A great outpouring of tributes are flowing across Tauranga city following the death of respected and loved Ngāi Tamarawaho kaumātua Peri Kohu on Tuesday.

As a mark of respect for Peri, the Takitimu Drive flag was flown at half-mast on Saturday while he was laid to rest at the urupā on Motuopae Island.

'It is with a broken heart and contrite spirit that we announce the passing of our dad and koro,” writes Moana McLeod in a post on Facebook.

Peri was taken to Huria Marae where he stayed until Saturday afternoon when a service was held there.

Peri Kohu speaking at the commemoration of the Battle of Pukehinahina - Battle of Gate Pa - held at St Georges Church in Gate Pa. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

'Peri was a good man,” says friend and historian Buddy Mikaere who together with Peri has shared a keen interest in growing a public cultural awareness of Tauranga's heritage.

'I know it is such a simple description but it is absolutely apt in his case. He was good to his whanau, to his hapu, to his iwi, to the wider tangata whenua of Tauranga Moana, to his LDS church and to his Tauranga community in general.

'I will miss in particular his steadying influence in the background but he could also be forthright and direct when the occasion required.”

Buddy says that being humble was Peri's 'trademark”.

'[He] always looked for opportunities to say and do the right thing,” says Buddy.

'I have lost a good mate and colleague but our community has lost a fine and tireless advocate for the reconciliation of our community and the raising of its cultural awareness. Haere ra e te rangatira Peri.

'Job well done and it is up to us who are left to carry on the challenge he has left us,” says Buddy.

Peri Kohu speaking at the commemoration of the Battle of Te Ranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Peri Reweti Kohu was born in 1951 in Nuhaka and educated at Bethlehem Native School - now named Bethlehem School - and Church College of New Zealand in Hamilton.

He has been a musician, historian and researcher in raupatu and whakapapa issues for the Ngāti Ranginui hapu Ngāi Tamarawaho. And he has been one of three Treaty negotiators for Ngāi Tamarawaho, his mandate being whakapapa.

Peri has also been a consultant to Transit New Zealand, Tauranga City Council and Western Bay of Plenty Council, and he wrote an article in Te Iwi o Aotearoa assessing the honouring of the Treaty of Waitangi prior to the 1990 commemorations of the signing of the Treaty.

Peri Kohu singing with a group at an annual commemoration of the Battle of Te Ranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

In recent years there has been a steady growth amongst Tauranga residents interested in the history of the city – the story of Pukehinahina or Gate Pā which was fought on April 29, 1864, the Battle of Te Ranga, fought on June 21, 1864, and the Tauranga Bush Campaign.

The carving of the pou lined up along Cameron Road at the site of the Battle of Pukehinahina were overseen by Peri, who is renowned for his story telling.

St George's Anglican Church congregation member and military historian Cliff Simons and Peri Kohu with a carving on the battle site at the 153^rd commemoration. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Peri has been the deputy chairperson of the Otamataha Trust, which administers property in Tauranga on behalf of Ngāti Tapu and Ngai Tamarawaho.

'Just as the family (whanau) is very much the poorer, so is our city, our region,” writes former Tauranga City councillor Murray Guy. 'My 12 years as a Tauranga city councillor has as it's most treasured component, memory, my meeting, get to know, getting to walk with, eat with, the Peri Kohu's of our city.”

Peri Kohu - third from right - at the site of the Battle of Te Ranga. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Tributes continue to flow across social media.

'Tuku atu nga roimata aroha kia koe Peri ou nei hoa kura mai Tuhikaramea e te rangatira moe mai moe mai ma te Atua e manaki mai koutou te whanau pani tou hoa rangatira nga tamariki mokopuna hoki,” writes Isaac Ropiha.

'Moe mai ra e Peri. Kessie, arohamai me to whanau koutou whanaunga,” writes David Mahuika.

Peri Reweti Kohu in 2018. Photo:Nga kapa haka o nga kura tahi ki Tauranga Moana.

Te Kohinga has posted a video by Murray Maunder in honour of Peri on their Facebook page.

'We post this video from the Anglican Apology of 1st December 2018 in honour of our friend and kaumatua Peri Kohu, who stood for grace, truth and justice on behalf of his people and for the benefit of our whole community,” says a Te Kohinga spokesperson.

The video is of the Anglican Apology Part Three, with Otamataha Trust leaders receiving The Apology.

Puihirake Ihaka of Otamataha Trust spoke first in response to the Apology followed by Peri Kohu, and at 16.54 minutes into the video, Peri and his family sing ‘O Holy Night'.

A spokesperson for Tauranga's Takitimu House says Peri has been their kaumatua or trustee since their inception in 2014.

'Prior to this Peri was very involved in the stakeholder group, formed to find a solution for the growing number of homeless men in the CBD.

'Peri has passed away leaving a huge gap not only for our trust but for his whanau and the community,” says a Takitimu House spokesperson.

'Peri was the essence of who we are and who we wanted to be. He was unflappable, kind, compassionate, and more connected than any other person we know.

'I spoke with Peri on Monday just gone. I wish I had said thank you for all that you have done for us and our people. Peri was a strong supporter of the work we do and the clients we serve.

'Thank you Peri and thank you to Peri's wonderful whanau who loaned us this very special man.”

Peri Kohu was a great supporter of Kai Aroha, run by Tania Lewis-Rickard and her team of volunteers. Photo: Tania Lewis-Rickard.

Tania Lewis-Rickard says it's been a sad week of loss, posting a tribute to Facebook about Peri.

