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Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People View our
NZSL name

On the passing of Kaumatua Maaka Tibble MNZM

Chief Executive Tumu Whakarae, Paula Tesoriero MNZM acknowledges the passing of Kaumatua Maaka Tibble (Ngati Porou). 

NZSL interpreter, Paula Tesoriero & Maaka Tibble seated on a stage. They are smiling and laughing together. A purple Whaikaha banner is behind them and Maaka is in a suit and holding a long silver and black cane
NZSL interpreter Darrel Firth, Paula Tesoriero and Maaka Tibble seated on a stage at the launch of the NZSL name for Whaikaha in 2023. They are smiling and laughing together. A purple Whaikaha stand up banner is behind them and Maaka is in a suit and holding a long silver and black cane.

Whakarongo pīkari mai rā 

Whakarongo pīkari mai rā 

Haukerekeretia ana te ohomauri, pā mai te ohorere 

Kua hinga rā he tōtara nui i te wao nui o Tāne 

Kua hinga rā te rangatira o Ngāti Porou 

He pou tokomanawa tōna i te ao Kāpō Māori 

Ko koe tēnā e Maaka i whatungarongaro ana ki te pō 

Riringi noa ngā roimata, e tangi ana i te kawenga o te mamae te aroha 

He ngākau matapōrehu i roto i ahau i tō wehanga e Maaka 

Kia mau tonu mātou ki te taonga nāu i homai 

Kia whai ora, Kia whai hua, Kia whai kaha e. 

Listen intently, listen attentively 

Sudden and unexpected shock overwhelms us 

A mighty tree has fallen in the great forest 

A chiefly Ngāti Porou leader has fallen 

The central pou of Kāpō Māori 

It is you Maaka who has disappeared into the night 

Tears pour out, weeping as they convey the pain and love 

My heart is filled with sadness at your departure Maaka 

We holdfast to the taonga you gifted us 

Live well, be fruitful, find strength. 

Nō reira e āku Kaumatua Maaka Tibble, piki ake e koe ki te atamira o tō maunga ko Hikurangi e tū mai rā, haere, haere, haere atu rā. 

And so our dearest Kaumatua and friend, climb to the summit of your mountain, Hikurangi that stands there, farewell, farewell Maaka Tibble. 

On behalf of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People we join the Kāpō Māori community in acknowledging the passing of Kaumatua Maaka Tibble (Ngāti Porou) MNZM.

In the coming days and weeks, there will be more to say about this great man, who was a long-time advocate for our community, and we owe a lot to his years of mahi. 

Mātua Maaka talked about being inspired by the words of Nelson Mandela, “how can we turn disability into ability, disharmony to harmony and disadvantage to advantage”.  He also talked about the influence of Sir Mason Durie, who coined the phrase “Whaiora”, which means to have wellbeing.  

This led Mātua Maaka to suggest “Whaikaha” or “Tāngata Whaikaha”, as a strengths-based term for disabled people. Tangata whaikaha means people who are determined to do well.  

We were honoured that Matua Maaka gifted us the name Whaikaha as the te reo Māori name of our Ministry in 2022 when we launched. I will forever be grateful for the role Matua Maaka played in the establishment of Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled People. 

Our thoughts and prayers with his whānau, friends and Kāpō Māori during this time.

I will miss his compassion, his laughter and his dedication to our community.