On January 25 2025, kaumatua Karl Farrell of Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki died surrounded by whanau, friends and community, after a brave fight with cancer. Paekākāriki.nz are inviting contributions to tributes to Karl to join these below. email: [email protected]. The first tribute is from Rakauoteora Te Maipi (Koro Don), Kāpiti kaumatua, who passed away not long after providing this tribute on June 21.
Koro Don Te Maiipi
Tii hei Mauriora
Kōwai, kōwai ra hoki teenei e korero me.
He tangata I akonaki te kāinga, Tuinga kite Marae
A person trained or brought up at home will stand in his area and marae with dignity.
Nō reira, e Te Pohutukawa O Paekākāriki, E moe I roto I te mahana, o tō Pākai Ahi.
Ahakoa he iti tōna tunga I roto I tōno Iwi, a Ngati Haumia.
Engari He iti raa, he iti mahihi Pounamu.
Karl always loved and appreciated his whanau and his Iwi. His presence was as smooth as a greenstone pendant.
Karl stood tall in his Iwi, as his mother, Aunty Jean Andrews, had done before him. Karl willingly took over the role of Kaumatua at a young age. As such, he was highly respected by everyone.
Karl also fought for those things that he believed belonged to his Iwi, as his mother had done previously.
Karl always stood strong for his Iwi, much like this proverbial saying describes:
“Don’t be like the seagulls in the free-flowing wind. But be like the rocks against the surging tides.” That’s you Karl!
The following proverb describes what we have to do now that Karl has left us:
Ka huri whakamuri
Ka tii tiro whakamua
Our job is to look back on what Karl has done, take heed of it, and use it as sustenance to move forward.
So, therefore, Karl may blessings be upon your wife, Beryl and all your whanau.
Tina Pope
I met Karl and his whānau shortly after our family moved to Paekākāriki in 2010, after I joined the school board and headed around to the Grove to pay my respects. Over the years, I worked alongside him through my roles on the Paekākāriki School Board, the Paekākāriki Housing Trust, the Wainuiwhenua working group, the Budge House group, as a Community Board member, and on Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki matters. He was humble, clever, and considered, and I deeply respected and truly valued his input into our community and our mahi.
He taught me a lot — about being an ally, about tenacity in the face of continual setbacks, and about doing the job even when you didn’t ask for it — and I grew to love him dearly.
Walking alongside him in some of this mahi, I saw how our government and its institutions continue to be racist, even when good people with good intentions work there. I saw how colonial oppression is baked into the fabric of our institutions and laws, and the huge personal cost of engaging with government in the pursuit of justice. I also saw just how many hours, EVERY WEEK, he gave to others — blessings, openings, Karakia, input on this, that and the other project/memorial/plan/proposal/ policy/submission/design/placement/impact/report… and on and on. I’m not sure people realised just how much this mahi cost him and his whānau — in time, money, and energy.
He was a man with mana, but also cheeky, a bit naughty, and bloody funny! Over the years we became friends, and I feel blessed to have spent time at his table, hearing personal and family stories over a beer — mostly funny, some sad, and some a bit shocking for this straight pākehā girl from Blenheim! He was generous, warm, and welcoming, and I don’t think I laughed harder anywhere than those times with him and Beryl.
And he sang beautifully.
He aroha tēnei ki a koe, e hoa. Moe mai rā, okioki mai rā. I’ll keep my promises to you.
From Margaret Jackson, Budge House Action Group
E rere atu ana aku mihi aroha ki tōku tino hoa a Karl
To my special friend Karl
Kāore te kūmara e kōrero ana mō tōna ake reka
The kūmara never speaks of its sweetness.
Our reluctant and humble Ahi Kā.
I have great admiration for your calm, peaceful, intelligent, and thoughtful manner. And for your willingness to give up your time and knowledge for free for the benefit of our community.
I learnt so much from our kōrero about history and hīkoi on your grandmother’s whenua.
I appreciated your awhi and support for Te Rau O Te Rangi Weavers and Ngā Pakeke o Kapiti rōpū.
Ngā mihi nui for sharing your vision for your hapu with me.
I will continue to awhi your whānau and tautoko the hapu in their continued mahi to bring Ngāti Haumia people home.
He tangata ahu whenua mō tōna iwi a Ngāti Haumia, e kore e warewaretia.
You will not be forgotten.
From Nat Perkins
I’ve known Karl for as long as I can remember, growing up together in Paekākāriki. As primary school kids in the 1970s, we’d spend time at his Mum Aunty Jean’s house in the Grove, where we learned weaving, poi, and local history—and were always treated to a lemonade popsicle for afternoon tea.
