July 31, 2014
Redemption part of lawyer’s story
Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell says Rawiri Rangitauira, who was buried today, had fully paid off his debt to society.
The former lawyer had been a prominent contributor over many years to tribal affairs within Te Arawa, and with his wife Cathy Dewes had fought for Maori language revival.
He was jailed in 2011 after becoming enmeshed in an internet scam.
Mr Flavell says he grew up with Mr Rangitauira and always knew him to be truthful.
"He made a mistake. He did his time. For him to go back to his people, and for them to accept him in was a huger all, and ever since then I've seen him pretty much every funeral, every tangi, every hui that has gone on for Ngati Whakaue and indeed for Te Arawa. He hasn't resiled from his commitment to get back to his people and his debt is over, because he has done his time and he did it the hard way by having to front for his people, amongst his people and to his people over these last two years or so that he’s been out," he says.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH TE URUROA FLAVELL CLICK ON THE LINK
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