An Ōtorohanga marae was the scene of celebrations last weekend for a New Year’s honour bestowed on a University of Waikato professor.
And among those to pay tribute was Pirongia’s Dame Coral Shaw, who was also honoured in the King’s New Year list. Coral Shaw was one of seven knights and dames named. She became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to public service, the judiciary and the community.
Tom Roa, who grew up in Ōtorohanga and has spent many years working at Waikato University’s campus in Hamilton, was named Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for his contribution to keeping te reo Māori alive – and growing.
Timing was significant for the event which attracted more than 200 supporters. Roa’s investiture in Wellington before governor general Dame Cindy Kiro was on Saturday morning. He was back at Ōtorohanga’s Tārewānga marae – adjacent to Ōtorohanga College – before 3pm, and in time to hear dozens of mobile phones sound a warning about the pending arrival of former Cyclone Vaianu.
The Ngāti Maniapoto organised event was timed to finish at 7pm to ensure everyone could get home safely and before the weather turned.
Speakers included University of Waikato vice chancellor Neil Quigley, the chair of the Waikato mayoral forum and Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe, the chair of Waikato-Tainui’s executive arm, Te Arataura, Rahui Papa and, later over dinner, former Hamilton mayor Margaret Evans, Dame Coral, professor Sandy Morrison. A history outlining the fight to keep te reo alive was presented by Māori language advocate Cathy Dewes.
Dame Coral, who chaired the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions from 2019 to 2024, and went to Wellington a day earlier for her investiture, joked that she told officials: “you ain’t seen nothing yet – Tom Roa is coming tomorrow!”
The honours were the highest form of accolade for service – “your honour Tom, is being recognised by New Zealand as an individual. The King and the nation salute you.”
Rahui Papa said Tom Roa was an exemplar of fighting the good fight, and his time at Waikato University, where he is a professor in the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, was “a marriage made in heaven”.
Roa, speaking at the end of the event showed his mischievous side when he asked his audience if they knew why he had selected Tārewānga marae for the event over larger marae.
“How many of you did not know of the existence of this marae before now?” he asked. At the show of hands he said “that’s why”.
“Look at this humble place – so I thought, let’s bring the outstanding people of New Zealand to this humble marae so my hapu can see you, smell you, feel you and feed you – it’s called succession planning.”
Governor general Dame Cindy Kiro with Professor Tom Roa