Karl’s nana, Miriona Budge, and my great-grandmother, Annie Smith, were neighbouring land owners, and our whānau connections stretch even further back—to the mid-1800s.
Karl and Beryl have been there through many of the losses in my family over the past 30 years—supporting, guiding, and caring during some of the hardest times. I know my parents, John and Betty Perkins, found comfort in their presence—the steady, reassuring strength of Karl’s quiet mana and Beryl’s warmth offering something deeply grounding in times of grief. Their aroha has never gone unnoticed.
Karl and I sometimes talked about the land taken for the war effort—held under the Public Works and Reserves Acts— and what that meant for Ngāti Haumia, and how mana whenua could return to strengthen ahi kā. Karl always said, “You can’t have a marae if there aren’t enough people—so house the people first.”
He was a maker—of things, of ideas, and of connections. If the kaupapa was strong, he backed it fully. He lived his Te Ao Māori values: manaakitanga and whanaungatanga—care and connection—and kaitiakitanga, a deep guardianship of the environment, especially our local one.
Making do and reusing what was available was something Karlos did naturally. Having worked in construction, Karlos and I often swapped stories about materials and processes. He was curious, insightful, and always generous with his time. Many of our late-night conversations questioned—and sometimes even solved—a few of the world’s problems.
From The Paekākāriki Surf Lifesaving Club,
Nat Perkins, President, P.S.L.G.
On behalf of the Surf Club, I would like to pay tribute to the late Karl Farrell, kaumātua of Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki, whose guidance and support were instrumental in the planning and construction of our new clubhouse.
One of Karl’s deeply held wishes was for all club members to acknowledge and understand the rich local history of the whenua on which our clubhouse stands. As we continue to grow, it’s vital that we remain grounded in the values that shaped our community—service, connection, and a shared love for the beach and ocean.
To honour Karl’s legacy, we must carry forward the principles of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga—caring for one another and nurturing the relationships that bind us. By creating shared experiences, offering generosity of spirit, and working together, we strengthen the sense of belonging at the heart of our club.
Our new clubhouse should be more than just a building. Itan stand as a living expression of these values: a welcoming place where everyone feels seen, supported, and connected.
I think Karl would approve.
From Mayor Janet Holborow
Paekākāriki lost a generous, hardworking and vibrant soul with the passing of Karl Farrell.
Karl brought his mana and wairua to so many community projects and events, turning up to support his community at all hours of the day to help us with our many and varied happenings.
Karl and the Community Board formed a close connection and worked in partnership to strengthen the relationship between the community and Ngāti Haumia ki Paekākāriki. Because of this work, we are all now more aware of the history of the Hapū and of Karl’s Tupuna in the geology and history of this place.
As former Kuia Carol Reihana became unwell (passing away in 2021), Karl became responsible for representing Ngāti Haumia as Kaumatua, and through the years he increasingly brought his mana to the role. He applied his deeply held principles to everything he did and shared his knowledge and insights freely.
Most recently he oversaw the development of the Surf Club, making sure the demolition and rebuild upheld Tikanga Māori and he was often to be seen on site helping out and overseeing the project.
It was wonderful to be able to party with Karl at the hall late last year, as the community came out to dance and celebrate with him and his whanau.
Generous to the end, Karl thanked us all, but we are the ones who thank him.
Ngā mihi nui Karl. You will be missed, and you will be remembered.
From Sophie Handford, KCDC Councillor
Karl was a warm and steady presence — a beacon of manaaki, wisdom and generosity. His heart and smile welcomed all.
Around the Council table, when the tides were rough, Karl’s wise counsel, lingering questions, and quiet words of encouragement helped hold me steady. He didn’t just speak to the issues, he spoke to the soul, always grounding us in what really mattered.
Our community is worse off for his passing. A mighty tōtara has indeed fallen. And, in his absence, we are reminded how lucky we were to walk alongside him.
Moe mai rā, Karl. You will always be carried in the heart of this place and its people.
From Jenny Rowan
Chair of the Budge House Action Group
Karl might have been small in stature, but he had an enormous generous heart for his whanau and community. He stepped up to the role of leader for Ngāti Haumai Ki Paekākāriki, becoming a strong force for the protection of his grandmother’s home and land. He attended many community and iwi meetings to present the case for his family to return Budge House to the hapu for their use.
He loved his family, but lived with the constant responsibility of needing to support them and manage the politics, most of which was created by historical mismanagement.
His energy and mana will stay with us for a very long time, I had huge respect for Karl, I loved him and the work that he did in our Paekākāriki community.
