Nei rā te owha – Nikora Wati

Congratulations to Nikora Wati, who was awarded the Most Improved Player for the 2013 season. Nikora played for the under 8 White Northern Bulldogs rugby league team. This was Nikora’s third year playing league and his second with the majority of the team. With this experience, Nikora grew throughout the year perfecting his “smashed em bro” tackles, don’t get in my way “hit ups”, scoring tries and perfecting his kicking conversions, helping his team win 14 games for the season. Kai ruka noa atu koe Nikora, go hard and all the best for 2014.

Nikora Wati in action on the field.

Nikora Wati in action on the field.

He pēpi

A very special congratulations to Andrea Read and her partner, Michael Miller on the safe and happy arrival of their second ātaahua pēpi, Rosa George Anaria Miller, who was born on the 24 September weighing 6 pound 9 ounces. She is a sister for Tilly Jane and another moko for Rititia and the late Andy Read; and mokopuna tuarua for Hector and Hilda Tainui (Uncle Spud and Aunty Tilly). Congratulations to all the whānau.

Rosa George Anaria Miller.

Rosa George Anaria Miller.

South Island Māori netball tournament

This year the South Island Māori netball tournament was held in Kaikōura. Kia Toa Netball club took three teams – midgets, juniors and seniors. This year we brought home two runner-up trophies, one for our midgets and one for our juniors. Our teams played some excellent netball and we are very proud of them all for their great sportsmanship, positive vibes and tautoko. There was even time for a fun game of netball of all ages.

Our kaumātua Barbara Vaea née Tainui got out on the court with two broken toes and played in the centre position. Ka mau te wehi Aunt. It was a weekend with plenty of good laughs and fun. A big mihi to all the whānau who made it possible for us to take our rōpū to Kaikōura. Kia Toa Hokitika have the pleasure of hosting the 2014 South Island Māori Netball Tournament, so please come along next year whānau to tautoko this awesome kaupapa.

Kia Toa Midgets: Aotea Mihaka, Saphire Mihaka, Lucy Tonihi, Savannah Page, Aleigha Ngaamo, Karera Wallace-Jones, Nikitah Russell, Zion Meihana-Whittle, Shari Tacon.

Kia Toa Midgets: Aotea Mihaka, Saphire Mihaka, Lucy Tonihi, Savannah Page, Aleigha Ngaamo, Karera Wallace-Jones, Nikitah Russell, Zion Meihana-Whittle, Shari Tacon.

Kia Toa Juniors: Bridget Barlow, Maia Tonihi, Shiana Meihana, Whakataerangi White, Tayejana Coulston, Brooke Parker, Bianca Thomas, Elly Mulholland.

Kia Toa Juniors: Bridget Barlow, Maia Tonihi, Shiana Meihana, Whakataerangi White, Tayejana Coulston, Brooke Parker, Bianca Thomas, Elly Mulholland.

Kia Toa Seniors: Hamiria Hutana, Tamara Reynolds, Ngarie Tainui, Demelza Stuart, Shanice Meihana, Shanita Meihana, Laura Mills, Amber Blacktopp.

Kia Toa Seniors: Hamiria Hutana, Tamara Reynolds, Ngarie Tainui, Demelza Stuart, Shanice Meihana, Shanita Meihana, Laura Mills, Amber Blacktopp.

Kia Toa whānau before leaving Kaikōura to travel back home to Hokitika.

Kia Toa whānau before leaving Kaikōura to travel back home to Hokitika.

Fusion wānanga

During the school holidays our Fusion tamariki came together again to rock out another Fusion Hip Hop and kapa haka wānanga. Ka mau te wehi tamariki mā, you all have been absolutely superb.

We also had the pleasure of taking our tamariki to Lake Kaniere for a one-day wānanga on waka ama. Our tamariki were able to learn more about this awesome kaupapa.

A special mihi to our kaiako Miriama and Te Rua. Kapa haka was a fantastic success. Thanks also to Chantal for your groovy moves, making it even more fun to be part of. Thanks also to our awesome cook, Nelly for beautiful kai that energised the tamariki to perform even better; and to our Fusion tamariki – you guys rock.

You are what makes this wānanga an even bigger success and we all thank you for bringing your positive attitudes to the event.

Aleigha Ngaamo and Leisi Pousini weaving putiputi harakeke.

Aleigha Ngaamo and Leisi Pousini weaving putiputi harakeke.

Lucy Tonihi weaving her harakeke putiputi.

Lucy Tonihi weaving her harakeke putiputi.

Waka Ama at Lake Kaniere for Fusion tamariki.

Waka Ama at Lake Kaniere for Fusion tamariki.

Fusion tamariki during the week – hard at their mahi.

Fusion tamariki during the week – hard at their mahi.

Makaawhio reading challenge

Hokitika Primary School participants at the first Makaawhio reading challenge.

Hokitika Primary School participants at the first Makaawhio reading challenge.

