Acknowledging the passing of King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawhitu

E kara Kīngi Tūheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawhitu ka rongo ī a mātou kei te aituatanga ki a koe. Aue! Haere haere haere koe ki te okioki koe ki te kainga tūturu o te tāngata. Haere ki te tua o te arai takoto, takoto, takoto. E te taniwha nui, kua horohoro mai ngā tihi o ngā maunga o te motu. Kawea ana e ngā awa ngā roimata whakaheke, ka waipuketia ai ko tō awa o Waikato. Taurere tonu ana a ngā hau e whā. Ki te whānau pani ka heke ngā hūpe e tu mokemoke ai taua ia taua. Aroha koutou ki te hanga pouri mo tēnei wā. Auē te aroha, auē te mamae. He tangi mōteatea ka rērere atu

New Zealand Tertiary College whānau acknowledges the passing of King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero te Tuawhitu. To the immediate and extended whānau we share the grief and sorrow of his passing and the impact that will have on all who were touched by his presence and foresight into the future. He built on the legacy of his tupuna before him to provide pathways of unity and solace for all New Zealanders. The programmes of academic study offered within the early childcare sector by NZTC will continue to contribute to the legacy of work his mother Te Ataarangikāhu championed as the patron within the Te Kohanga movement. While we all share the grief of his passing with his immediate and extended whanau, we look forward to the future in realising his wish for te kotahitanga.