He mihi nui teenei ki te whaanau whaanui o te motu,
E huihui nei i raro i te marumaru o ngaa maunga tapu,
I te whakanui i too taatou kiingi, a Kiingi Tuheitia.
I runga anoo i te mamae o te ngaakau me te hunga wairua,
Ka tukuna atu teenei mihimihi aroha moona,
Moo tana kaha, moo tana arataki i a taatou katoa.
It’s been a momentous week in our Waikato District as we farewell and pay homage to Kiingi Tuheitia.
The national outpouring of grief and respect across Aotearoa is a measure of the great leader he was.
Our council had a positive working relationship with Kiingi Tuheitia and we will be forever indebted to him for his foresight to strengthen our partnership with Maaori and his people through:
- Launching the Future Proof partnership together with the then Prime Minister John Key in 2009 which has seen the partnership grow in strength and significance since then.
- Enabling the re-opening of the Raahui Pookeka | Huntly Railway Station on 25 March 2021 when he stepped off the Te Huia train at its launch.
- Providing cultural oversight of the Hopuhopu redevelopment project.
- Guiding the Point and Kiingitanga Reserve project in Ngaaruawaahia.
- Advocating for the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River through our efforts to improve the quality of discharge into the awa (river) from our treatment plants.
- Being informed in our strategic projects and initiatives, exemplified by briefings to him by Council staff.
Most of all, Council will forever value his passion and drive for kotahitanga (unity) through building solidarity amongst our diverse communities.
Waikato District Council also became the first and only council so far to honour Kiingi Tuheitia and the Kiingitanga by hanging his portrait in our Council Chambers last year.
I personally found his leadership and friendship most supportive and his legacy of unity will live on in the many initiatives he promoted and encouraged.
We look forward to participating in a similarly positive relationship with his successor Kuini Nga wai hono i te po.
But for now, we will miss him, and will always remember his ability to bring all people together, his warm smile, passion, determination and love for his people.
E te kiingi, moe mai raa i roto i ngaa ringa kaha o te atua.
Mayor Jacqui
