Many lament the death of Morvin Simon

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11 years ago

Maori leaders have paid tribute to Whanganui kaumatua Morvin Te Anatipa Simon, an exceptional composer, choirmaster, kapa haka leader, academic and historian.

Simon died in Wellington hospital on 14 May after a long period of ill health.

E te uri o Hinengakau, e te reo reka o te awa tupua, e te matua Morvin, kei te mamae, kei te tangi te ngakau ki a koe kua wehe atu nei. E kore to kanohi e kitea, engari to reo ka rangona tonutia e waiata mai ana ki nga topito o te motu, heke iho ki nga uri whakatupu. Haere, haere, haere ra. E te whanau pani, ka nui te aroha ki a koutou.

Simon was a descendant of Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārang, Ngati Apa and Ngati Tuwharetoa tribes.

He was born at Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River. He was educated at Upokongaro School and Hato Paora Māori Boys College before going on to study philosophy and sociology at Holy Name College in Christchurch and Māori language and Oral Literature at Victoria and Massey Universities.

Simon was renowned both nationally and internationally for his ability to compose choral pieces.

The programme co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Performing Arts at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi, Rob Ruha, said he would be sadly missed in the kapa haka world.

Gerrard Albert, of Ngati Tuera, Nga Paerangi said the Whanganui River had lost a unique man who had many gifts.

He said when Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi was the tribe in residence during the Awa Tipua exhibition at Te Papa museum 10 years ago, he was the right person to explain Whanganui tikanga.

Che Wilson of Ngati Rangi, who worked closely with Mr Simon, says Uncle Morv will be missed.

“Because of his influence not only within the tribes that he is from but also the Catholic church and especially the kapa haka world where he not only wrote numerous songs for his own people but for Hato Paora and clubs around the country,” he says

Te Tai Hauauru MP, and Maori Party co leader Tariana Turia, said, the unique combination of all of the educational influences Simon experienced “was seen in the incredible repertoire of compositions which made your heart soar, lifted your spirits and then moved you to tears.”

“Like te awa tupua, his waiata could move from tempestuous rapids to smooth waters that caress your every trouble away. E riporipo ana ngAe wai – the one comfort we can turn to is to know the river flows on, and the melodies will be taken up by all our mokopuna to lift our hearts at this time of sorrow.”

Former Maori Affairs deputy secretary Neville Baker said Simon was one of the best writers of Maori, as well as being an expert in tikanga and in guiding the iwi forward.

Morvin Simon lay at Hato Paora College in Fielding on Wednesday night before being taken to Kaiwhaiki Marae on the Whanganui River where his body was to lie until his burial.

Morvin Simon is survived by his wife Kura and 11 children

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