Te Waari Carkeek — Moe mai rā
Farewell to Te Waari Carkeek historian, kaumatua, and storyteller. Moe mai rā, e te rangatira.
Te kahu mōtea
Kua ngaro koe ki te ao kikokiko haere atu rā
ki ngā pūkariki ia Hinenuitepō
tēnei te tuku aroha, moe mai rā
ko kitea te minenga ia koe
te amokapua ngā reanga tupuranga i o mahi
te tu hononga ara te āratahitanga
ngā maumaharatanga ia koe
ki ngā whakapapa, te ao Māori matahīapo
ngā mōteatea
Moe mai mō āke tonu atu
Cloak of mourning
We are saddened by a great loss of leadership
The multitudes of Hinenuitepō will embrace you
Farewell and goodbye
You have delivered and contributed
at many large gatherings professionally
Your relationship and guidance added value
You will always be remembered
With genealogy, Te Ao Māori treasures
and ancient waiata
May you forever rest in peace
It is with great sadness that the National Library learned about the passing of Te Waari Carkeek on Friday 4th November. Many of us worked very closely with Te Waari in the development of He Tohu.
We will remember his mātauranga, sharp intellect and generosity as well as his wit and humour. Te Waari grew up listening to the stories from his elders and whanaunga and visiting many of the cultural sites of significance. He was selected to represent Ngāti Toa during the tribe’s Te Papa exhibition from 2014 to 2017 as their kaumatua in residence at the museum.
We were honoured to welcome Te Waari in July 2021 when he so eloquently spoke to an enthralled audience about Ngāti Toa Rangatira: People of the Stars - whetu ki te rangi ka uhia ngā kapua kia ngaro ngā whetu e kore e ngaro.
A great historian, kaumatua, and storyteller has left us. Our thoughts and aroha go out to Te Waari’s whānau.
Moe mai rā, e te rangatira.
Thank you to Bella Tarawhiti for her significant contribution to this blog.
Aue te mamae! A lovely man whoms captivating stories will be sorely missed. Aroha nui e hoa, moe mai ra. xx