Remembering Pōua David Ellison

04 February 2025

It is with deep sadness that we acknowledge the passing of DBI’s wonderful Pōua, David Ellison.

Ko te kawakawa e iri ana i te pare o te whare rūnaka
Ko te weruweru taratara kei te tua o Puketeraki
Ko Kāti Huirapa e hae kino nei i te mamae, i te tiwhatiwha 
Ko te pā whakawairua o Huriawa kua riro
E David, E Pōua,
E taki tonuhia ana mātou
Kua wehe atu koe ki tō moeka roa,
Ki tō ūkaipō.
Haere, haere, e oki atu rā.

David embraced his role as one of DBI’s kaumātua with positivity, passion and unwavering interest. He was always excited to learn about how we honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi within the DBI and about the development of our whole team. His memory for our ongoing projects was truly incredible, so kōrero with David always felt very meaningful.

David enriched our DBI mahi and contributed his skills, guidance and energy widely and generously locally, nationally and internationally throughout his life.

We acknowledge the importance of David’s ongoing mahi with the DBI - David was the most wonderful Pōua that DBI could have, he helped influence and guide DBI with his wisdom and compassion. His wairua was strong, and his teachings and memory will continue.

We mihi to David’s whānau, friends and community, he will be greatly missed.

The Tangihanga for David will be held at Puketeraki Marae, 520 Apes Road, Karitane. Community, friends, and colleagues of David are invited to pay their respects from Thursday afternoon, 20th of February.

The funeral service will be at the same Marae at 1pm on Friday 21st of February. If you wish to attend online: https://hopeandsons.co.nz/funeral/ellisondavidtohurangi-1-FIN53015280/