RIP Wira

Radio NZ report:

Prominent Māori leader Sir Wira Gardiner has died at the age of 78.

My thoughts go out to Hekia and his family at this very sad time.

I commented back in 2008:

I was very pleased to see Wira Gardiner gain a DCNZM (equal to the old KBE or KNZM) in the QB Honours.

When talking about the issues of the bureaucracy in totality, it can be easy to overlook the immense contribution some civil servants make to New Zealand. They tend to only get publicity when things go wrong.

Wira has contributed significantly to both the public and private sectors over the years, and almost inevitably is the trouble shooter sent in by the Government of the day (Labour and National) when a dysfunctional Maori agency needs a correcting hand.

And more recently:

I remarked a couple of days ago to someone that Sir Wira was the most competent and accomplished Maori public servant of his generation. He has been a trouble shooter for Ministers of all Governments for over 20 years. New Zealand would be worse off, if it were not for his service over many years.

He will be missed and mourned by many from Ngapuhi to Ngai Tahu and all those in-between.