Loss but never lost

Tanith Wirihana Te Waitohiterangi failed at every school they attended. Now they are a candidate for a PhD. In their 29 years, they have packed in a lot. They talked to kaupapa Māori reporter Matai O’Connor.

Instilled with the learnings from their whānau and those around them, Tanith Wirihana Te Waitohiterangi has overcome much and recently won an award in recognition of their achievements.

Tanith was surprised to be named a winner in the Port Nicholson Rotary Club Goal Setter Ki te Ao Mārama awards.

“I am extremely thankful and grateful to the Rotary Club of Port Nicholson,” Tanith said.

The awards are for those who are at least in their second year of tertiary education, can show a history of goal-setting and goal achievement while contributing service to others and doing so while having to overcome significant barriers. Winners received $4000.

“My thoughts are cast back to the late Les McGreevy. I had a lot of respect for him. He was one of the first Rotarians I had ever met in a former life. I think we really connected due to our experiences in packhouse work.

“I found it very interesting that after a few conversations — I had barely turned 21 at the time — he offered me his support and confidence in the candidate selection process to replace MP Anne Tolley who was to retire at that time.

“He was a man who had done a lot for the community. He influenced my thinking on many issues quite profoundly, and I only wish that I had more time to speak with him. His kindness and generosity to his community will not be forgotten.”

Tanith’s life journey has not been easy.

“My formative years were shaped by the constant companions of death and hardship. Rejected by my supposed father at birth, losing my mother, Tanya Wilson, to suicide when I only three, losing my aunt, Natasha Wilson, in a tragic car accident, and losing my grandmother to cancer.”

They said, “At times I thought I was destined to be a loser”.

“Despite my experiences of loss, I have never been lost,  for I am a seed sown from the tree of Rangiātea. I was a NEET (not in employment, education or training) — one of the children who fell through the cracks and was about to hit rock bottom.

“I failed every school I attended, failed within a dehumanising system that often felt indifferent at best, and downright hostile at worst.”

Tanith thanks tutors like Grant Strode and Lawrence O’Brien at the Wairoa Waikaremoana-Māori Trust Board who they say never doubted that they could achieve.

They learned mathematics and attained NCEA levels one, two and three.

“Like others I faced the allure of joining a gang, but a senior member of the Mighty Mongrel Mob said: ‘This is not the life for you. Go back to Gisborne and make something of yourself’.”

Tanith remembers working in a coolstore and a thought struck them —  how much was a minute of their life worth? They worked out it was around 27 cents.

“It dawned on me that I would rather do something with my life that I cared about. So not long after I quit.

“Alongside the advice of others, I have always had an overwhelming sense of guidance from my great ancestors towards a brighter future.”

Tanith’s grandmother, Hiraina Wilson (nee Pere), would speak of the importance of education — a dream denied her by the constraints of her time.

“I made it my mission to carry that dream forward, to honour her memory by carving out a path of my own.”

Through the mentorship of artists Simon Lardelli and Kiwa Mihaka, Tanith learned the art of whakairo (carving), later immersing themself in volunteer work for Muriwai Marae when they were 16.

Over three years they dedicated themself to honouring the legacy of those who came before.

Those efforts were later recognised and they were elected as a marae trustee and hapū representative of Ngāi Tāwehi.

Tanith serves as the chair of Pākōwhai No.2 Incorporated, following in the footsteps of their grandfather David Wilson and great-grandfather Te Keepa Wilson Jnr.

“In 2017, I cradled my grandfather David Wilson, as he passed away in my arms. I found myself shattered again and again by a series of unfortunate events, each one adding to the weight of grief I carried.

“Yet, through my journey of discovery, I have come to realise that true strength lies in our ability to pick up the shattered pieces of ourselves and press on.”

Tanith has gained a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in political science and public policy, and will soon graduate with first class honours in Māori studies and is now considered as an applicant for PhD study.

During that time Tanith provided support to nurture two businesses and also became the youngest ever trustee for the Ngāi Tāmanuhiri Tutu Poroporou Trust.

“When I first met with the Rotarians, I told them that it was quite hard to talk about things I have done… or (tell) my story. But I like to help people to succeed. One of my cousins once came to me and asked me to help them with their business.

“So, for a steak meal. I helped to provide support to develop a company that at its height was turning over $500k. I find pleasure in engaging in activities purely for the experiences they offer.”

Tanith also interned with the Office of the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser Professor Dame Juliet Gerrard alongside Te Papa Tongarewa.

As well,  they have worked with the Climate Change Commission, the Crown Forestry Rentals Trust, interned with the Waitangi Tribunal, worked with Rongowhakaata Iwi Trust and Ngāti Ruapani Mai Waikaremoana.

“I would like to think that I do what I can to support people in the background. I am not a person that likes the limelight. I give a lot of my time to do small things to help others that ask for it, whether it is related to advice, or traditional knowledge and histories or helping people to get ahead. I have always tried to practise the values that my grandparents passed on to me.”

Tanith dreamed from a young age of seeing the people of Tūranga flourish.

“If I can do something small to see our communities succeed, then I have done my bit to honour the memories of my old people that have passed on.”

During the Post Nicholson Rotary Club award ceremony, Tanith met Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

“I do have my differences with government policy but I try to separate the person from the politics.

“That is his day job, and quite often is different from his personal thoughts. He was warm and friendly and literally ran over to hongi and harirū (greet traditionally and shake hands).

“The words of Hetekia Te Kani Te Ua floated through my mind, ‘Ahakoa nanakia ōu ture, ōu tikanga… pēnei te katoa o aku ringaringa, he mahi kotahi tou… Nā te (Tiriti) taua i tū taina mai.” (Although your laws and processes are mischief… It is like the fingers of my hand; although they are different, they work together for a single purpose. And it is Te Tiriti that allows us to stand together as brothers.)

“Although if it was David Seymour I probably dropped the ‘ahakoa’ and ended at tikanga.

“It was quite overwhelming to stand in front of a huge crowd of people and tell my story. Although they didn’t realise it, the tauparapara (incantation to begin a speech) I used to begin with was adapted from one used by one of our great Rongowhakaata kaumātua Tamati Teneti (Thomas Dennis) to honour his memory and to carry forward the thoughts and works of our ancestors (and) to honour their values and practices.

“As Erenora Taratoa once said, ‘He iti taku iti, ehara nō muri nei nō tuawhakarere nō aku kaumātua”. (What I have is small and meaningless, but it is not of recent time, but from the distant past from my old people.)

“Ahakoa he iti, he taimana tīramarama (Although small, it is a shining diamond.)”