One of Lyttelton Port Company’s best-loved characters and Maori Leaders, Tahu Stirling, has farewelled life at the port, first started as a teenager.

The 69-year-old hung up his high-vis, recognising his family’s long association with LPC, which dates back to the end of the Second World War.

“The first job that I ever had was working in the school holidays for the Lyttelton Harbour Board in 1970,” said Tahu Stirling.

“They were very different times to what they are today; you used to rock up in shorts or an old shirt. There was no high-vis or health and safety  to keep us safe at that time.”

Family links to the port

Tahu’s father, Ropata Wahawaha Stirling, started at Lyttelton after the War and was community-minded, supporting Maori who came down from up north to work at the port.

Tahu eventually followed his father’s footsteps in working for the community, health and education sectors, but his first job ever started here at the old Lyttelton Harbour Board.

“It was during the school holidays I worked down here, and it was very different from today’s Health and Safety terms, which have come a long way.”

Birth of Tahu FM 

“So after learning the painting trade from our Dad, I worked in the Community Services Team under Mayor Vicky Buck at the Christchurch City Council and helped set up the first Maori radio station in Te Waka O Aoraki.

“That was around 1991 on Waitangi day we launched it from Ngā Hau E Wha marae where 90.5 Tahu FM started,” says Tahu.

Despite being the same name, the radio station was not named after him.

“I would like to think so,” he laughs, “but in the end, it’s for the people!”

Health and Education

Tahu also worked for the Polynesian Performing Arts Trust and Maori Public Health on drink driving and helping to bring in Smoke-Free bars, pubs and clubs around Aotearoa.

“It was a good time, and we helped to make some big changes.”

Tahu Stirling also led the Ngā Rātonga Hauora Māori at Christchurch Hospital, seeing 8000 Maori patients a year and developed a Te Whare Tapa Whā programme to improve Maori health outcomes.

Port return

In 2014 Tahu returned to Lyttelton as a Cargo Handler.

“I really enjoyed working with all the people at LPC, moving containers, lashing on the ships and driving the straddles.”

“It was funny how I started my working life over 50 years ago to now finishing at the same place I started,” he says with a laugh.

“In 2019, the call went out if someone could bless a new tug passing through Lyttelton, which led to me applying, and I got 8 hours per week, leading to a full-time role as LPC Maori Development advisor,” which Tahu directed and thrived.

“My role throughout life has been to help others to make changes within the systems they live by or with, and I’ve learnt a lot from those experiences.”

On a personal level, Tahu and his wife Marcia have been involved in helping to set up and work in Oterepo Kohanga Reo, Te Kura Whakapumau I Te Reo Tūturu Ki Waitaha, Te Whare Kura, which was about the promotion of Te Reo Māori, Tikanga and Mātauranga Māori.

Retirement

Four days into retirement, and Tahu is still pretty busy.

“I haven’t had much time today to think about it and honestly don’t know what retirement really means.”

“I know I will be spending more time with Marcia, family, and grandchildren, which will be great, and I can’t wait,”

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