Latest news with #TakutaiKemp
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Son of late Takutai Tarsh Kemp calls for Māori to register for voting
Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira The son of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp who died suddenly last week has called on Māori to sign up to the Māori Roll. The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau was buried at Opaea Marae near Taihape on Monday at a service attended by over 300 people. Kemp is a long way from her Tamaki Makaurau electorate, where she spent much of her life and raised a family - but for Kemp and her whanau, Opaea Marae is home. Her son, Te Manea Kauika-Quinlan said it took the death of his mum for him to realise how much her work resonated with Maori and hoped it did not go to waste. "Now's the time, whānau. Why is it when something like this happens it's the kick up the bum we needed. "I know you're probably sick of hearing it, 'get off the general role, get on the Māori role!'. E whānau, get on the Māori role! Don't let this go to waste," Kauika-Quinlan said. Like his mother, he said Māori had the voting power to tip the scales. "If each and every one of us voted - just us here - that's enough, that's heaps already. I'm no political ideology or anything like that, ko enei ngā kōrero o aku whaea," he said. Among the mourners were Takutai Kemp's colleagues from Te Pati Maori. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Among the mourners were Takutai Kemp's colleagues from Te Pati Maori. Co-leader Rawiri Waititi lamented the loss of a good friend and a staunch fighter for Maori . "It's not until people pass away, then you actually know the impact that one has on many lives. "The many stones that are thrown up on the shore of te Takutai Moana," Waititi said. Speaking to the crowd, Waititi said the "power" was "in our hands". "We are not outnumbered. We are out organised. Organise yourselves," he said. A table near the wharekai was set up offering Te Pati Maori merchandise and guidance on how to sign up to the Maori roll. A number of politicans paid their respects at the marae since Kemp arrived on Saturday, including members of National Party and the Greens. "We acknowledge Chloe walking on here with her Māori party beanie on, Peeni Henare sitting on the pae with his Māori party beanie on," Waititi said. "Chris, we look forward to seeing you walk off this marae with your Māori Party beanie on," he said, speaking to Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Chris Hipkins at the service. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira When it was time for them to meet, Rawiri Waititi told Chris Hipkins he should not turn his head. "She died, and she lived, serving her people, and that mahi must continue. So when this tīwaiwaka, Chris, when have our kōrero, kaua e tahuri atu to kanohi, tahuri mai. "When my face turns to yours, don't turn yours somewhere else," Waititi said. "I am very pleased that the sun has come out, and therefore I can decline your offer of an umbrella. The heat has arrived, and therefore I don't need the beanie - but we always need friends," Hipkins said Hipkins said Labour extended all of its aroha to Kemp's whanau and colleagues. "To Te Pāti Māori, thank you for your manaakitanga today, and genuinely, I say thank you to you, and of course, we extend our aroha to you in Parliament as well. "We look forward Debbie and Rawiri to seeing you back when Parliament resumes," he said. MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was buried at Opaea Marae near Taihape. Photo: RNZ/Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp was buried behind the marae, in front of a small church surrounded by her tūpuna. Before she was put to rest, Te Pati Maori sent her off with a song - "Proud to be Māori" by illumiNGĀTI. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
'Indescribable loss': Takutai Tarsh Kemp remembered at tangi at Opaea Marae
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was laid to rest on Tuesday. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp has been laid to rest today on the grounds of a small church at Opaea Marae among the rolling hills of Taihape. The Tāmaki Makaurau MP died suddenly last week after battling a kidney disease. Kemp was a descendant of Ngā Rauru and the iwi Mokai Patea, Ngāti Tamakōpiri, Ngāti Whitikaupeka, Ngāi Te Ohuake, Ngāti Hauiti, Ngāti Paki, Ngāti Hinemanu, and Ngāti Tūwharetoa. She hailed from the marae of Opaea, Moawhango and Winiata as well as Takirau Marae in the Waitōtara Valley of South Taranaki where she was raised by her grandparents for much of her childhood. Richard Steedman was an uncle to Kemp and one of the speakers for Opaea Marae. The iwi of Mokai Patea are immensely proud of her work in