He Poroporoaki

Over Easter weekend a local historian passed away. Don Stafford had done much to ensure the stories, historical events and lives in particular of local Maori were well documented.

Don was a hugely generous character who was always willing to offer insight and advice. He very kindly reviewed text for The Volcanic Heartland- a guide to our districts public art and on more than one occasion lent his expertise to our planning of public art works here in Rotorua.

Opportunities for significant public artworks in a small city are not so frequent, and so usually will honour or make reference to notable figures or moments in history. The recorders and keepers of our stories are then very central to much of our preparation for public art works.

So, we will miss Don, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the role of the historians, the writers and nga kaumatua Maori and Pakeha in building the foundation for so many public art works.

Haere atu ra. Haere ki nga tupuna kua riro ki te po.