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To the East Coast now and the two Ngati Porou
descendants who have received Queen's Birthday Honours this week,
for their contribution to their iwi and to Maori.
Her name is still nationally known...
...for composing song and Maori language education.
It's also the reason why this progeny from Ngati Porou
has been made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit.
I am very proud and humble.
She was among those who lobbied the Kohanga Reo Movement
throughout the country.
This honour is dedicated to all those who maintained
the inherent treasures of our ancestors,
including our language and protocols.
He is a veteran of the 28 Maori Battalion
and descendant of Ngati Porou. Today he is honoured.
This honour is for the whole family and all our people.
He is an orator on the marae and supports his people of Ngati Porou,
and despite his age he still has the energy to manage the farm.
I don't think I did very much. I just did what I needed to do.
Their names have been submitted for this honour three times before,
but the pair rejected it on the belief
that their achievements were not of their own efforts
but of the efforts of many.
One man can not achieve everything on that list.
Let me say that these achievements would not have been possible
without a lot of support.
The elders who supported the Kohanga Reo Movement out of love,
without receiving money for travel and wages and so on.
A kumara does not tell of its delight,
and why these two remain humble in their region of the East Coast.
Rapaera Tawhai, Te Karere.