Kāi Tahu whānui, tēnā koutou!
Nei rā te whakamiha o Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio ki a koutou katoa!
Nei rā hoki te mihi poroporoaki ki kā tini mate. Nō reira, e kā mate huhua, koutou kua hīkoi atu ki tua o te ārai, kai te mihi atu, kai te taki atu. Haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie.
Rātou ki a rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa!
Spring has brought a mixed bag of weather. With only a week left of the whitebait season, happily the rain has stopped, the sun has been shining and the awa are looking clear. We have continued to be busy; and with Kirihimete just around the corner, our maramataka is filling up fast!
On the local front, our wharemahi has been undergoing a transformation, with renovations almost complete. We are looking forward to getting our furniture back in and everything fully operational! We have hosted a couple of rōpū at our marae, most recently a group of students from the East Mennonite University in the Blue Ridge Mountains, United States of America.
The weather gods blessed the Bruce Bay Sports Day held over Labour Weekend. The rain cleared in Mahitahi/Bruce Bay and by 11am it was warm! The surprise sunshine drew people from Haast to Fox in droves to the event. Like the last couple of years Makaawhio whānau took care of the children’s events for the sports day. Old favourites like the three- legged races, egg and spoon and so on drew laughter and competition. Great fun for all!
Tamariki at Bruce Bay Sports Day.
Ka mau te wehi – congratulations!
Jake Madgwick (pictured), grandson of Dave Madgwick (Sydney) and great-grandson of the late Cath and Archie Madgwick (Rimu, Hokitika), played for NSW Māori rugby league team in the Harmony Cup. They didn’t win but Jake was the only Ngāi Tahu boy in the team. Jake is also great at athletics – he is currently ranked number two in the under-16 boy’s New South Wales 100m event, clocking in at just under 11 seconds!
Seven-year-old Leila Mamaeroa Victoria Hemi, is showing real sports talent! Leila’s won ribbons and trophies for athletics (in both track and field events) netball and basketball!
Tutoko Wallace-Jones recently stood for the first time as kaikōrero to welcome manuhiri onto our marae. It was a nerve-racking experience for him but he did a wonderful job in the absence of his pōua Richard Wallace and our other kaikōrero.
Kara Edwards recently returned from San Francisco after taking part in the First Nations’ Futures program aimed at developing emerging Ngāi Tahu leaders. Check out our next edition of Ka Tangi te Kōkō for our interview with Kara about the experience.
Kura Pounamu in Beijing
Kaumātua Archdeacon Richard Wallace has just returned from Beijing, where he represented Poutini Ngāi Tahu at the opening of the Kura Pounamu Exhibition at the National Museum of China.
The exhibition was arranged by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa with the National Museum of China.
Richard was honoured to be given the opportunity and was kept busy while he was there! From the opening ceremony through to his return, he undertook countless interviews, met with Chinese dignitaries, gave several well-received presentations and really enjoyed his time.
Richard wasn’t the only piece of Makaawhio sent to Beijing, he was there with our mauri tahutahi, Te Hurika, which used to be displayed at Te Papa.
Richard Wallace and Mauri Tahutahi, Te Huirka.
Memorial unveiled in Waiau (Franz Josef)
On 23 October, kaumātua Archdeacon Richard Wallace conducted a karakia and hura kōhatu outside the Franz Josef Police Station to commemorate three South Island policemen who were killed 26 years ago in a helicopter accident. The helicopter ride had been organised as a ‘thank you’ for their charity run fundraiser through South Westland. The helicopter tragically crashed near Franz Joseph.
The widows and families of those killed, plus survivors of the fateful flight attended along with a police contingent, including acting police commissioner Viv Rickard.
Hīkoi Whakatipu Waitai
As reported in the last edition, a rōpū of Makaawhio whānau recently made a hīkoi into Whakatipu Kōtuku (Martins Bay).
The hīkoi was significant, not only as part of an annual pilgrimage Makaawhio take to reconnect with our whenua and wāhi tapu, but because this year we presented a mauri pounamu. Te Hereka ki te Ngākau Māhaki was taken to the Hollyford Lodge as an expression and tohu of the relationship we share with the Hollyford track team.
The opportunity to reconnect with the kāika of Tūtoko and his whānau known as Opiu was a highlight for some participants, who found the experience quite moving. Ngāi Tahu archaeologist, Brian Allingham was able to carry out an archaeological survey of the area with the help of the rōpū.
Exploring Whakatipu Kōtuku and spending evenings together sharing stories, waiata, kōrero and great kai was great for the Makaawhio whānau and the Hollyford Track team.
Richard Wallace and Mauri Tahutahi, Te Huirka.