The birds are crying for their great chief, Sir Paul Reeves

Even the weather seems to mourn as a bus with staff and whānau of AUT University pulls in on the premises of Holy Sepulchre Church on Khyber Pass Rd. A freezing cold rain is drizzling down, somewhere else in Auckland the first snow in almost 70 years is falling. A stinging wind cuts through the crowd as they enter the Anglican church.

But today, the church is a marae – hosting the tangi for the late Chancellor of AUT, Sir Paul Reeves, who died at the weekend aged 78.

Associate professor Pare Keiha, the dean of Te Ara Poutama, has been friends with Sir Paul for more than 30 years.

Aside from his own grief, he says AUT has lost its possibly most precious person.

“He was a mentor, a scholar, a fatherfigure, a friend. He leaves difficult shoes to fill.”

He says Sir Paul had always been approachable. He originally came as a research professor but kept his office after being appointed chancellor. He cared for everybody, he wanted education to be available for everyone.

However, Sir Paul was most humble and his humility seems to have been his most awe-inspiring trait of character.

Golden words
“What he said was gold,” Keiha says.

The rain is growing heavier, drumming a funereal rhythm on the wooden roof as the coffin is carried into the church. The wind causes the woodwork to graunch and crack over the haka presented to pay tribute to the former Governor-General.

The open coffin is placed in the atamira, the altar of death, amidst Sir Paul’s immediate family. Lady Beverley talks to him, holds his hand.

He wears the regalia of an Anglican bishop. His feet are bedded on his korowai – the same cloak he wore when he was appointed Governor-General in 1985. His bishop’s ring gleams on his folded hands. His humble wooden crosier, the staff, is leaning on the wall behind him.

Jason King speaks on behalf of AUT. Sir Paul himself wished for the Te Ara Poutama senior lecturer to be kaikorero, the speaker.

In te reo Māori, King’s speech covers Sir Paul’s influence, from his ministry to his role on a national level, finally homing in on his significance for AUT.

Following the Māori approach to building up a speech, his words are full of natural imagery. He talks about birds, feathers, snow and tears.

'About the feelings'
“It’s all about the feelings,” says King.

“It’s like someone has wrenched my guts out and thrown against the wall.”

He says Hine Nui Te Po, the goddess of night and death, now proudly shows off the new garments made by the feathers of Sir Paul.

Finally, King addresses Lady Beverley.

“His death touches all of us to lessen the grief you feel.”

He says the birds – staff and students of AUT – are all crying out at the loss of their great chief.

Sir Paul touched the hearts of many New Zealanders, says the Vice-Chancellor of AUT, Derek McCormack.

Sense of humour
“He had an ability to put things into perspective with his sense of humour and wit,” he says.

Sir Paul had long been involved in AUT’s development and growth and was a professor before he became the first chancellor in 2005.

“He was a force to be reckoned with, a friend and a visionary,” says McCormack.

“He engendered great respect, but one who was also respectful, compassionate and inclusive of others.

“Personally, I found his support and leadership invaluable. … I will sorely miss his spirit, contribution and friendship.”

Over the two hours of the service, the weather has calmed and the sun filters through the stained-glass window into the church. Golden rays of light are wandering across the mourners, slowly approaching the front where Sir Paul’s body lies.

Approaching to finally set on him.