The totara tree is the king of the forest, protecting the other trees from storm damage. This is why the following saying is quoted when a leader dies.

Ka hinga te totara i te wao nui a Tāne,
The totara tree in Tane's great forest has fallen,

engari, mate atu he tētē kura, whakaete mai he tētē kura.
however, a leader falls, and another leader thrusts his way to the front.

Language note:- A tētē is a young shoot, and whakaete is to thrust forward, like a shoot up out of the soil. Thus a tētē kura is a red-cloaked person who thrusts himself forward to a leadership position.

Wiremu Nia Nia

Several of his songs have been recorded by Te Mokai Roopu Waiata.

Lyrics of more Nia Nia/Te Mokai songs may be found here
And video clips of some of them are here