Tērā a Pōhutukawa ka tauhōkai ki ruka o Motupōhue

He taumata whakamahara mō tahaku kuru auhuka ka riro

Ka tāirihia ki te hoi o Rakinui e tū iho nei

Whakapukepuke ana a Awarua i waho rā

Koia au nui, koia au roa, koia moana tuarakaraka

Koia Ara Whenewhene a Kiwa

Koia tukituki tarariki o whatumanawa

Haere rā, hanatu, e te taikura, e Hana

Hoki atu ki ō mātua tīpuna

Kia purea ai koe e te rau aroha o rātou mā

Pīratarata mai rā koe hai whetū i te pō

Kōrekoreko mai rā koe i te rokiroki o ōhoku mahara

Mō ake tou atu e

It is with immense sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Huhana (Hana) Pokiri Morgan (née Bradshaw), who slipped away peacefully in the arms of her beloved husband Tame Morgan on 31 July, aged 65.

Hana was born in Bluff on 10 April 1955, the youngest of eight children to Norman Bradshaw (Ngāi Tahu) and Ngawara Kereti (Te Arawa). She was named for her tupuna Huhana Pokiri, who was born on Whenua Hou. When Hana was 15 months old, her mother passed away and the whānau travelled to her home of Whakarewarewa for the tangi and afterwards Hana and her sister remained there in the care of their aunt and uncle, Tamaku and Matangi Whiti.

Hana returned to Bluff at the age of 18, shortly after her marriage to Tame. She quickly became involved in the Awarua community and, along with her sister Maria Tini, became known as a cultural and community powerhouse. Together they made a huge contribution to the cultural renaissance of the southern Ngāi Tahu people.

Maria and Hana took up their mother’s legacy in the establishment of Te Rau Aroha Marae, including fundraising for, and advising on, the development of the renowned wharekai, which opened in 1985. When Maria returned north to care for their elderly aunt and uncle, Hana took up the cause of constructing the whare tūpuna, Tahu Pōtiki, which opened in 2003. However, Hana was known for her humble refusal to take credit for her tireless efforts, and in the years to come she would insist on thanking and acknowledging the many volunteers who supported this kaupapa.

As well as the physical buildings of the marae, Hana was a driving force in the development of Awarua Rūnaka and its programmes and services. She served as kaiwhakahaere for the rūnaka for many years, eventually stepping down last year due to her illness. Hana’s style was truly leading from behind, and she was more often found helping in the kitchen than sitting at the top table during formal events. She was always on hand as kaikaranga, and her mentorship and support of a new generation of kaikōrero ensured the warm and strength of the Awarua paepae.

Hana remained steadfast in her commitment to the revitalisation of te reo Māori within the rūnaka and at the marae. She often mourned the fact she was not raised with te reo and this fuelled her determination to see it restored for future generations of Ngāi Tahu tamariki. To this end, she led the funding and development of Te Rourou Whakatipuranga o Awarua, the early childhood centre run from the marae. The centre was opened in May 2006, and since then Awarua pēpi have been cared for in a safe, loving environment with a focus on te reo Māori and tikanga – just as Hana envisioned.

Hana was instrumental in the development of the Awarua Rūnaka Mahinga Kai Committee, Awarua Whānau Services and Awarua Research and Development. Through these programmes her legacy lives on as they uphold the mana of Awarua and support its people and environment.

In addition, Hana held a full-time role as the Murihiku Kaiwhakarite for Te Puni Kokiri, as well as various community roles for the Southland District Council, Foveaux Strait Oyster Management, Tangata Tiaki o Awarua and Awarua Study Centre Management Group, among others.

Hana was an accomplished weaver, and in 2015 she received Ngā Tohu ā Ta Kingi Ihaka award for her leadership and outstanding contributions to Māori art. She was renowned for her delicate and precise tāniko, whatu muka and kete whakairo. In 1985 she was invited to accompany the San Franciso leg of the Te Māori Art Exhibition. In recent years she supported a series of weaving wānanga at Te Rau Aroha Marae, bringing this skill back to the rūnaka.

Hana’s passion for her rūnaka and iwi is unrivalled, but first and foremost she is the proud and loving mother to her five children: the late Matangi, Irihapeti (Tiri), Shane, Maria (Mali) and Andrew. She is also the treasured nanny to her mokopuna and great-moko. Our thoughts are with the wider Morgan and Bradshaw whānau as they mourn the loss of their beloved matriarch.

As befitting a true Bluff stalwart, Hana remains in her hometown and arrived at Te Rau Aroha Marae, her legacy, at 10 on Sunday (2nd August). A service for her will be held at the marae on Wednesday 5th August at 11am.

By Lisa Tumahai

Kaiwhakahaere

Republished by arrangement