Whanganui region leaders remember Dame Tariana Turia’s generosity and strength

Dame Tariana Turia is being remembered for her generosity, strength and powerful politics.

The Te Pāti Māori founder and long-time MP died at Whangaehu Marae on today, aged 80, after suffering a stroke this week.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa Packer said “at a really personal level”, Turia had affected her more than any other politician. Turia left the Labour Party and formed Te Pāti Māori in 2004 after the passing of the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

“Twenty years ago, I was extremely impressed and impacted by the decisions she made,” Ngarewa-Packer said. “I followed the foreshore and seabed [debate] and the strength she had to cross the floor.

“She always reminded us that our people deserved better.”

Former Whanganui mayor Annette Main said Turia was “outstanding” and that she had looked up to her for many years. The worst day of her mayoralty was the first vote to add the H to Whanganui, which the majority of councillors voted against, Main said.

“A lot of us - staff, councillors - were in tears and Tari just got up and walked out of the room. Many people followed her.

“It was just the right thing to do and we didn’t do it.”

She said the decision was revisited after a councillor changed their mind. “That was one of my happiest days - when we were able to fulfill the wishes of Whanganui iwi and Tari in particular.”

Turia served as a minister in Labour (Community and Voluntary Sector) and National (Disability Issues, Whānau Ora) Governments, with Te Pāti Māori entering a coalition with John Key’s National Government in 2008. She retired from politics in 2014 after entering Parliament as a Labour list MP in 1996. In 1993, she established Whanganui’s Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority, the first iwi-led primary health organisation, and was a leader during the 79-day Pākaitore/Moutoa Gardens protest in 1995.

Dame Tariana Turia speaking to media in Lower Hutt in 2012. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Rangitīkei MP Ian McKelvie (National) said Turia was the bravest politician he knew.

“She stood on her principles and she won,” he said. “I’m not sure she would be entirely happy with where things are now but she proved her own point.

“I think she was an extraordinary woman and she put her life into what she believed. To a large extent, she succeeded.”

Main said she worked for Turia after her mayoralty, as an adviser for Te Pou Tupua - the face and voice of Te Awa Tupua.

Turia was one of the first Te Pou Tupua inaugurated, with Turama Hawira in 2017.

“We all knew she didn’t have long to live following the stroke but when I heard the news this morning I felt it so strongly,” Main said.

“I don’t think I’ve felt that for anyone else outside my family. I’m sure there will be thousands who feel the same way.”

Ngarewa-Packer said she was pleased Turia would be reunited with her beloved husband George, who died in 2019.

“She missed him sorely. They were a whole.

“Her whānau generously shared her with the motu and I feel their grief.

“She was not only a strong politician but a generous woman who accepted and continuously reminded us, right up to the last minute, of how we must accept and be there unconditionally for all our whānau.” Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe said Turia was “a principled, humble and determined pioneer and change-maker”.

“In my view, those attributes were best represented in two areas,” he said. “Firstly, the founding of Te Pāti Māori, where she identified a need for a stronger Māori voice on the back of the seabed and foreshore debate.

“Secondly, she founded Whānau Ora to champion the health needs of Māori.” Tripe said Turia’s legacy would live through into future generations.

“We have not only lost a champion for Whanganui and the people of Whanganui, but for New Zealand.” Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily the Whanganui District Council.