Marae hosts school pupils

In August we had the opportunity to host our local kura.  It was wonderful to watch the senior classes take on the tuakana role by welcoming the juniors with a pōwhiri.

We enjoyed watching our young rangatahi karanga to each other and whaikōrero as well.  We were very lucky that Aunty Pat Anglem hung out with all the moko and she taught them a lot about the “goings on around the pā”. All the tamariki thoroughly enjoyed their time, even though a lot already stay here every other weekend.

It was nice to attend their hui tamariki and hear what their highlights were from their noho. A lot seemed to enjoy the kai side of things the most. We are very thankful to all parents and teachers, aunties and uncles, pōua and tāua for making this such a successful noho.

Tuahiwi School pupils outside Maahunui II.

Tuahiwi School pupils outside Maahunui II.

He mihi – Kawana Burgman

Congratulations to Kawana for being awarded the Rookie of the Year for the 2013 season. Kawana played for the Under 8 White Northern Bulldogs rugby league team. This was Kawana’s first year playing league and with his team mates, they had a pretty good year, winning 14 games, drawing one, and losing three.

As the season progressed, Kawana played really well with big hit ups, massive tackles, scoring and converting tries. Tau kē Kawana, well done and all the best for 2014.

Kawana Burgman, Rookie of the Year.

Kawana Burgman, Rookie of the Year.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Te Kaio Cranwell for being awarded the most consistent player for the 2013 season. Te Kaio played for the Under 8 White Northern Bulldogs rugby league team. For the majority of the team, this was their second year playing together, with two playing league for the first time.

They had a pretty good year, winning 14 games, drawing 1, and losing 3. As the season progressed the team started to play really well together, understanding the fundamentals and learning to play as a team, which culminated in scoring the most points for the season – 652 – and winning that team trophy.

The boys are really looking forward to next season. Karawhuia.

Te Kaio Cranwell – most consistent player 2013.

Te Kaio Cranwell – most consistent player 2013.

Kia ora hauora – noho taiao

Rangatahi from Christchurch secondary schools attended a two-day Kia Ora Hauora Noho Taiao held at Wairewa Marae last month.

The wānanga delivered science curricular through a kaupapa Māori lens, where rangatahi got the chance to learn about conservation, environmental issues and traditional food gathering practices from local Ngāi Tahu, Craig Pauling and Iaean Cranwell.

The wānanga encouraged rangatahi to consider taking sciences when making their 2014 subject choices at school and featured a haerenga to the local reserve at Ōkuti, where they identified native plants and learnt about traditional uses, before travelling to the Kaitōrete Spit side of Te Waihora.

Once lakeside, they made their way along the shoreline searching for kakī anau (black swan) nests and were shown which hua kakī anau – swan eggs to gather and which eggs to leave behind.

That evening, they set hīnaki to catch tuna as part of Wairewa’s tracking and monitoring programme and the next day conducted a State of Takiwā survey on the area surrounding the marae. They also experienced electric fishing along the banks of the awa, Ōkana.

This was the second Kia Ora Hauora wānanga held at the marae, and students enjoyed the whanaungatanga among the different high schools and appreciated the opportunity to learn about the taiao outside the classroom. It was an action-packed wānanga and the swan egg omelettes were reka rawa atu.

Rakaia Kiel-Kerwin, Te Amo Tamainu, Nopera Te Rupe and Tahi Baggaley holding the long fin tuna.

Rakaia Kiel-Kerwin, Te Amo Tamainu, Nopera Te Rupe and Tahi Baggaley holding the long fin tuna.

Craig Pauling, Hayden Thompson (Nō Wairewa) and Nature Edwards electric fishing.

Craig Pauling, Hayden Thompson (Nō Wairewa) and Nature Edwards electric fishing.

Delane Luke, Sam Mokomoko, Craig Pauling, Tane Chase and Michael Laulu gathering hua kakī anau on Kaitōrete Spit.

Delane Luke, Sam Mokomoko, Craig Pauling, Tane Chase and Michael Laulu gathering hua kakī anau on Kaitōrete Spit.

Rōpū outside Makō.

Rōpū outside Makō.

Netball

Ngati Moki Junior Netball team participated at South Island Maori netball tournament 2013 held at Kaikōura on Saturday, 28 September. Our team were accompanied by parents, supporters, umpires and kaumātua. Many thanks to Kaikōura Netball Centre for their manaakitanga and tautoko to all participating teams, supporters and whānau. We look forward to participating at the 2014 tournament being held in Hokitika.

Ngāti Moki kapa haka.

Ngāti Moki kapa haka.

Ngāti Moki marching girls in action.

Ngāti Moki marching girls in action.

Congratulations

Patrick and Larrianne Casserly (Heath) are especially proud of their mokopuna (below), who have represented their provinces and earned club awards, one representing his province in three different sporting codes.

It is wonderful to see our young people achieving so much in the sporting arena. We have also noticed an increasing amount of whānau support on the sideline, which is great.

