It is with much sadness that I record the passing of John Simpson on 5 October 2008 at Hamilton after a brief illness. 

John was a well known figure in many circles including Maori broadcasting, the public service and within iwi.  For Te Rangihouhiri II John had been a committee member, Te Runanga o Ngati Awa representative since 2002 and since December 2007 secretary to the marae committee and trustees.

Affiliated to a number of tribes within Tairawhiti, John spent much of his time in Ngati Awa serving as a member of Te Runanga o Ngati Awa for Te Rangihouhiri II hapu, Ngati Awa ki Poneke Committee, the Ngati Awa Health Committee, Te Rangihouhiri II Marae Committee and the Rotoehu Forest Trust. 

More than any of these John was perhaps most visibly associated with Te Reo Irirangi o Te Manuka Tutahi Trust and in recent years, Pu Kaea newspaper.  He spent 15 years as firstly an employee and then a trustee of the station playing the central role in establishing its reputation as a leading broadcaster of te reo Maori.  The station won several awards for best Maori broadcast and this was directly attributable to John’s painstaking and sometimes trying attention to detail and quality. 

His knowledge of the IT industry also served the station well and he was called on regularly for his expertise and advice. 

Outside of Ngati Awa John served on many committees, trusts, boards and companies, all involved in some way with Maori development. 

To the last John was a die hard Maori Party supporter and so it was unsurprising that three of their four MPs attended his tangi.  John served his hapu and iwi to the best of his abilities and innumerable talents. 

All his hapu within Ngati Awa including Taiwhakaea II, Hikakino, Te Tawera and Te Rangihouhiri II will all miss his lightening wit, remorseless intelligence and affable good humour in the long and lonely days yet to come.