September 27, 2017
Tibble always up for a challenge
Te Tikanga Marae in Halcombe is where people from education, media and iwi have come to pay a final farewell to reo champion Te Kotuku Tibble from Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Porou, and Ngati Raukawa, who died on Sunday aged 53.
Wharehoka Wano, who shared many a rugby commentary with Mr Tibble, says he was a larger than life character who has an amazing ability to retain korero and kupu and who loved learning and people.
He livened up many a hui.
"Because of his depth of understanding of tikanga he wasn't afraid to challenge when he felt things weren't tika. Sometimes he amazed me getting up in quite public marae forums where he would challenge if he felt it needed to be done. He had that sort of strength because he had so much knowledge," Mr Wano says.
He says Kotuku Tibble's death is another reminder of the physical demands on Maori leaders.
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