Slain Maori leader lauded

Tributes are being paid to the Bay of Plenty school principal and up-and-coming Maori leader killed outside a Whakatane bar at the weekend.

Hawea Ralph Drummond Vercoe, 36, died after he was apparently punched to the ground outside the Quart House bar on Whakatane's The Strand about 2.30am yesterday.

A 21-year-old Opotiki man was to appear in Whakatane District Court today charged with murder, police said.

Mr Vercoe was principal of Rotorua school Te Kura Kaupapa o Te Rotoiti, a Maori seat councillor on Environment Bay of Plenty and on the Rotorua District Council's Te Arawa standing committee.

Mr Vercoe made headlines in 2007 when he advocated for his school to be allowed Maori "kura" – or "school" – signs on its buses, leading to a policy change by Land Transport New Zealand.

Maori Television presenter Julian Wilcox told 3News Mr Vercoe was a good teacher and a good principal.

"He devoted his life to a lot of those kids, but he was really admired by both his tribes Ngati Awa and Te Arawa because he wanted to work for the people."

He gained the respect of Maori leaders in his own right when he stood for the Destiny Party at the 2005 general election, Mr Wilcox said.

The Maori Party MP for Waiariki, Te Ururoa Flavell, who beat him in the election, also paid tribute to Mr Vercoe.

"Hawea was a young man with enormous energy for life who had achieved a significant profile across Aotearoa in education, politics and local government."

Mr Flavell said some would focus on the more recent controversial incidents. Mr Vercoe had brushes with the law this year.

In September he was convicted of threatening behaviour towards his former wife's new partner, who he allegedly threatened to put in a wheelchair. He was ordered to pay $400 court costs, and faced losing his job at the school.

However, Mr Flavell said "we must not lose sight of the fact that Hawea was a brilliant young man with a sharp intellect who was a passionate advocate for Maori".

Quart House owner Grant Webb said Mr Vercoe's family yesterday blessed the street outside the bar and performed a karakia.