It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our esteemed Life Member and Kaumatua, Dr Kihi Ngatai (QSM). He passed away peacefully on August 1 2021 surrounded by his whānau at Te Haumaruru. “Death separates them, and death connects them. After recently turning 91, he now joins his beloved wife Maria Hokimate Ngatai, eldest daughter Puharangi Ngatai, his parents Tiuka and Parehuia Ngatai and siblings.”
Dr Kihi Ngatai (QSM) was awarded an honorary Life Membership for his services to CCS Disability Action in 2017 by the CCS Disability Action National Board. As our Kaumatua, Kihi Ngatai contributed to the organisation for many years. He gifted CCS Disability Action with our statement line, “Te hunga hauā mauri mō ngā tāngata katoa” (All people have mauri, life force, and all life force is equal), and was inspired by his whānau and his many years of work with CCS Disability Action’s Bay of Plenty Maori Unit. He was hugely influential to the mana and tikanga of the work we do. He, like his wife Maria Hokimate Ngatai, will be very sadly missed.
Koro Kihi arrived at Whareroa Marae today, Monday 2 August and his nehu (burial) will be on Thursday 5 August at 10.00am.
Whareroa Marae
25 Taiaho Place, Mount Maunganui 3116
Phone: 022 187 2322
Ka taka!
Ka taka!
Ka taka taku mōtoi ka riro!
E kapo ki te whetū, e kapo ki te marama!
E kapo ki te ata o taku raukura ka riro ki tua o Kārewa, ka oti atu koutou e.
I te ahiahi pō tuatahi o Hereturikōkā, i katohia a Tākuta Kihi Ngatai (QSM) e tōna putiputi hono a Maria Hokimate Ngatai, i te poho o tō rāua whānau, i Te Haumaruru ki Raropua.
Ka tangihia, ka tangihia.
Ka tangihia ngā mate huhua e kauria ana ngā wai tuku kiri o tua whakarere.
Ka tangihia tōna kanohi e kore e kite mai anō, tōna momo e kore e ora mai anō, ka tangihia, i te moe o tōna tokotoko, i te ngū o tōna arero, i tōna ngākau nui ki te tangata. Ka tangihia, ka tangihia.
Ngā whānau whānui me ōna piringa ki te whānau Ngatai, haramai tātou.
Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pūkenga,
Tauranga Moana me ōna karangatanga maha, haramai tātou ki te whare o Taiaho.
Mātaatua, Tākitimu me ngā waka huri noa huri noa, haramai ki te uri whakaheke o Toroa, ki te toka Tirikawa o Tamatea, ki te poho o Rauru Kī Tahi, o Kuraimonoa.
Kai ngā karangatanga maha o Te Rōpū Whakamana i Te Tiriti, haramai rā ki tō koroua e takoto nei.
Haramai, haramai rā tātou
Mā Taiaho koe e kukume ki te whare, ki roto i a Rauru, ki reira tangihia ai tōna mokopuna.
Ngā tai o aroha
Te Pā Harakeke o Kihi rāua ko Maria Ngatai
