21 Oct 2011
Creative New Zealand acknowledges with deep respect, the passing of kuia Emma Rogers (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui , Ngāi Tahu) who died yesterday morning.
E te morehu kuia, kua riro atu rā koe e te ringa kaha o aitua. Kei te hahae te tau o te ate. Kei te mōteatea ngā mahara mōu kua rere rā koe ki te kāhui rangatira, te kāhui o Matariki. Te kīkī ā manu, i tēnei rā kua ngaro atu i te kitenga ā kanohi. Ko te mamae ia ka kai ki te kiri. Kia kapo ake ko te maumahara. Ko koe tēnei ka riro nei. Kua ekengia e koe tō waka whakarei ki Te Reinga e titiro ake ai koe ki ngā tai e rua e papaki mai rā. E kore a muri e hokia. Na reira haere, haere, haere atu rā.
Creative New Zealand acknowledges with deep respect, the passing of kuia Emma Rogers (Te Whakatōhea, Te Whānau-a-Apanui , Ngāi Tahu) who died yesterday morning.
In September, Emma Rogers was honoured at the annual Creative New Zealand Te Waka Toi awards in Wellington. Te Waka Toi, the Māori Arts Board of Creative New Zealand, recognised her expertise in whakapapa, mōteatea and haka, together with her willingness to share this tribal knowledge with her community. She received Te Tohu a Tā Kīngi Ihaka/The Sir Kingi Ihaka award.
Chair of Te Waka Toi, Darrin Haimona says, “Emma’s lifelong commitment to preserving and celebrating Māori heritage arts is invaluable. She was an accomplished composer of waiata and haka, a talented weaver, an exponent of te reo Māori and steeped in knowledge of the Ringatū faith. It was our privilege to celebrate her at the awards last month, and our honour to farewell her today”.
A consummate performer, Mrs Rogers was the founding tutor of highly respected Māori performing arts group, Te Kapa Haka o Te Whānau ā Apanui. For many years Mrs Rogers adjudicated at regional and national kapa haka competitions throughout New Zealand. She was a Life Member of Mātaatua Kapa Haka Incorporated (the Mātaatua regional kapa haka committee). In 1986 she played a major role in establishing Mātaatua as an independent region of what is now Te Matatini, the national body for Māori Performing Arts. Prior to this Mātaatua was part of Te Waiariki region.
Mrs Rogers was a foundation member of Ngā Puna Waihanga, the national body of Māori artists and writers. She was instrumental in the group’s formation when it first met at Te Kaha in 1973. She was also committed to revitalising te reo Māori and spent years during the 1980s and 1990s, teaching at Tokamaia Kōhanga Reo in Opotiki.
As a daughter of the former Poutikanga (Head) of the Ringatū church, Mrs Rogers was an acknowledged authority on Ringatū karakia (prayers) and histories pertaining to founder of the religion and leader, Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki.
“With the wisdom of a true leader, Emma shared her expertise so the language, concepts, faith and skills of her people would continue. Even so, we have lost a treasure and it is with heavy heart we say farewell”. Mr Haimona said.
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