Dr Jeremy Tātere Macleod, mokopuna of the late Tā Robert ‘Bom’ Gillies, says the last living member of the 28th Māori Battalion died peacefully.
Many across the motu are in mourning today following the death of a legendary man who devoted his life to sharing the futility of war and pursuing justice for the mistreatment of Māori soldiers who returned from World War II.
Speaking to Te Ao Māori News' Te Rina Kowhai late last night, Macleod spoke of Koro Bom’s final day.
“I konei ia i tōna kāinga tonu nei e takoto ana, e karapotia ana e tana whānau, e āna mokopuna tonu. Nō reira, e ai ki te kōrero, mārire tōna mate, tino rangimārie tōna nei mate."
He is here at his home lying in state, surrounded by his family and his grandchildren. Consequently, he died peacefully, his passing was very peaceful.
Koro Bom’s father was of Ngāti Kahungunu descent, while his mother was of Te Arawa descent. Macleod said both waka will be mourning the loss of a rangatira.
“Ā, kei konei a ia, kei konei te whānau e whakatikatika ana i ngā nekenekehanga ki te kotahi te tū i ōna waka e rua, a Takitimu me Te Arawa.”
While he is here, his whānau are getting things in order, so there is a united front for his two waka of Takitimu and Te Arawa.
Macleod, the former director of te reo, tikanga and mātauranga for Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi , also shed light on Gillies’ final months before his passing, acknowledging the veteran had been in a car accident earlier this year.
“Tekau mā rua wiki ki muri nei ka haua, ka aituāhia tōna motokā. Koirā te takenga mai o tana mate. Ki te kore tērā, tino whakapono ana au ka eke te kaumātua nei ki ana tau kotahi rau nei.”
Twelve weeks ago he had a car accident. That’s when his health began to deteriorate. If not for that, I truly believe the old man would have reached his 100 years.
Koro Bom was born in 1925, and was set to turn 100 in February.
A tangihanga to honour the life of the Aotearoa legend and the final living member of the 3600 men in the 28th Māori Battalion begins on Friday but only for his immediate whānau.
On Saturday afternoon, his body will lie in state at Paratehoata-Te Kōhea Marae within Ōhinemutu in Rotorua where Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po will lead Tainui waka to pay their respects and mourn alongside the waka of Te Arawa. Then on Sunday, the marae will welcome the rest of the country to pay their respects.
Tangihanga and Koha details:
PÃNUI NÃ TE WHÃNAU TONU A TÃ RÃPATA BOM GILLIES (KUA WHAKAHOUTIA)
(OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE WHANAU OF THE LATE SIR RAPATA BOM GILLIES - UPDATED 12NOON 8 NOVEMBER 2024) NGÃ WHAKAHAERE O TE TANGIHANGA O TO TATAU KAUMATUA:
• Paraire 8 o Noema - waiho tenei rã ki te whanau anake.
• Friday 8 November - The immediate whänau asks that this day is reserved solely for them.
• Hatarei 9 o Noema - 1pm ka eke a Koro ki Paratehoata-Te Köhea Marae, ki Tunohopo, ka takoto mo te kotahi hãora. • Saturday 9 November - 1pm; Koro will be taken to lie at Paratehoata-Te Köhea Marae, Tunohopo for one hour.
• Hatarei 9 o Noema - 2pm ka eke a Koro ki Te Papaiouru Marae (Tamatekapua). Ko te tono kia hui katoa a Te Arawa waka ki reira ka noho hai tangata whenua, hai whakatau i to tätau pakeke ki runga i te marae.
• Saturday 9 November - 2pm; Koro will be taken to Te Papaiouru Marae (Tamatekapua). Te Arawa waka is asked to arrive earlier and muster with the hau kainga and welcome Koro on to Te Papaiouru.
• Hatarei 9 o Noema - 4pm ka eke a Te Arikinui Kuini Ngã Wai Hono i te Põ me te waka o Tainui ki Te Papaiouru Marae (Tamatekapua). Mã Te Arawa waka whanui e pohiri.
• Saturday 9 November - 4pm; Te Arikinui Kuini Ngã Wai Hono i te Põ & Tainui waka will arrive at Te Papaiouru Marae (Tamatekapua).
• Ratapu 10 o Noema - ka tuwhera te marae ki te motu.
• Sunday 10 November - the marae will be open to the motu.
• Mane 11 o Noema - ka tuwhera tonu te marae ki te motu. Poroporoaki ā taua po.
• Monday 11 November - the marae will be open to the motu. Poroporoaki that evening.
• Túrei 12 o Noema - rã nehu, ka t te karakia whakamutunga te 11am. Ka kawea a Koro ki Kauae urupa nehua ai.
• Tuesday 12 November - funeral service at 11am. Burial service to follow at Kauae.
For ope travelling to the tangihanga on bus, please contact Piki Thomas, 027 244 8784 for parking instructions.
For whanau wishing to give koha:
38-9014-0471103-00 Robyn Henderson