PUANAKI, Tiki Te Aroha(Richard)

HE AITUĀ
Richard Tiki Te Aroha Puanaki
19/01/1949 – 20/04/2021
He mihi whānui rawa
E te whānau, ngā whanaunga
Tuakana, teina, tamariki
Tātou Te Whare o Puanaki
Mate atu tētēkura, ka ara mai tētēkura e
(Rihari Puanaki, 2021)

It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of our Puanaki whānau patriarch, Rihari (Dick) Puanaki. Known and loved by so many people across Aotearoa and the world, Rihari gave so much to his whānau, communities and kaupapa. From captivating audiences as an actor, tutoring kapa haka, composing waiata (including Ka Waiata), being a teacher and principal, to even almost becoming a priest, and everything else in between, Rihari led a colourful and vibrant life and touched many lives!
Equally as colourful is Rihari’s many whakapapa links. At the risk of missing out naming any one of those many important hononga, what I will write is that Rihari took great pride to learn and share our whānau whakapapa. Indeed, Rihari’s reputable whakapapa credentials covers the breadth of the motu. However, he was predominantly raised in his Kahungunu rohe in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, where he lived and worked right through to his last days.
As one of his sons, I knew Rihari by his most important role, being pāpā. Rihari provided love and shelter for many whānau and friends, and in recent years he took on the role of raising twins Naomi and Boh Clair and being Karani Pāpā (grandfather). Rihari enjoyed the close relationship with his brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Rihari’s love knew no bounds. On a personal note, dad’s deeply held values, ethics, morals and convictions, stemming from his lifelong commitment to the Catholic faith, will be his enduring legacy.
E kore e pahawa i ēnei whārangi ruarua nei te nui o tō ātārangi nāna nei i whakamarumaru te tini me te mano, reanga atu, reanga mai. Engari tērā te ātārangi o te Atua te whakamarumaru nei i a koe, ā haere ake nei. Moe mai rā i te mate pukupuku-koretanga o te pō, e taku pāpā, e te poutokomanawa o Te Whare o Puanaki. Kua mutu tō whawhai.

**DETAILS OF TANGIHANGA**
Rihari will be taken to Tawhiti-a-Maru marae on Wednesday afternoon, 21 April and will lie in St Theresa’s Church.
• Address for Tawhiti-a-Maru is 24 Ruataniwha Rd, Wairoa.
Rihari will have his final service on Friday 23 April, at 11am, St Peters Parish, followed by burial and hākari back at the St Peters Parish hall.
• Address for St Peters Parish is 64 Queen St, Wairoa
For further information, please contact our whānau spokesperson – Ginnie Mikara
027 241 1132
In you wish to send any letters or whakaaro, please send to
• 87 Campbell St, Wairoa, 4108
E kore e māhitihiti te aroha i te wā
Ānō te whāroa, ānō te hīrere
o Te Wairoa Hōpūpū Hōnengenenge Mātangi Rau
E tere nei e