Report from Tai Walker’s daughter about the unveiling of Tai’s headstone

Tai Walker's unveiling was held on Sunday 25 Oct 2015, at  Mihimarino urupa, Tuparoa, which is based at Te Heapera Marae, just outside Ruatoria.

The day started grey, but brightened up just before the unveiling started. We sung a hymn Mum wanted at her tangi, the minister taught us all that morning! It was windy but lovely. The stone was almost exactly as Mum specified, except that I drew a couple of images to add - on our left is the NZ Dental Nurse pin, on the right the tag from mum's guide dog, Tina. When it was unveiled the gold shone brilliantly in the morning light, but the sun was so bright that everyone's photos have reflections in the polished black granite, of the sea, of the photo frames, of flowers, or even of the photographer! 

The stone reads: 

In loving memory of
Dr Taingunguru Whangapirita WALKER
21 Aug 1946 - 16 Sept 2013
Daughter of Girlie and mother of Ana.
Whanau is whanau.

Beneath is a memorium to her cousin who died in Australia. Mum wanted it on her stone so that her cousin wouldn't be forgotten, being so far away. The line I chose for the cousin is E iti noa ana, na te aroha.  "Although it is small, it is given with love".

Ana Maea Chitara