What a beautiful Papa you had. And with your Mum they were amazing parents to you all. And you are are parts of them too and right through to the mokopuna and the moko moko's too. Ataahua. Tino arohanui Coleen and Keri G

It was a pleasure and privilege to have spent time with Rua. I will always remember our dancing in the kitchen, strolling around his beautiful garden, his passion for hot chocolate and ice cream (preferably before the lunch I was there to prepare!) and his love of kina. But most of all I will remember the twinkle in his eye and the smile that could light up a room. God bless you Rua.

Love you Uncle Boy, what an inspiration you are. I say are, as your legacy lives on in so many of us. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and humour and for being truly unique. Your sister Irene I know would sing with her angel voice to lift you on your journey. Rest In Peace x

Moe mai ra e te rangatira Uncle Rua. Much has been written about you and your kindness to those of us who had you for a short time at T-coll. You gave us the tools to live great lives and lead others like with those pots of tea brewing happily on the gas burner. Neither judging nor criticising our antics. Your infectious sense of fun and adventure when diving or driving or drinking. Thank you for the many lessons you shared generously with us. Manaaki on whatever Marae we were at is a life lesson you gave me, (grab a tea towel, sing a song during kai for our manuhiri, read the situation, try this shark repellant…) nga mihi. To sing with heart and like you mean it. You helped a great group of people forge lifelong friendships with each other and your whanau. Ma te aroha kei a koutou ko Kataraina, Vivienne, me Marie-Anne. We probably got some Uncle Rua’s best years. Rest now e hoa.

E te poutokomanawa te rangatira Homai te raukura hei mau ake He tohu matauranga rangona nui He tohu tenei I whakarereangia iho ai e te tupuna Tatou tangi ai Moe mai ra E Koro ki tou moengaroa Kua ngaro koe I a matou Aue te aroha he kaikino nei Aue te mamae nui e Aue Uncle Rua moe mai e My favourite lecturer!! Uncle Rua you taught me to to play with kids. Teach them te reo while having fun!! AND first and foremost love and show care for them. Ko te tika, te pono me te aroha. Manaaki tamariki me wa ratou whanau I nga wa katoa! Your farrrr out groovy kanikani with those missing fingers and sparkle in your eye. I have had a pretty amazing career because of you... teaching, policy, mediator dispute resolution arbitrator, National Manager Maori for Housing, Ministerial appointments as Chair of the State Housing Appeals Authority and Weathertight Dispute Resolution, had my own business, Cultural Consultant for Corrections at Paremoremo, Bicultural Therapy in prisons and community, establishing Maori Mental Health and Addictions (Mahi a Atua), Tika and Pono Senior Leader and Maori Strategist and so much more. All of this with you in mind. Kia aroha tetahi ki tetahi, manaaki whanau I nga waa katoa. Kei Opononi ahau e noho ana inaianei. A, ka maumahara au te puke o 'Rua's Run'. Ia ra, ia ra, ka maumahara au I a koe me ou tarau poto e oma eke ki te tihi o te puke. He maumahara hoki tou kaputi... koropupu, koropupu mai I te Ara o te ra ki te taenga mai o te po... hmmm, he inu pai ki etahi pea!!! Hahahahaha. Moe mai ra I te taha o tou hoa rangatrira Uncle Rua. Moe mai ra I roto I te rangimarie. Love you! Karena x

A generation of young teacher trainees affectionately called you 'Uncle Rua' at a time when 'matua' and whaea' were not common terms. It was a term of endearment for a friend, a confidant, a supporter, a buddy, a fantastic teacher and a role model. You were always honest, caring and part of a brilliant team that included Taru Rankin and Toby Curtis- little did we know that we were walking with giants. The time you gave us in in our early lives have shaped the rest of our lives and for that I know I speak for many people when I say we are eternally grateful. Thank you for being the haka-boogie 9 finger waiata expert, for the cook ups at lunchtime, the hangi tips, the van trips and pub stops, for telling us to 'read the situation' when were dumb, for being the coolest 50 year old silver motopaika riding leathered Maori fulla in 1980's Auckland. And most importantly of all- being your own man and teaching us to make a stand when you need to, but to treat everyone regardless of their race and background with respect. If you had one mantra- it was 'aroha ki te tāngata'. Ngā mihi atu ki a koe, e tai. Moe mai rā. Haere atu ki te wa kāinga. Ngā mihi atu ki te whanau hoki- thank you for sharing your papa. A bloody good man.

