E te rangatira Adrian, he tino tauira koe ki a tātou te Māori.

Ko koe hoki i tū hei Māngai o Te Whare Pāremata ā, ka whakahīhī katoa ō mātou ngākau ki a koe.

Kua ngaro i a Rātana me te ao whānui ko tētahi tino rangatira, e kore koe e warewaretia.

Takoto mai, moe mai rā.

It is with profound sadness that the Labour Party mourns the passing of the Rt Hon Adrian Paki Rurawhe – former Speaker of the House of Representatives, former Member of Parliament for Te Tai Hauāuru, Rangatira of Ngāti Apa and leader of the Rātana faith.

Adrian passed away this morning at Rātana Pā surrounded by his whānau.

"Adrian Rurawhe was one of the finest people ever to sit in the New Zealand Parliament," Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said.

"He carried the mana of his people and of the Speaker's Chair with dignity and respect. He was firm without ever needing to raise his voice, and he was universally respected across every party in the House.

"Members of every party sought his counsel because they knew it would be honest, considered, and given in confidence.

“Aotearoa is poorer for his passing, and Parliament will miss him deeply,” Chris Hipkins said.

"Adrian was our Rangatira. We were all very proud when he was honoured as being only the second person of Māori descent to be appointed to the role of Speaker,” said Labour Māori caucus co chair, Willie Jackson.

“Adrian was a humble man who dedicated his life to the service of his people. His whānau, his iwi and his faith were at the heart of everything he did.

“He never forgot where he came from, and he never stopped serving his people,” Willie Jackson said.