Kāi Tahu whānui, tēnā koutou.
Nei rā te whakamiha o Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio ki a koutou.
Nei rā hoki te mihi poroporoaki ki kā mate huhua o te marama i pahure ake. E heke ana kā roimata takiwai o te hapū nei mō rātou kua hika mai, kua hika atu. E auē! Haere atu rā koutou, haere atu ki te taha o kā mātua tīpuna e tatari ana ki tua o te ārai. Haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie.
Rātou ki ā rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.
After a bout of rain, Te Tai o Poutini is enjoying an autumn of clear blue skies and Tamanui-te-Raki keeping things warm. Our pae mauka, Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana and our mauka ariki, Aoraki, are cloaked in huka and looking spectacular, but there’s a definite nip in the air.
We joined the rest of the country in mourning the loss of MP Parekura Horomia, who, at the 2005 opening of our marae, undertook the official opening duties on behalf of then Prime Minister Helen Clark. Helen was unable to attend the opening when kohu (mist) prevented her helicopter from landing at Mahitahi (Bruce Bay).
Despite the last minute call, Parekura stepped in and charmed the crowds with his usual good humour, ably fulfilling the opening duties.
Nō reira, Parekura, ahakoa kua hīkoi atu koe ki te taha o kā mātua tīpuna ki tua o te ārai, ahakoa kua karo koe ki te ao takata, ahakoa heke tonu kā roimata takiwai o te hapū nei mōu, e kore tāu mahi tautoko i wareware i a mātou.
Moe mai koe i te rakimārie.
Parekura Horomia addressing the iti and rahi at our marae opening, January 2005.
Upoko Richard Wallace (centre on paepae) and wife Mere represented our rūnanga at Parekura’s tangi.