November 14, 2017
Parihaka kaitiaki joins his tupuna
Te Rangikotuku Rukuwai, who passed away on Sunday, was a great grandson of Te Whiti o Rongomai who was raised within the whanau of Tohu Kakahi.
Parihaka spokesperson Wharehoka Wano says he was the kaitiaki of Tohu's marae Toroanui in the Taranaki village, where his 90th birthday celebration was held over Labour Weekend.
He says Mr Rukuwai was always generous with his knowledge and made a point of nurturing and supporting younger generations.
"He prepared us and he was prepared for this final journey but we're going to miss his guidance. A very gentle man, very humble, but he would stand up at the point he needed to shows that guidance and leadership. He displayed a lot of Te Whiti and Tohu's teachings in the way he presented himself, Mr Wano says.
Te Rangikotuku Rukuwai is lying in state at Toroanui in Parihaka.
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