Ngā mate
For my father, Maurice Westmoreland Lousich whose 94th birthday would have been today (1 March). He died on 12 November, 2012 at Masterton Hospital. Dad was brought up at Arahura Pā. His mother was Iri Te Amokura Pihawai and his father, Rudolph Torlesse Lousich. Maurice and his wife, Betty (deceased), had two children – Raymond Rudolph (deceased) and myself, Lorraine Lousich.
Rā whānau
Tanya Weepu, Joe Mason, Julie Campbell, Blossom Meihana-Eiffie, Karley Tauwhare, Sue Meihana.
Aroha mai if whānau birthdays are not mentioned, however a big rā whānau.
Congratulations
Gordon and Iris (Pheobe) Weaver (daughter of Hector William Tuhuru and Te Māori Raukawa Tainui) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on 16 March. Gordon and Iris are the fourth generation to be married on the date and their daughter and son-in-law Tania and Mark Wallace are the fifth generation to carry on the tradition. Whānau and friends from around the motu and from as far afield as Australia travelled to celebrate this happy occasion.
The party was held in Hokitika and their fabulous cake featured Elvis and a Lion Brown keg. Speeches were given before whānau and friends feasted on crayfish, mussels and other goodies. The celebrations ended with lunch the following day.
Gordon and Iris raised three wonderful children, Miriama, Tania and Hoani and they have seven beautiful mokopuna, Amber, Aroha, Quinn, Zara, Kieran, Cody and Jacob. All of Iris’s brothers and sisters from Arahura came home for the celebration.
Gordon and Iris would like to thank everybody involved for making this day a very special one. Whānau and friends from near and afar would like to also take this time to give Gordon and Iris their special congratulations on making such a wonderful milestone in their lives. We wish them many more, along with lots of love and good health.
Gordon and Iris Weaver on their wedding day 50 years ago.
The Weaver whānau celebrating.
Marae development
Wharekai nearing completion.
The new wharekai.
Another shot of the new wharekai.
Rūnanga business
We welcome contributions from whānau for Te Pānui Rūnaka, so please tell us your stories by sending any news and photos to [email protected] or phone 03 755 6451. Or visit the tari anytime.
Kiwi experience
Ngāti Waewae whānau had the pleasure and privilege to be part of a kiwi transfer from the Grey Valley district to Lake Rotoiti in St Arnard on 9 April. The beautiful kiwi was given the name Tuia by Ngāti Waewae – meaning binding everybody together, whakapapa and nature.
This particular kiwi was one of the many rescued from the Stockton Mine and placed in a well-protected crèche named Crèche du Bois Gentil (Friendly Forest Kiwi Crèche). As Tuia is still very young and very fragile it was hard for the kaiārahi to record the gender and weight. Tuia is a koha from Ngāti Waewae to Ngāti Apa.
Ātaahua koe Tuia.
Tāua Russy (Violet Bradley) and Tāua Pup (Papakura Tainui) with Tuia.
Mahana Coulston and Te Rua Mason holding Tuia for the last time before pōwhiri.
Ngāti Apa tākata and their koha Tuia.
Ngāti Waewae kaumātua, from left: Papakura Tainui, Karen Coakley, Violet Bradley and Barbara Vaea with Mahara from Ngāti Apa and Tuia, before Tuia boarded for the voyage across the moana.
Tuia travels across to Lake Rotoiti, mā te wā ka tūtaki anō. Haere rā Tuia.