and out of Parliament, he said. Opaea Marae speaker and Takutai Kemp's uncle Richard Steedman. Photo: RNZ / Pokere Paewai "That taonga has been plucked from us, the loss will be felt for a long, long time for us... it's an indescribable loss." Steedman said Opaea Marae is not accustomed to the number of of manuhiri that have arrived to pay their respects. He was grateful for the support of all the marae around Taihape, from the council and from local farmers who provided tractors and freed up their paddocks for parking. "It's been hard, not myself particularly, but I know there are a lot of people doing a lot of mahi." Opaea Marae trustee Cyril Mako said preparing to host the masses in such a short time was tough but many whānau pitched in to prepare today's nēhu (burial). Takutai Tarsh Kemp has been laid rest on the grounds behind Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ "If you'd been here five years ago we weren't actually functioning," he said. "It's an old marae, our toilet block had been pulled down and we were basically closed for a period of time." Mako said they had to rely on the help of nearby marae - their whānau - with kai preparation and housing people who travelled for the burial service. "They jumped at it, and we really appreciate it because we couldn't have done it ourselves." Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said Kemp's strength came from places like Opaea. Takutai Tarsh Kemp has been laid rest on the grounds behind Opaea Marae. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ "Here we are in one of the most rural parts in central North Island paying tribute to a woman who I want to acknowledge as I fighter for our people. "But also where did that come from, and that comes from little small places like this, it comes from being brought up in a very strong Māori community and she died as she lived, serving our people." In her eulogy, Kemp's sister, Leaara-Jade Kauika-Stevens said throughout the tangi a tīwaiwaka, or fan-tail, could been seen listening to the kōrero from the paepae. She dedicated a song to her sister, likening her to the fantail who Māori say are messengers of the gods. Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp was laid to rest on Tuesday. Photo: Pokere Paewai / RNZ Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp will be laid to rest today
Takutai Tarsh Kemp died suddenly last week. Photo: Supplied/ Te Pāti Māori A spokesperson for Opaea Marae says they are expecting around 1000 people for the tangi of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp. Kemp has being lying at the marae, near Taihape, since Saturday. Kemp died suddenly last week following a battle with kidney disease and was farewelled by Parliament on Thursday. Opaea Marae trustee Cyril Mako said preparing to host the masses in such a short time was tough but many whānau pitched in to prepare today's nēhu (burial). Mako said the marae was very small and they relied other marae nearby for help preparing meals and housing people who could not fit at Opaea Marae. Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins and other party members were welcomed onto the marae just after 9am. Speaking at a post-cabinet media conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he would not be attending the tangi, but the National Party would be well represented. Luxon also ruled out announcing a date for the Tāmaki Makarau by-election, triggered by Kemp's death, saying he wanted the week to be focussed on her. Speaking to media, Hipkins said he would not criticise the prime minister for not attending but the death of a sitting member of Parliament was rare. The nēhu, or burial service, begins at 11am and the day will be streamed live online. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Tangi for Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp held today
Takutai Tarsh Kemp died suddenly last week. Photo: Supplied/ Te Pāti Māori The tangi for Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp will begin this morning at Opaea Marae near Taihape. Kemp died suddenly last week following a battle with kidney disease and was farewelled by Parliament on Thursday. Some of Kemp's parliamentary colleagues will be welcomed onto the marae at 9am before a short Rau Mahara - or picture slideshow - at 10:30am. Speaking at a post-cabinet media conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he would not be attending the tangi, but the National Party would be well represented. Luxon also ruled out announcing a date for the Tāmaki Makarau by-election, triggered by Kemp's death, saying he wanted the week to be focussed on her. Labour leader Chris Hipkins and other Labour MPs are expected to be welcomed on at 9am. Speaking to media, Hipkins said he would not criticise the prime minister for not attending but the death of a sitting member of parliament was rare. The nēhu, or burial service, begins at 11am and the day will be streamed live online. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
