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New Zealand Defence Force mourns
5 September 2006
Navy kaumatua Bert McLean used the analogy of kotuku rerenga tahi – the flight of the heron – in the eulogy in te reo maori he delivered on behalf of the New Zealand Defence Force to farewell Dame Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu.
Mr McLean said later that his korero included the analogy as it referred to a special person who had arrived, landed, and flown away again. “In Maoridom we rarely use the story of the flight of the heron. It is reserved for very special people, and Dame Te Ata was one of those”, said Mr McLean.
The Maori Queen’s tangi was attended by a large party of Defence officials, including Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae; Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson; Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner; Chief of Air, Air Vice Marshal Graham Lintott; and Commander, NZ Joint Forces, Rear Admiral Jack Steer.
In his korero Mr McLean spoke of how the party had brought with it the sympathy, sorrow and aroha of the Defence Force. “I also mentioned how we brought with us the mate or memories of those in the NZDF who had also passed away. I acknowledge the contribution Dame Te Ata had made to the New Zealand Defence Force, and how she had always been responsive and interested in our activities and needs.”
A former Navy warrant officer, and school principal, and now a minister and lecturer in Maori Studies, Mr McLean said he felt honoured to deliver the korero.
Rear Admiral Ledson acknowledges Dame Te Ata was special to many within the Defence Force. “There has always been a great affinity between Maoridom and the Defence Force. We have a lot of Maori personnel, and I think Dame Te Ata recognised that, but she cared just as much about all our personnel.”
As well as launching the frigate Te Mana, and taking a keen interest in the ship and ship’s company, Dame Te Ata had opened the wharenui on the Navy’s marae at Devonport.
The demands of mana
Dame Te Atairangikaahu was the patron of the frigate Te Mana. She launched the ship in 1997 and was guest of honour at its commissioning in Tauranga. The words she spoke at the commissioning of Te Mana were framed and mounted in the frigate’s main passageway:
“At the launching I reflected on the awesomeness of your name, Te Mana: throughout Polynesia there is none greater, and I reminded you of the demands of mana. Not only is it a name of power but one that must be borne with humility. No word of boastfulness should ever be uttered by you or for you. No matter how great your victories may be, mana requires, every day and in every way, a modest quiet performance of that which is right.
“Mana is not really all about power at all, but about duty and justice and moral rightness. You are a ship built for war and yet what is the purpose of war? It is, and must always be, about peace. Many of your duties will be in peacetime operations, of rescue, of taking help to the afflicted, the suffering, of carrying our national honour, of ceremonial display and pride, at home and around the world. Your name pre-ordains that you will do these things well. In the end your purpose is peace; war is just a necessity of events in the way people have structured our world. One day we will have wisdom and skill enough to do without it.
“We call our ocean Moana-nui-a-Kiwa after our famous explorer and navigator who opened it for us so that we could remain at peace with the gods. When Europeans came they called it the Pacific, for so it must have seemed after the wild seas of the southern ocean. Remember then, peace is the name of our home seas and peace the purpose for which you are commissioned.”
Support to the tangi
Hundreds of thousands of mourners attended Dame Te Ata’s tangi, and the task of feeding them fell mainly to the New Zealand Defence Force. It was a joint effort, led by the Navy and involving all three services.
Sergeant Major of the Army, WO1 Bo Ngata, said that as soon as news of Dame Te Ata’s death became public he dispatched Staff Sergeant Tama Andrews from Waiouru to find out what was needed.
The Navy then took over, and an advance party of 20 Navy and Air Force personnel from Whenuapai Air Base and the Devonport Naval Base arrived on site at Turangawaewae Marae. They met up with the 31 Army personnel from 2 LFG in Linton. They set up two mobile field kitchens, and provided other logistical support such as a freezer, catering equipment, water tanker, generators, pumps, forklift and transport. A team of workshop, support and transport personnel also assisted.
WO1 Ngata said food is an important aspect of a tangi, and the deceased’s family needed to know mourners are fed well.
The personnel involved in the tangi worked in shifts to keep everyone fed.
“They did a great job too, but it was also a good experience for them. They all knew how special and significant Dame Te Ata was, especially to the Defence Force.”
The 2 LFG contingent left the marae after an evening meal, tired but pleased they had made a difference by assisting with cooking for the many thousands who entered the marae.
This page was last reviewed on 11 September 2006 and is current.
