By RNZ
Māori educator Dame Iritana Te Rangi Tāwhiwhirangi, a founder of the Kōhanga Reo movement, has died. She was 95.
A social media pānui posted to Te Kōhanga Reo National Trust’s Facebook page said Tāwhiwhirangi died on Saturday, surrounded by whānau at home.
“As a whānau, we are deeply proud of all her work and accomplishments, particularly raising her children and mokopuna.”
“She did all of this without her late husband by her side, while leading, contributing and supporting Māori development through kaupapa such as Te Kōhanga Reo, [the] Māori Women’s Welfare League, Tū Tāngata and many other kaupapa,” the post read.
Born at Wharekāhika on the east coast, Tāwhiwhirangi was a descendant of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāpuhi.
“She had high expectations and demanded the best for, and of, Māoridom. She worked tirelessly to strengthen whānau and she was adamant that whānau knew what was best for them, and that they only needed to be empowered and enabled to do so.”
Tāwhiwhirangi was a life member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and was made a Dame Companion in 2009 for services to Māori education.
“We, as a whānau, are very much aware of the importance of our mother and grandmother to the motu, and we would like to thank all those who have sent love over the past few weeks.”
“She challenged the status quo and pushed for better outcomes for whānau. She gave her life to the greater cause, ensuring Māoridom achieved independence and self-determination with a flourishing reo. Her passion was the development of whānau, community and iwi.”
In a post to the Kiingitanga’s Facebook page, Te Arikinui Kuini Nga Wai Hono i te Po has confirmed she will attend the tangihanga on Wednesday.
“He wahine kaha, he aarero whakatika, he ngaakau nui ki ngaa iwi puta noa. Whoatu ki Te Arikinui me ngaa mana nunui i hii ake Te Kōhanga Reo. Kua pae koe ki te papa hurihanga o ngaa tuupuna, ko te pae o mahara ki a koe e kore e wawe te petapeta noa,” the post read.
Tāwhiwhirangi began teaching in the 1940s and became a welfare officer in Ruatōria, developing playcentres on the East Coast.
The first Kōhanga Reo was opened in April 1982 in Wainuiomata and the Secretary for Māori Affairs at the time, Kara Puketapu, engaged Tāwhiwhirangi to promote Kōhanga Reo throughout the country.
In 2010, Tāwhiwhirangi told Waka Huia her greatest wish was that the movement would be carried by all Māori.
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“There is a mutual ground where Māori and Pākehā can meet to resolve past issues. There are benefits there for us all. But first, we have the massive task of unifying our people,” she said.
Tāwhiwhirangi will be taken to Te Poho-o-Rāwiri Marae in Gisborne, where she will lie until Thursday before being taken to Rāhui Marae in Tikitiki.
She will be laid to rest at Porourangi Tāwhiwhirangi Urupā, alongside her late husband Porourangi Tāwhiwhirangi and her two children Tangopahika (Boy) and Heni Whakamaungarangi.
– RNZ
