Ariana Eva Clara Mahu

2018 (February 23): Mahu, Ariana Eva Clara, 1980-2018 37-year-old Tauranga woman Ariana was stabbed in the neck whilst attending a tangi at Huria Marae and died the following morning, 23 February 2018. Ariana became fluent in te reo Māori while attending Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tamarongo in Opunake. She then went to New Plymouth Girls’ High School and was involved in kapa haka. Many of her younger years were spent in Taranaki, where she lived at the Māori settlement of Parihaka for a time. Ariana has been remembered as ‘everyone’s mum’, an advocate for troubled youth and a staunch supporter of mana Māori. Her marae was Wairoa in Tauranga Moana. Ariana’s tangi was held in Tauranga on 27 February. Her killer, Tamati Mason, thought he was a god saving his iwi from a makutu (curse) when he stabbed Ariana. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. See: Bay of Plenty Times (1 March 2018). Source: © Debbie McCauley https://debbiemccauleyauthor.wordpress.com/history/tauranga-moana-m....

MAHU, Ariana Eva Clara. (Tragically taken 23rd February 2018) - Devoted and forever cherished Mother of Te Reihana and Te Teira. Treasured daughter of Don Mahu and the late Clara Mahu. Loved sister to all the Taranaki and Tauranga whanau. Second Mum to all her nieces and nephews, and all children who were naturally drawn to her. Tangi will be held at Wairoa Pa, Wairoa Pa Road, Bethlehem Tuesday 27th February at 11am. Ariana will be laid to rest following the service at Whakaheke Urupa. "Your memory we will always treasure, in our hearts you will stay forever". Published in The New Zealand Herald on Feb. 26, 2018.