The passing of our kaumātua Pāpā Bill
In 2023 we lost a treasured Rangatira, colleague, and friend in Pāpā Bill Kaua.
Piki mai rā, kake mai rā
Homai te waiora ki ahau
Tera te haeata takiri ana mai i runga o Hikurangi!
Papaki tū ana te tai ki Te Reinga Ka pō, ka ao, ka awatea!
E hoki ngā mahara ki ngā karere o te tau kua mahue ake nei. E piko nei te matenga, e raungaiti te ngākau tangata. Kua tau mai te pōurinui i te ngau o te mate.
Hoki wairua atu rā e te Rangatira Pāpā Bill ki to tātau Atua, ki ngā tīpuna, ki ō mātua, ki te huinga o te kahurangi. Ahakoa kua whakatā to tinana, ēngari ko ō mahi ringa rehe me tō ngākau whakatoi ka mau tonu ki te whatumanawa o tēna, o tēna o mātau.
No reira e te Rangatira, e te taonga ā te mate, hāere, hāere.
Hāere ma runga ngā ringa kaha o tō tātou Kaihanga, whakauru te moe.
In 2023 we lost a treasured Rangatira, colleague, and friend in Pāpā Bill Kaua who passed away in December. He served as our kaumātua for 13 years, was a staunch supporter of our work, and a renowned repository of public service knowledge.
He will be greatly missed by his whānau and all who have known him.