He is greatly missed and has left a gap for us all.
Travel well my friend.
kai Kaha
From Kelsey Lee
Chair Paekakariki Community Board
He Manawa tītī
A person with great endurance
Karl has left an indescribable legacy to the community of Paekākāriki.
He selflessly taught many in this community about what it means to walk alongside mana whenua through his service and contributions. His efforts have left a lasting impact and our community is stronger because of them.
We all owe our appreciation and gratitude to Karl and his whānau for their continued manaakitanga to everyone that is part of our community.
Moe mai rā e te Rangatira
From Allie Webber ,
Budge House Action Group
I remember Karl, with warmth and gratitude over many years in Paekākāriki where we worked together on the School and Community Boards. I loved the way he shared his whanau history so generously, taking groups of kids around the park to tell them what happened before ‘our lot got here.’
More recently, I’ve been privileged to know Karl more deeply through the Budge House Action Group or, as he called it, ‘The Rag Tag Group’. Understanding this very important Paekākāriki history was deeply confronting and helped me see how colonisation has played out ‘so close to home’.
Through the Marines’ Trust, I had a lot of dealings with Karl over siting the new Camp Paekākāriki Memorial at the southern end of the park. We were shocked to learn that we had sited it on whenua formerly owned by Miriona Budge. This led to us to many of us finding out a whole lot more about Miriona’s story, her vision, her struggle to retain the land for her whanau and her enduring dignity.
Karl was a maestro of the ‘one-liner’ – ‘Nana’s house on Nana’s land’. Through simplicity, sincerity and humour, he could cut through a meeting and leave his audience in fits of laughter, or in tears. While he lived with enormous personal stress, disappointment and frustration, he maintained a loving heart and a generosity of spirit.
Karl, my friend, you’ve left a rich legacy and taught me so much. You’ve left shoes the size of surfboards behind. We’re still trying to fill them and do even half the things you dreamed of.
E ngākau aroha ana
From Julia Truscott
Karl Farrell is dearly missed by our community. He supported so many kaupapa and was motivated by love for his whānau, hapũ and village.
When we were setting up a creative space for rangatahi on his whenua Karl always offered us support and showed up at key times to help make it happen. He was always fun and so welcoming to those who had the fortune to enjoy his and Beryl’s hospitality.
Moe moe rā Karl, your legacy lives on.
From Mark Amery
Chair, Paekākāriki Informed Community Inc
With Kaumatua Karl, what you saw was what you got.
Steady, caring, quiet, down to earth, funny as.
Some said he was not a natural leader, but Karl’s magic power was his shy naturalness. You could relate because he could relate to those most needing to be sat with.
Over the years I observed him become more confident in his own sense of self in public. He always showed a steadiness, an openness.
His responsibilities were quietly, persistently onerous, largely due to the fragmentation of his hapu. So many times he stood up and did voluntary work for both his hapu and the community. It’s taken me a long time to realise how deadly colonialisation is to a community; like a slowly creeping disease, it has no aroha, no love. Then, what you see is the damage, not the systematic cause.
Karl inherited a lot, but kept a quiet, determined watch. I think he knew that he was in for the long game, and he gave us faith that holding the ahi kā, keeping the home fires burning, and the house open was core ground.
When we started a website platform for the village in 2017 Karl recorded a mihi for our homepage. That was brave, and it remains there for you to hear: www.paekākāriki.nz.. In 2023 I brought a group of people together through PICI to record a video of Karl talking about the history of Miriona Budge’s land. A short version of that edited by Himiona Grace is here and became used in fundraising for Karl’s health needs.
That wasn’t the plan! We didn’t know then what lay ahead for him, or how the video and oral history recording might be used in the future, so he decided to hold it back. Karl was careful about avoiding action that his whanau didn’t have the resource to manaakitanga around, or that might not be right for other members of the hapu. I learnt a lot from this selflessness. And I admired his steadfastness in building a platform for the future.
Ngā mihi nui e hoa. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite like Karl nor, do I imagine, I ever will again.
From – Mark & Sarah Te One
Karl was a Rangatira of Ngati Haumia. As such, he gave his time and the support of whānau to make Paekākāriki a strong and caring community. Moe mai ra e te hoa, haere atu ra.
From Prue Tosswill & Api Taylor
We remember Karl’s mahi in the community done with aroha, humbleness and humour.
He helped establish Nga Waka Hoe bilingual unit at Paekākāriki School, fought for Māori rights, and served as Kaumatua of Ngāti Haumia throughout his life.
Takoto e te Rangatira me nga whetu e tiaho iho mai ana he tohu o te aroha.