26-06-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Friends and colleagues remember Takutai Tarsh Kemp
Takutai Tarsh Kemp died on Thursday morning, aged 50. Photo: Supplied/ Te Pāti Māori Friends and colleagues of Takutai Tarsh Kemp say she was a "sister" and "buddy" who has left behind a "remarkable" legacy. Kemp, Te Pāti Māori MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, died in the early hours of Thursday morning aged 50. Friend and Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere urged Kemp to stand for Parliament. He said Kemp began to feel run down toward the end of her 2023 campaign, but wanted a chance to represent her people. Tamihere, at the Hoani Waititi Marae in West Auckland, told Morning Report Kemp was a big part of a "tight knit" community. "I was always in admiration of her work, and getting our international hip hop artists to even beat the best in the US," an emotional Tamihere said. "She had a remarkable journey of service to our youth communities in the South of the Auckland area. "And then over the pandemic we rested shoulder-to-shoulder for three long years - when others were in lockdown we had to get out there and do business." Tamihere said Kemp was a sister to him, "like Te Pāti Māori is a whānau". He said she was diagnosed last year with "serious kidney problems". "She battled remarkably and none of us - even her whānau - knew of the possibility of her passing away under dialysis. Her legacy is absolute an commitment to our people regardless of what other people said, she just believed." Another friend and colleague of Kemp's said the two "had a lot of laughs" and had "done a lot of crazy things" over the years, and her death has come as a shock. Papakura Marae chief executive Tony Kake said he had known Kemp since she was a high schooler at Rosehill College, and the two worked side-by-side for much of their careers. Kake said she was his "buddy" when they served on the district health board and offered him support when they both took the top jobs at Manurewa and Papakura maraes. "She was also really good in terms of supporting Pae Tiaki, which is over 20 years old [and] is a group that serves our community and do community dinners and Christmas lunches every year, and a whole lot of activities." Manurewa Marae is a crucial part of the wider Auckland marae network, which Kake said Kemp laid the foundation for. "She was instrumental in getting the Tāmaki Herenga Waka collective of marae off the ground. She's a key advocate for that... marae not being competitive against each other, but just all working together." Kake said she took hip hop in New Zealand "to the world" and led groups onto an international stage, culminating in her being appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021, for services to street dance and youth. Wreaths on the House seat of Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith As Kemp was an electorate MP, her death means a by-election will need to be held. There were 44,095 registered voters in the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate. The Speaker of the House will publish a notice of vacancy in the New Zealand Gazette notifying the House of the vacancy. The prime minister will announce the date of the by-election. After the notice has been published in the Gazette , the governor-general will issue a writ within 21 days, instructing the chief electoral officer to conduct a by-election. Labour MP Peeni Henare, who narrowly lost to Kemp in 2023, said it was too soon to give any thought to that, referencing a Māori saying that "the body is still warm". Labour's Māori caucus co-chair Willie Jackson said the party would not be talking about a by-election at all, until the appropriate time. "This is a time to grieve for Tarsh, for Te Pāti Māori, and for our people of South Auckland. We just want to remember her and pay the appropriate tributes." There were currently 123 seats in Parliament, an overhang of three due to Te Pāti Māori picking up two more seats than it would otherwise have from its share of the party vote, and National picking up one extra due to the Port Waikato by-election. If Henare were to re-contest the seat and win, Labour would bring in an extra MP from the party list, as the number of list MPs is calculated prior to the general election. On Friday morning Kemp will be formally welcomed onto Hoani Waititi Marae, where she will lie for one night. Then on Saturday she will return home, to Opaea Marae in Taihape, before being laid to rest on Tuesday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
