Nigel Huirama Te Hiko

"Nigel Huirama Te Hiko was being treated for Covid-19 in the intensive care unit at Hamilton’s Waikato Hospital when he died at the age of 54 on 15 September 2020, the 25th Covid-19 related death in New Zealand. One of seven siblings, sadly a regular weekend visit catching up with family in Tokoroa early in August proved deadly. His older brother Alan had contracted Covid-19 at his workplace and died at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland on 4 September 2020. Nigel was admitted to Waikato Hospital on August 19 and transferred to the intensive care unit a week later. Nigel worked for more than 20 years for his people, first at the then Raukawa Māori Trust Board, which became the Raukawa Settlement Trust. He had a background in social work but developed his skills and expertise as a researcher and historian. South Waikato deputy mayor and Tokoroa councillor Bill Machen said Te Hiko was a “fine member of the community”. Nigel’s tangi took place at Ōngāroto Marae, near Ātiamuri before he was buried near Alan in Tokoroa Cemetery."