Poro mō Moana rāua ko June – Nā Te Mete Lowman
Papaki mai ana ngā tai ki te ākau o mahara
Waipukengia ngā awa i te rerenga nui, i te rerenga roa o ngā roimata
Horotia ngā maunga aroha, ngā maunga ngākau
He parekura manawa, he kuratōpuni hirikapo
E pōraruraru tonu ana te iwi i te ngarohanga nui
I te rironga o Moana rāua ko June Jackson ki te kupenga o Taramainuku
E tangi hotuhotu tonu nei te whatumanawa
Kei te māreikura e June, kua roa nei koe e karawhiu ana i tō patu kia werohia ngā taumahatanga o Ngāi Māori otirā kia hīkina te waiora o ngā hapori o Tāmaki Makaurau ki Te Tonga. I tū mīreirei koe ki te mura o tēnā ahi, o tēnā ahi, me tō kaha whakatauira kia kaua rā e tahuri. Ka ora tonu koe ki roto i ngā mahi wero tukanga, wero pūnaha, wero mātāpono o ērā e tāmi tonu nei i te iwi Māori. E te ringarehe, oki atu rā.
Kei te whatukura e Moana, kua rongo i ngā kōrero ka kore pea te ao nei e kite i tētahi anō taniwha pēnā i a koe, ā, kei reira pū te tai nui o ngā mihi ka uhia ki runga i a koe ka tika. Ki te wā o ngā tīpuna he whakairo rākau te mahi kia mau ita ki ngā kōrero tukuiho, nā, ki te wā ki a koe, he whakairo ngākau, he whakairo hirikapo te mahi kia puare katoa te tirohanga, kia māhorahora katoa te whakaaro. E te ringa whāo, moe mai rā.
Kua haehaetia te whenua i ō kōrua tapuae. He tapuae nuku ka kitea, he tapuae rangi ka rangona. Ko tō kōrua ōhākī ko ngā tapuae ngākau ka whāia rawatia tonutia e tātou ngā waihonga. E moe me te mōhio ka pūkana tonu tātou ki runga, ka pūkana tonu tātou ki raro, ka hiki tonu, ka mau ita tonu ki ngā pūkenga, ki ngā wānanga, kāti ka tokona ki te ao. Nō reira, e moe, e moe, okioki atu e.
The tide strikes the bays of memories
The rivers flood with the copious and lengthy cascade of tears
Mountains of love and hearts crumble
There are battles within our hearts and ambushes within our minds
The people remain confused at such a significant loss
The loss of both Moana and June Jackson to the casting net of Taramainuku
In the depths of our souls we continue to weep
To the arguably supernatural women Dame Temuranga June Jackson, for decades you have let your patu fly in challenging the inequities faced by Māori, in particular those of south Auckland, in an attempt to elevate the opportunities and vitality of communities. You have long stood defiant in the face of great fires and have exemplified and modeled to us all what it takes and what the outcomes can be if you are determined enough to withstand the heat. Your legacy will live on as we continue to challenge processes, systems and principles that oppress our people. Lay now in peace thy hand of mastery.
To thy esteemed Dr Moana Jackson, we have heard people sharing that the earth may never again be witness to a guardian and peoples protector such as you, and whilst you remain one of our most humble, this is surely an accurate acknowledgement of what you have brought forth for our people. In the days of our ancestors they would carve and shape wood as a medium to preserve valuable knowledge. In the time you occupied, you carved and shaped hearts and minds to expose critical observations and open free flowing channels of thinking. To thy master carver, may your rest be one of tranquility.
The land has been etched by both of your footprints, Footprints we see terrestrially in what you have achieved, celestially footprints we feel in the copious amount of dreams, aspirations and possibilities you have left with us all. Your parting gifts are those footprints left in our hearts that we will endeavor to keep following. Let your spirits now be free with the knowledge that those remaining here will continue to seek above, will continue to seek below, and will continue to hold fast the attributes and teachings you have instilled in us all as we look to propel them into the world for a great tomorrow.