Rā whānau

April
Charlie Subritzky, Sharlene Pirikahu, Terry McConnell, Jesse Thompson, Rei Couch, Yvette Couch-Lewis, Pania Laffey, Honey-Rae Toria Thompson, Adelaide Couch-Snow, Kirsten Dell-Hartgers, Matea Gillies, Nola Jones, Josephine Briggs, Janina Konia, Sofia Houghton, Maui Stuart.

May
Auntie Dawn Kottier, Lyle Phillips, Marlene Kamo, Roy Tikao, Cody Laffey, Trevor Perry, Caine Tauwhare, Rex Gillies, Hohepa Briggs, Ngarangi and Ngahina Tauwhare.

World tour de Wakatipu

Congratulations and well done to Jerry and Sean Hartgers for their recent success riding in the 2013 New World Tour de Wakatipu. Jerry came first in a field of 30 recreational master males over 36 kilometres and his son Sean was third in the recreational junior section.

Tikao whānau get together

The Tikao whānau had a wonderful Easter weekend at Rāpaki Marae. There was a mix of whakapapa, waiata, mahika kai activities, weaving, hearing kōrero about whānau history, as well as getting to know each other and our tamariki, who are all sprouting up.

We were very lucky to have Ranui Ngarimu come and kick start our whānau kākahu project, teaching us some basic skills about muka extraction from harakeke. We also learnt how to pluck some precious manu given to us by the Department of Conservation (DOC). A representative from DOC came along and gave us some beautiful kiwi feathers for our kākahu.

Another highlight included some of our tāne learning mahi tuna at the drains at Waikakahi/Birdlings Flat. Thanks to Roy Tikao for teaching our tāne this very practical taoka tuku iho. The guys will look forward to getting out there again. We were all very inspired by Mananui Ramsden’s exceptional skills, which he shared in his taiaha kōrero and demonstration.

Mananui Ramsden gives a taiaha demonstration.

During the hui we learnt some whānau waiata taught by Holly Tikao Weir, Ariana Tikao, Riki Pitama and Solomon Rahui. Me he korokoro tūī koutou. We have some awesome up-and-coming singers in our whānau. Ka rawe!

Fern Whitau from the office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu donated her time and ran te reo games for us on Saturday night. Everyone participated and the tamariki had their chance to shine and show off their te reo skills.

We were fortunate to have senior members of our whānau present, including Uncle Waitai, Uncle Bob, Aunty Rima, Matea Gillies and Uncle Rik Pitama, who were able to share valuable kōrero about our whānau history.

After the wānaka had finished, we all attended the unveiling ceremony of Arthur (Boy) Martin Tikao and Tony Carl Piuraki Tikao, which included karakia from some of our hākui and pūtatara. It was a very special way to lay our pāpā/uncles/Pōua to rest. E kā tukāne, e moe, e moe.

We would like to thank the Ngāi Tahu Fund for supporting our wānaka. Thank you to the tutors and organisers, and also to Una, our awesome rikawera, who provided sumptuous kai for the weekend (congratulations to Una on the birth of her mokopuna that weekend – despite her arrival in the wee hours, Una was still in the kitchen at the crack of dawn). E te whānau Tikao, tū mai rā, kia kaha, kia māia, kia manawanui!

Left to right: Amber Te Atarangi Hema Houkamau Mason, Maio Taare Tikao Taratoa-Bannister, Hinekaea Pohiritia Tikao Taratoa-Bannister, Oceania Amelia Hema Houkamau Mason, Matakaea Tikao.

Left to right: Rik Pitama, Bob Tikao, Matea Gillies, Waitai (George) Tikao, Graeme Grennell, Melville Rehu.

Whānau enjoy the korowai hui.