Te Wairongoa Paniona remembered as Whangārei’s much
Te Wairongoa Paniona, a beloved Whangārei busker known as 'Mr T,' has passed away at age 67. The community is mourning the loss of the musician, who was a fixture of the local streets and a well-known personality.
Why it matters
Local human-interest stories highlight the social fabric and community identity of regional towns.
Northland busker “Mr T” is being remembered as a “beautiful soul” whose cheerful grin and music became fixtures of central Whangārei.
Te Wairongoa Paniona, widely known as Mr T, died yesterday aged 67.
He was a regular presence on the streets of central Whangārei, where he strummed his guitar, sang songs and chatted with people.
Natalie Woods, who works at NorthAble and knew Paniona through her family, who owned the Kensington Tavern, said she saw him at least four times a week.
“He always [had] the biggest smile on his face whenever I’d see him,” she said.
Paniona ran the karaoke at the tavern during Woods’ younger years and whenever she saw him outside Countdown, now Woolworths, he would try to get her to sing a song with him.
“He was just honestly the brightest light,” she said.
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