Uncle Rua a treasure to many of us. You supported many who were on their learning journey in the teaching profession. The waiata charts that you made are so memorable - that handwriting style can not be reproduced by anyone. Moe mai rā e te Rangatira, moe mai rā Uncle Rua x Arohanui Jenny Williams (aka Bushy)

E te pāpā e Rua, he kākano rangatira koe i ruia mai i Rangiātea. He maha noa ngā tini kākano kua tiakina e ō ringa, kua waiho rā āianei i te ātārangi o tō haerenga. Otirā, ahakoa te pōuri, me whiti mai te rā, kia ahu mai ngā otaota mō ngā rā kei tua. Nō reira e te pou, haere atu rā, hoki atu rā ki tō tātou kāinga tūturu, ki Hawaiki nui, Hawaiki roa, Hawaiki pāmamao. As Rog suggested "Glory Days!!! "Nō mātou te waimarie... we were among giants... With the Tauira who went before us.. the Third and Second Years, the secondary cohort Achlee mā, those that came after us ... but most of all our Taumata - the trinity : ko Tarutaru, ko Toby koutou ko Rua...me te kāhui, ko George, ko Haari, ko Mākere, ko Te Ao (Ma), ko Graham rāua ko Linda.... what a line up... and all we had to do was turnup All of them had gifts to share and of these gifts .. it was Uncle Rua who bought the colour... Nō reira e te pāpā Nā t e whānau haere, haere, okioki ai

E Pāpā Rua, although I never had the privilege of meeting you, I have felt your presence through the many stories I've heard told about you and the memories shared by those who knew you well. I know that you were larger than life, a man whose talents and gifts were as numerous as the stars. It's said that you were, an outstanding academic and leader, musically talented, with a razor-sharp mind and keen sense of humour and that you touched the lives of so many, bringing joy to those who had the pleasure of spending time with you. I've heard tales of your passion for fishing and diving and deep love of the moana but that your greatest passion in life was your whānau, your hoa rangatira Marie, your tamariki, mokopuna and great mokopuna. I know you held high standards and had an unwavering commitment to excellence. I've heard you could be strict, but that you were also a man who loved to have fun and cared deeply for those around you. Your loving nature is evident in the relationships you built and the lives you influenced. Now, as you rest in peace, e te rangatira, your legacy continues. Your talented tamariki and mokopuna carry on your traditions, expressing your many gifts and talents ... they continue to make you proud. The memories shared by those who knew you best serve as a testament to the remarkable person that you were and so it is my privilege to share in these memories of you. I wish to send my love and deepest condolences to your tamariki, mokopuna, whānau and friends. Nō reira, haere, Pāpā Rua. Your spirit will continue to guide and inspire us as we remember and honour the extraordinary life you lived. Haere, haere, moe mai rā. Huhana xxx

Much love to you all, Kataraina, Maree-Anne, and Viv and to your dad’s many mokopuna. Thinking of you all as you farewell your beautiful father, a man who always seemed to have a twinkle in his eye, a fine dance step, and a wonderful sense of fun. Moe mai te Rangatira. Kate xx

Uncle Rua, you are one unique and memorable man. 'Read the situation' was your favourite saying, particularly when anyone was standing around when there were things to do! Your leather jacket and motorbike, what a cool dude. Playing your guitar with multiple missing fingers...teaching us 'Maungawhau te maunga...', being patient and then impatient with us as we navigated and bumped our way in our journey to the teaching profession. How on earth you still supported us when we were so naughty I do not know. I also didn't realise that we were sitting at the feet of giants...we were so blessed to have had the experience of a lifetime. You, Uncle Rua, played a huge role in our lives and in our Tutahi Tonu whānau. What this has done is bind us together, we carry a legacy left by you but it takes all of us together to be half the man you are. Moe mai rā e te Rangatira, moe mai rā Uncle Rua x Arohanui Doreen

E te papa, kua whaia e koe i tou whaiaipo a Maree, nō mātou te whiwhinga, te waihotanga mai o ou tini taonga ki te ao nei. Much love to you all, Maree-Anne, Kataraina and Viv and to uncle's many mokopuna, mokopuna tuarua hoki. Kia au te moe ki Pipiwai, ki waenganui te whānau o Ngāti Hine e Rua. Whānau, I thought 'oh well, third time lucky' but it was not to be enjoy the conversations, songs and reconecctions. Arohanui mō ake tonu, aunty Kirixx and Tiatamahaxxx.

Te Rangatira a Rua, moe mai, moe mai, moe mai. To my friend Marianne, and Vivenne and Kataraina, much aroha to you all.