Obituaries — Ērima Hēnare

I seek leave to move a motion without notice and without debate relating to the passing of Ērima Hēnare.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? There is none.

I move, That the House note the passing of Ērima Hēnare, chair of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, former chief executive of Ngāti Hine Health Trust, director of The Open Polytechnic, board member of the Waitangi National Trust, and a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, and acknowledge the contribution of this great New Zealander.

Waiata

On behalf of the New Zealand Labour Party we would like to acknowledge the contribution of a great New Zealander. Ērima Hēnare sadly passed in the early hours of this morning. He was here, just yesterday afternoon, to witness the swearing-in of a fellow member Ria Bond, a Ngāti Hine kinsman.

Ērima was the son of the late Tā Hemi Hēnare, the founder of the kōhanga reo movement. His contribution was significant, but that of this son Ērima was too. He was the chair of Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, the former chief executive of the Ngāti Hine Health Trust, the director of The Open Polytechnic, a board member of the Waitangi National Trust, and a member of the Waitangi Tribunal. He was a trusted adviser to many, and certainly to Tuheitia. He is the father of Robert; Peeni, our colleague; Tātai; and Tāpeka. So to them and his partner, Debbie, we grieve with them at this particular time as he makes his journey from Wellington back home. Our deepest sympathy goes to them, the people of Ngāti Hine, and all the people of the north for their sad loss. Nō reira e te matua, haere, haere atu rā.

Motion agreed to.