Te Reo Enoka Hemi: April 22, 1948 – August 5, 2020

He pāpā, he koroua, he tuakana, he tungāne hoki. I ōna rā ko ia tērā e mirimiri nei i te hari me te koa o te whanau katoa me tōnā tātākī i nga ahuatanga o te wā. Ko tōna aroha mō āna mokopuna tāna rama piata.

Kua tō te rā ki tō tinana, engari ka ora tonu koe ki te ngākau o tena, o tena o tatou ngā waihotanga. Kia tūtaki anō tāua, kia au te moe.

Son of Eruera Inky Hemi, and grandson of Ted Hemi, Te Reo Enoka Hemi, affectionately known as ‘Pop’, was a much loved brother, father, and grandfather. Highly involved in his community at Rātana Pā, Te Reo served as an executive member of the New Zealand Māori Wardens Association for 12 years, chair of the Aotea Māori Wardens from 1989 and was chair of the Whanganui Māori Wardens from 1986. He was also a committee member on the Rātana Church Committee, a Trustee for the Rātana Orakeinui Trust and a Trustee for the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō Trusts from 2011 to 2015.

Amongst all that Te Reo also sat on the Board of Trustee at Whanganui Girls’ College as well as numerous other community organisations. Still, there was always time for whānau, and his love for his mokopuna was his shining light.

Although the sun has set on his physical presence, Te Reo will live on in the hearts and memories of those he touched.

Rest easy, Pop.