Poroporoaki ki Ta Howard Morrison
Kua pokarekare nga wai o Rotorua!
Kua pahu nga waiariki o Ohinemutu!
Kua tairi mai te kohu ki runga o Tamatekapua!
Kua ru te Papaiouru i te hinganga o Ta Howard Morrison, rangatira o Ngati Whakaue, reo rongonui o te ao Maori ki nga topito o te ao!
E te rangatira, ka pa mai te rongo kino nei, ka pakaru mai te tangi o nga iwi huri noa, Maori, Pakeha, i te mamae, i te arohanui ki a koe.
Nou te reo aroha, he reo whakapai i te wairua, whakamama taumahatanga, reo whakamenemene, whakakatakata, he reo whakakotahi i nga iwi.
He reo kawe i te mana Maori ki te ao, he reo waiata i tonoa mai e nga arikinui, e nga upoko, e nga mana nui o nga iwi, o nga whenua puta noa.
Inaianei kua wahangu koe, kua wahangu tatou katoa, haunga ano te hotuhotu o te tangi o te ngakau.
Ta Howard, takoto mai ra, takoto mai ra i te poho o to whanau, o to marae, o to iwi, moe mai ra i te moenga te whakaarahia, i te urunga te taka.
Haere, haere, haere ki te Po!
The Maori Party today expresses their deep sadness at the passing of Sir Howard Morrison.
“Sir Howard’s music, and his style of entertainment, transcended national and cultural boundaries to lift the spirits of people great and small in every corner of the world,” said Dr Pita Sharples.
"Howard took the songs of our people, the songs of his beloved village of Ohinemutu to the world,” he said.
“He touched the hearts of New Zealanders with his incredible talent, never finer than in the Royal Command Performance in 1981, when his rendition of Whakaari Mai (How Great thou art) made us all proud.”
“Sir Howard became a member of the Aotearoa Concert party in 1956, went on to form the Ohinemutu Quartet (later known as the Howard Morrison Quartet); which quickly earnt a reputation as a highly distinguished show band,” said Dr Sharples.
“In between the tours, the concerts, the albums and the relentless work of the show business circuit, Sir Howard is remembered for his devotion to the people," Tariana Turia said.
“His initiative in the organisation of Tu Tangata was as legendary as his singing. Sir Howard was able to utilise his distinctive status to support rangatahi Maori in being able to have dreams and to believe the world was theirs”
“That was perhaps his greatest gift to Aotearoa – that he instilled a fierce sense of pride in us all”.
"The Morrison whanau have lost three prominent members recently with Atareta Maxwell, Taini and now Sir Howard; but the contribution they have all made to Maori performing arts is a legacy we can all be proud of,” said Te Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell.
“We mourn with his family, his widow Lady Kuia and their two sons and daughter, at the loss of this distinguished statesman, adored by the people. Let his music live on.”