Mayor pays tribute local identity

Far North Mayor Kahika Moko Tepania has paid tribute to Te Hiku local, Des Mahoney, who has passed away after a long battle with cancer.

‘Matua Des’ was secretary of the Ngākahu/Ngākohu Whānau Ahuwhenua Trust for many years and project managed the decommissioning of the Kauri Dam.

“Ka tangi atu mōu kua ngaro atu ki te pō. Moe mai rā e te pāpā, mamae kore, raru kore. I have a huge amount of respect for Matua Des. He definitely challenged this council over the years, but I tell you, his heart was always in the right place for all of the people of the Far North,” says Kahika Tepania.

“We owe him our gratitude for his project management of the decommissioning of the Kauri Dam which saw a local approach save us millions of dollars over initial cost estimates to decommission.

“The decommissioning of the dam will be a legacy that the Far North District Council will dedicate to Matua Des and we will ensure to work with the Ngākahu/Ngākohu Whānau Ahuwhenua Trust to see the full completion of this project this spring.”

The flag at the council’s Kaikohe headquarters will be flown at half-mast today as a mark of respect.