'Such a gorgeous soul Peri was….who was a force to be reckoned with, his humour and humility had so much mana,” says Tania.

Peri Kohu and his grandchildren, singing for the Kai Aroha community meal. Photo: Supplied.

Tania, who runs Kai Aroha, a community meal with a team of volunteers, writes how hundreds respected Peri, who has sung with his guitar and grandchildren at the meals, saying he fought hard for iwi tanga, Māori tanga, equity and cultural restoration for the wider community.

'You addressed, supported and challenged social, political, environmental and cultural issues and your beautiful waiata always melted our hearts, always will. You will be sadly missed. Thank you for being there for Kai Aroha, all those times you and your moko girls sang for our community, you brought so much warmth and joy to their lives, all our lives. Thank you for the selfies…we had quite a few selfies hehe but this is my fave . We will always be forever grateful for you. No need to work now, may you rest in the arms of the Lord Jesus forever and ever amine. Moe Mai rā koro Peri Reweti Kohu."

Baycourt Community and Arts Centre also wrote a tribute to Peri on their Facebook page.

Peri Kohu speaking at the public hui ‘Why the Anglican Apology for Te Papa?' held in the Baycourt X Space in 2018. Photo: Baycourt.

'Today the Baycourt whānau wish to pay its greatest and humblest respects to Ngai Tamarāwaho kaumātua Peri Kohu who passed away earlier this week. We also offer our deepest sympathy and aroha to his whānau, hapū, iwi, friends and loved ones,” writes a Baycourt spokesperson.

'Peri was a tireless advocate for the rights of tangata whenua and his mahi continued right up until his last days. He was selfless in the sharing of his immense knowledge and was a man of his word. Truly, a mighty tōtara has fallen in the forest of Tāne. Moe mai rā Peri."

Video: Peri Kohu speaking at the public hui ‘Why the Anglican Apology for Te Papa?' held in the Baycourt X Space in 2018.

Peri Kohu singing with his guitar. Photo: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Local author Tēpihi (Debbie) McCauley has also posted a tribute:

'Peri Reweti Kohu (1951-2022). I feel I have just lost a treasured uncle, advisor and friend who always treated me with kindness, respect and aroha. My heart feels broken. Much aroha to his beautiful whānau xxx,” writes Debbie.

Peri entertaining crowds at the launch of the People's Gallery - Toi ka rere. Photo: Supplied.

Peri was loved and appreciated for his music and support of The Incubator at Tauranga Historic Village, entertaining the crowds at events such as the launch of the People's Gallery - Toi ka rere.

'We would like to express our sadness of the passing of Kaumātua Peri Kohu,” says Incubator director Simone Anderson.

'Peri was a great support to us for what we are doing here creating an Arts Community. He was also very fond of the Historic Village.

'We sought his wisdom many times and were always rewarded with excellent advice, encouragement and his blessings," says Simone.

Peri Kohu singing with his guitar. Photo: Colin Lunt.

In June 2022, due to a lack of whakairo facilities in Tauranga, The Incubator Creative Hub opened their own hub to further support Toi Maori in the Tauranga community.

The whakairo hub was blessed and named ‘Te Whare Toi O Te Moana' as a part of The Incubator's Matariki celebrations launching this month.

Peri, who is also a carver and artist gifted the hub's name, and was supportive of the initiative, being the previous lease-holder of the new whakairo space.

Simone says that only a few months ago, Peri bestowed the name on the Whakairo Space - 'Te Whare Toi o te Moana'.

'As we develop this space, Peri's legacy and love for arts and carving will live on and be honoured in this space. Moi mai rā- Peri.”

Mural in Tauranga CBD of Peri Kohu and his granddaughter, painted by Lisa King. Photo: Supplied.

A mural of Peri with his granddaughter was painted on the side of a building in the Tauranga CBD by Australian mural artist Lisa King during Street Prints' Tauranga Street Art Festival in 2020.

'Lisa met with kaumatua Peri Kohu from hapu Ngāi Tamarāwaho in Huria, Tauranga Moana and captured a beautiful portrait of Peri and grand daughter Mai te Rangi Kohu'Matika,” says a Street Prints spokesperson.

'The final portrait of both Grandfather and Granddaughter in monochrome where their hapu resided before it became the city on the corner of Spring and Durham Streets, Tauranga Moana.

'Part of Peri's korero was around placing the hapu back where it belonged. This is a literal action of placing people from Ngāi Tamarāwaho back into Tauranga city.”

Peri Kohu at the blessing of the Tai o Fenua Kindergarten. Photo: Supplied.

The staff at Tai o Fenua Kindergarten have also shared their sorrow at the loss of Peri.

'Our Tai O Fenua family would like to express our sadness of the passing of Peri Kohu, well respected Ngai Tamarawaho kaumatua and friend of Tai O Fenua Kindergarten,” says a kindergarten spokesperson.

Peri Kohu at the blessing of the Tai o Fenua Kindergarten. Photo: Supplied.

'Matua Peri was with us when we first opened the doors to bless our kindergarten. He was with us again to bless the building of our new office," says a kindergarten spokesperson.

'Matua Peri has enriched our knowledge of local history here in Gate Pa, and it is this history that is told in the carving entranceway outside our kindergarten, which he helped to create. We look forward to keeping these stories alive in your honour Matua Peri. Moe mai ra e te rangatira.”

"Rockstar" for the day - Matua Peri Kohu at Moana Radio in 2019. Photo: Moana Radio.