Rā whānau

Milly Campbell
Wiremu Weepu
Manu Weepu
Courtney Sargeant
Jamie Meihana-Whittle
Ariana Tainui
Rosemarie Tainui
Kelly Mason
Arana Sutton
Te Aotaumarewa Meihana-Eiffe
Maia Tonihi
Tioti Campbell
Gayleen Culling
Te Ngarahau Mason
Chance Beckett-Ria
Tania Hutana
Jo-anne Coakley (Millie).

Congratulations!

Ariana Stevens, granddaughter of the late Harriet Mason, was admitted to the High Court of New Zealand on Friday 21 September. Ariana studied law at Victoria and Canterbury and graduated in 2011 with her LLB (Bachelor of Law). She now works as a policy advisor for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

From left; Komai Rider-Stevens, Ariana Stevens, Mona Stevens.

Carving wānanga in Rotorua

In August, Ngāi Tahu master carver Fayne Robinson and his three apprentices, Mahana Coulston, Caleb Robinson and Jamie Whittle, visited Rotorua to attend a carving conference held on Tangatarua Marae at the Waiariki Polytechnic.

We arrived in Rotorua to a warm reception from our host Tommy Ratima, who assisted Fayne in carving the wharenui ‘Kaipō’ at Te Tauraka Waka a Māui marae in Bruce Bay.

Ngāi Tahu master carver Fayne Robinson’s three apprentices Mahana Coulston, Caleb Robinson and Jamie Whittle at Tangatarua Marae, Waiariki Polytechnic.

Ngāi Tahu master carver Fayne Robinson’s three apprentices Mahana Coulston, Caleb Robinson and Jamie Whittle at Tangatarua Marae, Waiariki Polytechnic.

The next day was spent at the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia visiting Te Takapū o Rotowhio, the national pounamu, bone and stone carving school where Lewis Gardiner, a Ngāi Tahu master pounamu carver, (three times winner of the prestigious Mana Pounamu award), is head tutor.
At Te Wānanga Whakairo Rākau, the carving school, we met Clive Fugill, who was Fayne’s tutor when he trained in the 1980s. Those conversations and sharing of ideas are invaluable and awe inspiring.

In the evening we experienced Te Pō, a kapa haka based show followed by a delicious hāngī and hot chocolate on the warm rocks in front of Pohutu geyser.

The following day, our hui began at Te Waiariki Institute of Technology. We entered the marae with Waiariki Purea Trust, and spent time after the pōwhiri with introductions and getting acquainted with the attendees and host carvers. What a privilege to stay and learn in Ihenga, the beautiful carved wharenui (opened in 1996).

The three – day hui included wānanga on many aspects of whakairo, from tool care and technology (old and new), design, whakapapa and ideology, to painting techniques. We gained valuable knowledge and wisdom from some very talented and experienced artists and whakairo carving experts.

The apprentices made connections with carvers from around New Zealand. These friendships and connections within the carving world are important in furthering and improving our skills as carvers and artists. It was great to see ‘Huey, Dewey and Louie’ together again and to hear and share their stories of their training days. Thanks Fayne, Roi and Ian-Wayne. What an honour and privilege to be in the same room with some of New Zealand’s most esteemed carvers.

After the poroporoaki and all our goodbyes in Rotorua, we departed on our journey home. We were fortunate to have our whanaunga, Dougal Austin, arrange a special visit to the archive rooms at Te Papa Tongarewa, where we got to see some fabulous carved weapons and taonga from all around the motu. What a privilege to experience the ihi, the wehi, the wana, the mana of these treasures of old. It was a real inspirational reality check on the journey we have chosen. We then boarded the Arahura, a fitting way to return to Te Waipounamu.

Mahana, Caleb, Jamie and Fayne would like to thank Te Rūnanga of Ngāti Waewae, Tūterakiwhanoa Trust for their support. The experiences and knowledge gained at this hui are invaluable in assisting us on our journey to becoming successful carving artists. It reminded us all that although we have had three years of training and we have received the highest quality tutelage, there are still many years of our learning journey ahead to even get close to the calibre of carvers we met on this hīkoi. We look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead of us, and can’t wait for the next hui.

Nā Caleb Robinson.

Weavers create tukutuku panels for Scott Base

In September a team of weavers including members of Kāti Waewae from Arahura and eight Antarctica New Zealand members helped put two tukutuku panels together to be sent to Scott Base in Antarctica.

The weaving team with the completed tukutuku panels, which will be sent to Scott Base, Antarctica.

Whaea Ranui, ngā mihi ki a koe, provided the design. The panels will hang on a leaders’ wall and a memorial wall, each using traditional designs to tell their stories. The memorial panel, Maumahara, shows many crosses or stars twinkling in the skies, remembering those who have passed on from Ngāi Tahu and those who have travelled down on the ice. The pattern is called purapura whetū and the panel will be placed on the wall above the photos.

The second panel, Manukura, speaks of leadership or those who have inspired others. The design with a poutama pattern in the middle, is also traditional. It speaks of the on-going journey of learning and portrays the people who travel down to the ice, and the research.
or the staff at Antarctica New Zealand, it gave them an opportunity to take part in something new and to be a part of Scott Base.

Overall it is about Ngāi Tahu connection to Antarctica and what New Zealand Science is doing to enhance our knowledge.

Pitama Cup – South Island Māori Netball Tournament

Ka mau te wehi Kia Toa Hokitika.
Congratulations to all our rangatahi who went away to the South Island Māori Netball Tournament on 15 September in Rangiora. The results were outstanding; the midgets and juniors won their marching competition, the juniors won their grade, the midgets got the runners up trophy and the trophy for overall best behaviour.

The teams would like to give a big mihi nui to all the wonderful supporters who helped with fundraising and the kind generosity of sponsors and koha. Our rangatahi had an amazing experience. Thank you all who made this possible.

Kia Toa senior team: Coach- Rebecca Thompson, Ngahuia King, Nelly Mason, Shanita Meihana, Shanice Meihana, Demelza Stuart, Crystal Meihana, Caroline Parker, Tamara Reynolds, Marina Morris.

Kia Toa midgets, juniors and seniors with supporters and the fabulous trophies our tamariki won.

Kia Toa juniors from left back: assistant coach, Missy Campbell, Shiana Meihana, Nikita Lang, Tayejana Coulston, Bridget Barlow, Maia Tonihi, Jurnee Ratana, Caroline Parker (coach). From left, front: Jilly James, Brooke Parker, Elly Mullholland, Bianca Thomas, Kristyn Lang.

Kia Toa midgets from left: Karera Wallace-Jones, Lucy Tonihi, Nikitah Russell, Shari Tacon, Aleigha Ngaamo, Savannah Page, Zion Meihana-Whittle, Kaedance Mehrtens, Carleen Veevers in front.