Graciously tenacious

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait remembers the life and legacy of Dame Tariana Turia, who died in January this year, aged 80.

 

My first encounter with Tariana Turia, not a Dame at that time, was when she was a Labour MP and I was CEO of the National Collective of Women’s Refuges. Paul Holmes wanted to talk about the appalling rate of domestic violence in New Zealand and invited both Tariana and me to appear on his TV show one evening.

I’ll never forget that interview. I thought it went reasonably well. But when I rang my husband at home later that evening to ask what he thought of the segment, I wasn’t expecting the rebuke I received.

He said he was disappointed in my performance. I had talked over Tariana, was dismissive of her views, and came across as arrogant and rude. I remember sitting on the bed in the hotel after we finished the call, crying. For my husband, who was always so supportive of my work, to say he was distressed by what he saw, really hurt.

It took me a few years before I had the courage to apologise to Tariana for my behaviour on the show. She remembered it. She merely looked at me and said, graciously: “Merepeka, there are so many ways we learn.”

For 20 years, I had the privilege of working with Tariana from time to time, observing a woman who demonstrated outstanding leadership skills.

It was Tariana who first mooted the idea of Whānau Ora. She worked with Sir Mason Durie to develop the model but the Labour Party wasn’t interested. Just like Closing the Gaps, Whānau Ora was thought to be too contentious. To allow Māori to develop our own solutions, to improve in the areas that we prioritised, would not sit well with the wider Labour Party membership.

But sometimes it’s just a matter of timing. As co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, Tariana presented the Whānau Ora model of social service delivery to Māori to the National government, led by John Key, in 2008. They decided that it was worth supporting.

Tariana went on to nurture Whānau Ora as a philosophy, a model of practice, a mechanism for funding providers, and a foundation for future generations. Her view was unwavering that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for anyone, Māori or not.

I’ve been the chairperson of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency since its inception in 2014 and can say with conviction that it’s been an outstanding success.

Raised at Pūtiki by her grandmothers, whāngai parents and many strong aunties, Tariana knew firsthand what it was to truly belong as a mokopuna of the collective. She married George Turia at Rātana Pā and they had four children and two whāngai, as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The essence of her work and achievements was always that solutions could be found at the source.

I watched Tariana countless times speaking to whānau Māori. She spoke quietly and with empathy. You got the distinct feeling she knew the struggles of so many of them. Yet I believe it was her message of hope that resonated most with those who heard her speak, whether as a conference keynote speaker, or to service providers, marae workers or whānau Māori. How often do you hear an MP talking about unlimited potential, whakapapa, and being in control of your own destiny?

Tariana brought Whānau Ora into existence, knowing that a social service delivery system grounded in tikanga Māori is exactly what is required to move the dial for Māori. I think she was incredibly ambitious — not for herself but for the greater good of whānau Māori. She wanted the best and wasn’t prepared to accept anything less.

From time to time, when wise heads were required to look for a solution to a particular problem, we would all come together: Dames Tariana, Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi, Naida Glavish, Areta Koopu and Lady Tureiti Moxon. We would contribute our thoughts and ideas.

Tariana would speak last and encourage us on a particular path of action. Whether it was to seek a meeting with the prime minister, request an urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing, or tackle various government agencies for their indifference to Māori. She was undeterred by the scale of opposition we might encounter. She encouraged us to seek every opportunity to voice the concerns of whānau Māori.

Tariana had a deeply held belief that Māori must be in control of their own destiny guided by their own inner wisdom. She was progressive as a politician and co-leader of Te Pāti Māori. She saw the unlimited potential in whānau Māori and worked tirelessly to turn that potential into reality.

As I listened to the speakers at Tariana’s tangi, it struck me how diverse, rich and principled her life had been. She had friendships with people from all walks of life. They spoke of her making time to listen, and then listening with a willingness to understand. She taught us the true meaning of being pono and tika, no matter the circumstances. Who could forget her crossing the floor of the debating chamber in 2004 to stand against the Foreshore and Seabed Act?

I know she loved her late husband George so much. She told me she couldn’t do her job without his love and support. She also told me of the downside of politics. The hate mail she received and the toxic environment that pervades the Beehive.

Tariana had never wanted to go to parliament, but her people encouraged her to go, and I believe they were right to do so. Throughout all her years in parliament, Tariana built, created, and contributed to the leadership of this nation. Hers is a lasting legacy to be proud of. Action speaks louder than words.

Dame Tariana Turia (8 April 1944 — 3 January 2025) was born Tariana Woon with whakapapa to Ngāti Apa, Nga Rāuru, Whanganui and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. She grew up in Whangaehu, near Whanganui, and was raised by her grandmother and aunts and uncles.

She married George Turia, who died in 2019. The couple had four children, raised another two whāngai, and fostered a number of other children. They have more than 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She served in Parliament for 18 years, as a Labour Party MP founder and former co-leader of Te Pāti Māori.

 

Merepeka Raukawa-Tait (Te Arawa) was born in Feilding to a Māori mother and father of Irish Catholic ancestry. She has worked in the public, private and NGO sectors. She worked for many years as a DHB member and city councillor. She has been the chair of the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency since 2014.

E-Tangata, 2025