Well, we are well and truly into spring. Labour Weekend has come and gone and the windy conditions are playing havoc with the gardens. We hope that you are all keeping warm and well and that any of you who celebrated a birthday enjoyed your day. During the last month the office has finally had a new phone system installed. This is the final phase of the upgrade following on from the computers earlier on in the year. Please note that we now have personal contact details and direct dial numbers. Our new contact details are listed below.
Office: Tel 03 234 8192
Email: [email protected]
Lynley: DDI 03 974 0215 Mob: 021 953 297
Email: [email protected]
Iain: DDI 03 234 8192
Email: [email protected]
Takutai o Te Tītī Marae will be the venue for the business planning hui to be held on 1 and 2 November. This is a joint hui that involves the Department of Conservation and Ngāi Tahu. Another group of descendants visited Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) from 2 to 5 November. This is the third such trip and they have been in great demand since the start of the project. This project has only been running for a year and its success is testament to the commitment and hard work of project sponsor Dave Taylor and his team.
It’s that time of year again and Christmas is nearly upon us! Where has the year gone? We wish you all the best for the festive season and the forthcoming year and hope that you are able to share time with whānau and friends over this period.
Please note that the Office closes on Friday 21 December at 12.30 am and will re-open on Monday 14 January 2013.
Miriama and Jadeen.
He pēpi
Miriama Nola Jan Peterson-Taukiri was born at Christchurch Womens Hospital, on 5 May, 8lb7oz. A beautiful wee girl for Jadeen Peterson and Hemi Taukiri (Kaikōura/Hokonui). A loved wee niece of all her aunties, uncles and cousins. Another delightful granddaughter for Shirley and the late Jock Peterson.
Ōraka-Aparima kapa haka rōpū
Earlier this year several members of Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka attended the Cultural Summit at Puketeraki and took part in the many workshops on offer during the hui. One was a kapa haka workshop, and so began a new journey for Ōraka-Aparima kapa haka rōpū.
A kōmiti for kapa haka was set up consisting of Aunty Betty Rickus, Sonia Rahiti, Raniera Dallas and Karina Davis-Marsden. Monthly wānanga were set up and run and as we have moved closer to Hui-ā-Iwi we have held weekly practices. We have been fortunate enough to have support from our rūnaka and the Ngāi Tahu Fund. We have also been incredibly fortunate to have the guidance of our kaiako Ra Dallas and Kylie-Jane Phillips (Rāpaki) to tutor our rōpū. Kylie-Jane has also brought out her Number 10 Youth Group, Miharo to participate, many of these tamariki and rangatahi whakapapa to Ngāi Tahu. These practices and hui have mainly been run at Takutai o te Tītī Marae in Colac Bay. This has been a great opportunity to keep our marae warm and have our tamariki and rangatahi learn not only kapa haka but also how to look after our marae.
Kapa Haka training.
We have also been able to incorporate mau rākau, poi, ki o rahi and waka ama into some of our sessions. Our sessions are not just aimed at our youth but also the wider whānau. Although Hui-ā-Iwi has been our main focus, we intend to keep the momentum going after the hui and look to future events that we can take part in. This has been an awesome opportunity and although we may not be ready for the nationals (just yet), we certainly feel that we can stand and represent our rūnaka and make them proud.
Once again thank you for all the support that we have received from our whānau, Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, Number 10, Kylie-Jane and the Ngāi Tahu Fund.
See you all at Hui-ā-Iwi!!!
Kapa haka training.
Te Hīkoi toki collection
Wes and Te Hīkoi (Riverton and Districts Heritage Museum) hosted a National Services ‘Te Paerangi’ – funded expert knowledge exchange workshop with Russell and Ann Beck cataloguing the 400 plus, mainly toki adze held in the collection. Rūnaka whānau joined them for various times over the week (and there is still more to do). Within this amazing collection are taonga of regional and national importance, from the earliest known to more generic designs. All the toki are precious.
Russell and Ann Beck, with Muriel Johnstone in the background.
Visit from Matamata whanauka
Recently Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka had a visit from Martin Orbell of Matamata. Martin is a member of Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka, and rings on a regular basis to catch up on what is happening within our area. When Martin was informed of our upcoming annual general meeting, he decided he would incorporate a visit for personal reasons while taking the opportunity to attend our hui. Pictured is Martin sitting at Iain’s desk trying to look busy. Martin thoroughly enjoyed his visit south and promises to visit again soon.
Matamata whanauka Martin Orbell.