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A Waikato man who died yesterday from Covid-19 has been described as a “calm” and “humble” leader.
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Nigel Te Hiko, 54, died after several weeks in Waikato Hospital. Source: 1 NEWS
Nigel Huirama Te Hiko, 54, died yesterday afternoon, following the death of his brother Alan earlier this month from Covid-19.
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The Director General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, read a statement from the family of Nigel Huirama Te Hiko warning the kiwis about the deadly virus. Source: 1 NEWS
Nigel Te Hiko died in the intensive care unit at Waikato Hospital and was known as the leader and historian of Ngāti Raukawa.
He lived in Tokoroa and contracted the virus from his brother, who worked at the Americold refrigerator in Auckland, the source of the latest Auckland group.
The Director General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, confirmed his death today and read a statement on behalf of his family warning of the dangers of Covid-19.
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A community mourns the loss of Nigel and Alan Te Hiko, who lost their lives to the coronavirus. Source: 1 NEWS
“The coronavirus is so real,” the family statement read. “Be vigilant and cautious.”
They also urged those who are sick to get tested and stay home.
Bloomfield says that death illustrates the severity of the disease.
Despite battling the disease prior to Covid-19, Nigel Te Hiko remained humble and continued his work as a historian while serving his iwi, his family said.
“During the last few years, Nigel has been burdened by his deteriorating health. It slowed down, but it didn’t hinder him, nor did it diminish his attitude and desire to continue doing what he could for his iwi and his people.
“His quiet and humble determination not to be bent by illness and to continue to work and strive to complete his work, especially his compilation of a definitive Raukawa History, was an inspiration to all of us.
“He has left immense shoes to fill for the iwi, but we are very grateful that he has left so many words and writings, which will feed the minds and hearts of many of this generation and of the many to come,” the statement. read.
His family also described him as “a leader in the whānau”.
“He gathered whānau together. One call from him and everyone would come to him. He was a father figure to all of our nieces and nephews; he was the one they turned to when they needed advice. It kept the family together.
“He has a lot of love for whānau whānui. The gate to our whānau farm was always open, no matter what time of day or night. Nigel’s door and heart were always open. “
Nigel Te Hiko worked for the Board of the Raukawa Māori Trust for 20 years, which would become the Raukawa Settlement trust.
He had a background in social work, but developed his skills and experience as a researcher and historian.
His colleague and Raukawa president, Vanessa Eparaima, says he was a man of “immense ability and invaluable support to so many.”
“Nigel was a Raukawa historian whose love of knowledge and passion for accumulating and increasing his shared history and that of his tribe and mātauranga leaves a lasting legacy.”
“He was an incredibly humble man, did not yearn to be the center of attention and was an immense support pool often in the background, supporting leaders with whaikōrero when necessary, history and advice, and with the ammunition of investigation and knowledge. knowledge that they were crucial to the conclusion of the Raukawa agreement negotiations. “
His death brings New Zealand’s confirmed death toll from Covid-19 to 25.