Taine Lanyon was chosen for the second year to represent Canterbury Metro Rugby under 13’s, to play in the South Island tournaments. Taine’s team was undefeated in the Canterbury- Marlborough tournament and undefeated in the South Island Tournament. Taine plays No 7 like his rugby idol, Richie McCaw.

Brothers Jayden and Charlie Stokes are high achievers in their Brighton Rugby Club. Jayden received Player Of The Year two years in a row and Charlie receiving Player of the Year three years running. Charlie also reached Zone representative level this year. Jayden, 12, received a distinguished award at his club when he was named Under 18 half back of the Club.

Pierre Louis Gicquel has represented his province of Auckland, North Harbour and Whangaparaoa in three codes. In school rugby, he played the curtain raiser for the North Harbour, Otago ITM Cup game at North Harbour Stadium. His team was runner up in school boy rugby.

In Ripper Rugby (Tag), he played in the national tournament in Wellington, representing North Harbour. Pierre Louis was awarded Teams Player of the Tournament. And in football, he was selected for the football nationals, representing Auckland. His club team, Cafu won their grade and Pierre Louis received Player of the Year.

Taine Lanyon.

Taine Lanyon.

Jayden Stokes.

Jayden Stokes.

 Charlie Stokes.

Charlie Stokes.

 Pierre Louis Gicquel.

Pierre Louis Gicquel.

East Otago High School kapa haka

For the first time ever, East Otago High School kapa haka performed at Polyfest, Dunedin in mid-September. Everyone had a great time, though a few nerves were displayed before everyone got up on the stage.

Huriawa Parata-Ellison led one of the haka, and a huge amount of work went into the performance. We are so proud of you Huriawa, Atawhai, Liam, Hayley, James, Libby and Chloe.

From left, Huriawa Parata-Ellison, Atawhai Parata-Ellison, Liam Ellison, Hayley Bungard, James Bungard, Libby Sheppard and Chloe Gree at Polyfest 2013.

From left, Huriawa Parata-Ellison, Atawhai Parata-Ellison, Liam Ellison, Hayley Bungard, James Bungard, Libby Sheppard and Chloe Gree at Polyfest 2013.

Creating a wearable art concept

Hairpin Turn contains approximately 4,000 recycled hairpins collected over the past three years. I’d been thinking of unique approaches to the Wearable Art concept when I noticed several hairpins on the ground in the supermarket car park. I then found one in my driveway, odd because I don’t use them; then another at my son’s school. “It’s a sign” I thought, but are there really that many? I started picking them up during a short walk around Wellington’s Oriental Bay and gathered over 50 that day. It had begun.

A keen walker, I would pick up hairpins on every journey. Some days I would pick up one or two, other days 40 or 50. My friends picked them up. My kids picked them up. My sister picked them up and regularly delivered bags of hairpins that she and her 100km trail walk teammates had collected during their many hours of training walks. The pile grew as hundreds turned to thousands. All of the hairpins we have picked up had fallen to the ground from someone’s hair, but very rarely would that someone look for the fallen pins, even if they’d even noticed they’d gone. In creating Hairpin Turn, over 3 kilograms of rusting metal has been removed from the environment and given back to fashion, to be valued again.

All along, I had a vision for Hairpin Turn. My inspiration was a photo of my niece as a small girl, twirling around. I wanted these rusting hairpins to twirl and to get their turn to shine again. As soon as I saw the section themes for 2013, I knew that their time had come. My image for Hairpin Turn fitted perfectly with the children’s section theme “Reinvent the Tutu.”

The fit was confirmed when a ballet mum said that hairpins were essential accessories for a ballerina, along with her tutu and shoes.

I have enjoyed bringing a long-held vision to life. I love the contradiction of using hard materials to make something that is usually light and soft, and I’ve enjoyed the challenge of creating something whimsical with something utilitarian. Hairpin Turn follows the journey of the hairpin, as it turns from a useful, shiny accessory in the hair to rusting metal scattered on the ground. I have used brand new hairpins on the tiara, and recycled hairpins on the garment, with the shiny pins near the top of the garment, graduating down to rustier older looking pins scattered on the skirt base.

Hairpin Turn has a neat and orderly layout of hairpins on the front and is more chaotic on the back, similar to how they usually end up by the time the night is over. I’ve been told again and again “they usually fall out down the back but the front still looks fine.”
All of the hairpins rely on their kinks and gravity to stay in place, with the exception of a few of the hairpins attached with nylon on the ring on the base of the garment to insure they hang on for the inevitable twirl.

Nā Lisa Milan.

Winnie Solomon wearing the tiara.

Winnie Solomon wearing the tiara.

Sarah Cubis wearing Hairpin Turn.

Sarah Cubis wearing Hairpin Turn.

Rā whānau

Hari Huri Tau Te Whēariki May of the Bluff Anglem whānau. Mums Kim and Kirsty were pleased to celebrate Te Whē’s first birthday with whānau, friends and a lovely big cake.

Te Whē at her  first birthday celebration.

Te Whē at her first birthday celebration.