Kia ora whānau. This last month has been a fairly hectic one with a number of hui taking place at Takutai o tē Tīitī Marae.

The elections for Representative and Alternate to the table of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has been completed with Anne Wakefield being elected as our Representative. Congratulations to Anne on her new appointment.

Anne takes over the reins form Stewart Bull who deserves special recognition for his long service and dedication to Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Te Rūnanga. Stewart has filled the representative position for 19 years and has shown tremendous dedication and commitment over this period. Stewart remains as kaiwhakahaere of Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka, where his experience and guidance on the executive committee is invaluable.

The alternate position remains vacant at this stage.

Apologies

Our sincere apologies to the Bell/Guise whānau for the errors in last month’s edition of Te Pānui Rūnaka.

Please note this is the correct version, with correct spelling.

What a delight for Reina Guise from Dunedin to have her great granddaughter Henrietta and William Bell born in Perth on her 85th birthday. Reina has five great grandchildren all of whom live in Perth

Dr Damien Bell with his three children, Henrietta, Katharina and William.

Dr Damien Bell with his three children, Henrietta, Katharina and William.

On the seat is Evie Capolicchio and Katharina Bell. Reina is holding Henrietta and William Bell and Isla Capolicchio. The Capolicchio’s are Neville and Kerry Guise’s granddaughters and Reina’s great granddaughters

Congratulations

Seven Burnside High School Māori students gained rakatahi awards from CPIT. Congratulations to Riki Bull-Ivey who was awarded the Kanohi Kai Mātārae – Year 11-12 award for leadership. Mum and James are very proud of Riki and all his achievements and wish him all the best in his Year 12 exams later this year.

Congratulations to Peter Belsham who was inducted into the Great Hall of Memories at Waitaki Boys High School on Anzac day 2012. Peter was on old boy of the school and was inducted for his service in Malaya with the first Battalion New Zealand Regiment in 1957.

As a young man Peter would look round the walls during school prayers, which were held every morning at 8am, and wonder how he could get his name up there. During his school days Peter won the senior cross country and the senior light heavyweight boxing championships. The Rector once told Peter that the school was for academics and that he should concentrate more on that field!

Some great names adorn those walls and Peter is proud of his Māori heritage and that he represents his whānau in such an esteemed place. Despite the Rectors misgivings Peter has achieved one of his boyhood ambitions.

Raratoka trip – whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei

By Estelle Leask (Rarotoka volunteer)

I thoroughly enjoy my time on Rarotoka. I am extremely impressed with the work that’s been done on the island to date. It is heart-warming to think of what the future holds both culturally and environmentally for this special place. The overnight stay we had at Te Takutai o te Tītī Marae is a special part of the programme and I was, as always, very impressed with their manaakitanga.

As a keen environmentalist myself, I’m inspired by Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka and their contribution to restoring native habitat not only on Rarotoka, but also in their replanting project at Ō Koura wetlands. These restored areas will provide a vital link for birds travelling between Motupohue/Bluff, Ōtatara and Rakiura up to Fiordland. These corridors are important for birds to maintain the genetic diversity needed to ensure their survival.

I would not hesitate to volunteer for the Rarotoka Restoration Project again and wish Stewart, Sandra, Cathy, Lynley, Muriel and co all the best for the future. I will definitely take them up on the offer to return some time (I’m now propagating lots of plants for the island). I would also like to mention what an amazing job Cathy does with the marae nursery.