A
tribute to a Maori legend: Kaumatua Denis Hansen
Thakur
Ranjit Singh
 |
| KAUMATUA DENIS WILMOTT HANSEN-7 May, 1933 - 4 September, 2013 |
Western Leader was right to give a headline—“A mighty kauri falls..”
and Radio Live’s Willy Jackson and
John Tamihere dubbed him “….the greatest character in Maoridom…”
and we in West Auckland would know him as the
first Life Member of an Indian Association.
The news of sudden passing away of KAUMATUA DENIS WILMOTT
HANSEN hit the Indian
community of Waitakere like a bolt of lightning. We had lost a friend, an
elder, an Uncle, a Papa, a mentor, a relative and our link and communication to
the Maori community.
 |
| DENNIS WILMOTT HANSEN- an octogenarian whose 80th birthday was publicly marked by people of all walks of life at Civic Theatre, Auckland on 8 June, 2013. |
KAUMATUA DENIS HANSEN never felt like, or was ever treated as an outsider, nor did we
in Waitakere Indian Association (WIA)
feel he was not one of us. Whenever we had our functions and events, he was
always there like a precious talisman of the Indian community, always present
to give his blessings and prominent tall honoured presence. Be it Diwali, our
social or Holi, our events were incomplete without him.
 |
| Papa Hansen -doing what he does best-Blessing Waitakere Diwali at Trusts Stadium last October. Any function of Waitakere Indian Association was considered incomplete without his blessings. |
Just in our last AGM a
few months earlier, it was resolved to make him a Life Member of WIA. Before
this could be formalised, his call came. However, despite his passing away,
Denis Hansen remains the first life member of Waitakere Indian Association
posthumously. What an honour for WIA that it was not an Indian, but a
descendent of an original settler, a Maori, who has the distinct honour of
being a Life Member of an Indian organisation. He has been that fitting person
to embrace that honour, in life, and in death, and does justice to the
position.
Some years ago, WIA members
had visited Waitangi’s historical site and stayed overnight to get an
appreciation of history with the blessings of Kaumatua Hansen. He has also
helped Indians bridge the gap with Maori community in Rotorua and has worked
closely with Hindu Council of New Zealand.
 |
| Papa Hansen (in blue), blessing and gracing his honoured presence at Waitakere Holi Festival last year. |
Waitakere Indian Association was having its Diwali
meeting on Thursday September, 5, 2013. On Wednesday evening, Kaumatua Dennis
Hanson’s close friend Mahendra Sharma Danny rang him, and left a message on his
mobile, that it was his friend Danny reminding him of the meeting.
 |
| Papa Hansen with his son-like close friend, Pundit Mahendra Sharma Danny, whose home was always open for this elder who was regarded as part of the family. |
Little did they realise that our beloved Kaumatua, our
Maori link was not around to listen to that message. Our uncle and Kaumatua
Denis Hanson was no more. We had lost him to an untimely death-untimely because
despite being an octogenarian (80 plus), he was full of life, energy, action
and most importantly, humour and practical jokes. Even in his death, he raised
commotion. It was well summed up by Western
Leader that Denis Hanson knew how to command attention in life--- and in
death. The sudden heart attack caused his car to hit the road barrier at
Lincoln Road off ramp that blocked North-Western Motorway for most of afternoon
of Wednesday 4th September. Even his passing away was full of
attention, but he went away without bidding us farewell.
 |
| Part of Waitakere Indian Association delegation that attended his 80th birthday celebration, and did a special presentation at Civic Theatre, Auckland on 8 June, 2013. Dressed for the occasion are(from left) Messrs Manoj Tahal, Mahendra Sharma (Danny), Dhani Ram, Pravin Kumar and Master Sanjay Dutt Sharma. |
It sounded so unreal. It
was just a few months ago, on June 8 that a full Civic Theatre, marked his
birthday. Because of the close relationship Kaumatua and Waitakere Indian
Association shared, he was always considered part of WIA, while WIA was part of
Honi Waititi Marae. Indians in Waitakere were adopted in this Marae through
Waitakere Indian Association, and we were never felt to be strangers to this
land. It was Uncle Denis who invited a delegation of Indians to Honi Waititi
marae in 2009, where yours truly gave a speech and included this dream which we
shared with Uncle Denis:
 |
| 80th Birthday celebration at Civic Theatre - with Whanau, friends, well-wishers, contemporaries and close family members . |
I
stressed that my grandfather was brought to Fiji to prop up agriculture.
Therefore, the Indo Fijian migrants to New Zealand should not only be destined
to running taxis and dairy shops, but could also help in developing agriculture
in New Zealand and help in economic and agricultural activities. This could be
done by utilizing thousands of acres of Maori land lying idle while Maori
youths were involved in urban crime, drugs, gangs and wasting their lives away.
There was much New Zealand could gain from the Indo-Fijian migrants whose real
talents as farmers have gone begging. That is something that is on the planning
board for discussion with Kaumatua Hanson and elders to forge an economic
relationship which has hitherto escaped the notice of New Zealand leadership.
 |
| Papa Hansen (extreme right) having fun and sharing a meal at Waitakere Diwali Festival with Social Development Minister, Paula Bennett and friends. Papa's close friend, Danny, as he called Mahendra Sharma, is at extreme left. As is indicated by name tags, both Papa Hansen and Danny were parts of the Diwali Organising Committee. So close was Papa's relation with Waitakere Indian Association, that he was considered a part of the organisation, which has bestowed its first ever Life Membership to Papa Hansen. |
Alas, this may never be
realised now, that the main architect is gone, but we have hope that Waipareira
Trust and John Tamihere will still have that relationship and collaboration
with Waitakere Indian Association in absence of Uncle Dennis. If nothing else,
just to ignite the flame of integration that Uncle Denis fanned.
 |
| John Tamihere, CEO of Waipareira Trust (left) with friends at Denis Hansen's 80th birthday celebration at Civic Theatre. John has been a close friend of Papa Hansen, and and is vested with realising the dreams of Papa Hanson to work for the betterment of Maori and migrant communities and forge ahead with seeds of collaboration Kaumatua planted. |
Continuing this
collaboration of migrants with Maori community has been the dream of Papa
Hansen, and it will be a fitting gesture to continue in the tradition that this
fallen Kauri planted as a seedling, that will produce many more Kauris.
May his soul rest in peace
and West Auckland gather strength to bear his sad loss and absence.
 |
| So long Papa, may your soul rest in peace. |
So, long, Papa.
[E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz]
No comments:
Post a Comment