment and enhance our economic base?
When we come together again, like last week, we remember that it is that abiding love we have for each other that keeps the hapu heart beating strong.
We know in the great times and in sad times that we are connected in a bond of love that cannot be broken. Our in-laws have always played a special role in our whanau and we appreciate and love them all.
Our strong whanau links to our awa tupua and Nga Rauru also helps to keep us strong.
So last week we said farewell but not goodbye to Billy Thompson - a gentle man who reminded us all just how precious whanau connections are.
Billy lives on through his children, brothers and sisters, his loved Mum and beautiful soulmate Suzy and her whanau.
His smiling face will always warm our hearts. And no cable or fibre can ever compare to the special memories that we will uphold forever.