Tena koutou,

For those who have not yet heard , Matua Roy Tutahanga Andrews has passed on.
Just before his passing an interview was done with Matua Roy and can be found by clicking below on read more.

ROY TUTAHANGA ANDREWS

Tainui Iwi did the world a huge favour when one of their beloved son's Roy Tutahanga Andrews was born.

One of 7 brothers and 4 sisters his father Tame and mother Kahurangi (nee ERUITI)

were so proud to see their new arrival come into the world of light. Roy also added to the ever increasing Pukekohe population which as everyone should know is a quiet little hamlet a few miles west of the mighty Bombay Hills in the mighty Counties Rugby Union Domain.. Roy grew up amongst his Tainui and Ngati Paoa whananauga learning all there was to know about life and how intrinsic the family is to ones well being, and sometimes your "not" so well being: particularly if you got a kick up the whero for being a bit hianga

Any case back to the story; as a young man he did his fair share of work here and there but always in an upbeat and positive manner. He spent a lot of his early years in Ngaruawahia the ‘Capital City' of the Waikato. He was one of the most avid and loyal subjects of his Maori Queen Te Atairangikaahu and all his illustrious forebears and heirs.

Man did he love his iwi with a passion.

Whilst in Auckland, in Otahuhu to be exact, he met his beloved Paretoa (nee Matena) at the local dance. She was ripping into the ‘go-go' with such vigour it completely boggled the lustful youngster, all of a sudden he was "ggggooooonnnnneeeee"!. Not to be out done the young fulla served it back to the bewitched, bothered and bewildered damsel with a move known as the ‘sugarloaf shuffle". Pare was "gggggoooonnnneeeee too"!

"The Pukekohe Pukeko" had worked his magic and after a brief but whirlwind affair they soon quickly added to the world population with 4 ‘strapping sons' and a beautifully gorgeous daughter, all of whom they love deeply.

Roy worked at the Horotiu freezing works for many years in the boning room and he became a wee bit of a ‘gun' with the knife as all his mates would attest too.

"Original", "Roycie" or "Diddler" as he was affectionately known by his work colleagues was a very popular man. He worked tirelessly for his family and there was nothing he wouldn't do for any of them. Absolutely nothing.

Roy kept up with his singing and playing his magic guitar and thrilling friends and family with his talents.

He also spent time in the greater houses of learning namely Te Kuratini o Waikato and his zest for knowledge particularly his Maoritanga was an ever driving source of fulfillment to him. He was also a caregiver to the elderly and the affirm, of which it was his honour and pleasure to serve. The old people always spoke highly and flatteringly of Roy.

He and his beloved wife and family arrived in Brisbane in 2002 and since that time have been an integral part of the fabric of the large Maori community who reside in the greater Logan area. Always seen at ‘fundraisers' and ‘gigs' Roy always gave willingly of his time and talent and was never short of a waiata or two or three, and a performance or two or three. You could always rely on Roy.

One of his proudest moments was winning the talent quest on behalf of the "Huriama" family in Raglan and the Logan Diggers R.S.L. in Brisbane. Roy was humble in his acceptance and was given a rowdy applause by whanau and friends even though they weren't surprised that Roy had won. He was involved with the teaching of ‘te kawa o te marae' and "te reo me ona tikanga katoa' to those fortunate enough to come under his influence and his tutelage, "Lucky Buggers"!

The following is a small extract of an interview held with Roy with the assistance of his ever present family it's called;

"AN INTERVIEW WITH A TANIWHA"

Q. "Kia Ora mate, kai te pehea"?
A. "Kei te pai buddy (pauses)," well you know".

Interviewer: "Yeah no wucken forries mate"! "No worries." (nodding head)
Roy: (chuckles quietly)

Q. "What is your favourite kai"?
A. "Boil Up".

Q. "Care to elaborate "?..nah, nah, just joking! (We both crack up)

Q. "Who is your favourite singer"?
A. That fulla from The East Coast...ahh, ummm....Hori ahhh, oh yeah that's it George
Benson...yeah that Ngatibro ..fulla..man he's good.

Q. "Gee Roy they have got some awesome singers from there alright" man you know
your stuff alright mate". "Nice looking fullas from there too" (He nods agreeingly)

Q. You're favourite saying is?
A. "A mere formality". "It's just a mere formality".

Q. "If you could choose someone famous to spend time with who would that be"?
A. "Sir Howard Morrison".

Q. Are you all right mate? (looking at Roy in a puzzled like fashion.....)
A. "Yeah,yeah"! "A mere formality buddy". (laughs)

Q. "Sure you're all right"! (He laughs loudly)

Q. "What was one of your greatest moments"?
A. "Winning the Diggers Talent quest and of course the Raglan one". You should've seen
me e hoa I was just"....(gets cut short)

Interviewer: "Yeah, yeah moving right along" (laughter becomes raucous)

Q. "Who is your favourite Rugby League team"?
A, "Turangawaewae and the Ngaruawahia Panthers man they're good boy".

Interviewer: "Never heard of them"! (Roy squints at the interviewer, not scared, not scared)

Q. "Your favourite Rugby Union team is"?
A. "The Waikato Chiefs but they haven't been winning very much....tata near though".

Interviewer; "Sorry bout that!" "Up the Mighty Crusaders anyway'" (getting the evils now, interview turning very makariri).

Q. "Your favourite pin up girl is"?
A. Elle McPherson ...she's from Gisborne too.

Q. "Yeah"? "Unbelievable"!
A. "Ae e hoa"..."No Turanaganui ke ia". "You didn't know that!?

Interviewer: "Well, that's a turn up for the books aye"."I'll be buggered"!
"Learn something new everyday Roy but mind you, there are some real honeys' up the
Coast aye"!

A. "Oh shit yeah mate...there's heaps".

Interviewer:" Well gotta let you in on a bit of secret here mate, well Elle still
rings me at home, the Mrs. goes all porangi, well I don't want her back mate,
and she's been stalking me and I....( get cut short here)

Roy: "Yeah righto mate moving right along"! (Eyes looking up at the clouds in rolling
motion)

Q. "The name of your favourite pet"?
A. "My beautiful Doberman". " Rip was his name".

Q, "Do you know that we love you very,very,very,very, much!!!
A. "Yes"!. (Drops his head and eyes to the ground). (Nods and smiles)
(Tries hard to hold back the tears...eyes look lovingly and knowingly ...smiles,
subject quickly changes as we break into song.)

Roy never has a bad word to say about anyone and is always patient and giving of his time knowledge and skills.

He is currently bravely fighting his battle with inoperable cancer and has not long with us on this earth and as this story goes to print he valiantly exudes integrity,honour and love to all who are constantly streaming in to visit him during his most trying of hours.

But that's Roy though aye, you fullas know.

A huge gathering of family and friends including Roy will be fronting up at the Vets Club in Kingston on Saturday the 20th January to honour him the way he'd like it with heaps of music and laughter. The good lord willing and ever so quietly, it will be a miracle if Roy sees this Saturday but in his words "the show must go on". So come one and come all and help us celebrate with passion and fervour "one last hurrah" for a gentleman of the ‘purple vein of Tainui-nui-tonu. It's going to be just great.

Interviewer: "Oh, one final thing Roy!
"Did we tell you lately, that we really, really, really do love you?
"Heapsly". "Double heapsley"!?

Roy: (smiles and wiggles his toes)

Interviewer: "The pleasures all ours mate." "Cheers".

(Maumahara Noa - Brannigan Kaa)