Karawhiua
Tau kē! Congratulations to Connagh Wesley, who has successfully completed a six-week Limited Service Volunteers course at Burnham Military Camp. The course involved a 50km march through the Lake Sumner area, which had to be cut short due to being caught out in the storm that created devastation around Canterbury. After spending an extra night in the open surrounded by rising rivers and howling winds, her company was evacuated. Connagh said it was surreal returning to Burnham seeing the wreckage and knowing she had spent an unplanned night in the weather, armed only with a tent, a sleeping bag, and the skills she had been taught by her instructors.
Connagh Wesley (middle, wearing korowai) performing a haka pōwhiri welcoming whānau to Burnham Military Camp.
Otago schools’ Polyfest
He mihi to all Ōtākou tamariki who took part in the 2013 Otago Schools’ Polyfest. As usual, there were a large number of tamariki from the kaik performing with Te Muaupoko, the Otago Peninsula schools’ Māori extension group. Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou, ngā whānau me ngā kaiako, who supported the kaupapa.
Our tamariki taking part in the festival.
Elections – Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou are calling for applications to the positions of Representative and Alternate to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Tēnei te ruru te koukou nei
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Vision: Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou will create opportunities for its members to strengthen and develop their confidence and skills.
We are seeking interested rūnanga members who will represent the interests and aspirations of Ōtākou whānau whānui at the tribal council of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
The successful applicant will:
- Attend Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu meetings, wānanga and training as required
- Act in a governance capacity at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu level.
- Be or become familiar with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu legislation, charter provisions and policy.
- Act as a linkage between Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
- Report monthly in writing to Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
- Attend all External Issues Komiti and rūnanga general meetings of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
- Advise Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou of current issues and policy of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
- Provide written pre-Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu meeting reports to the External Issues Komiti on agenda items and decision papers of each tribal meeting.
- Be conversant and up to date with the views and expectations of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou members.
- Act in a manner consistent with the standard and expectations of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou.
The ideal applicant will have some or all of the following skills and qualities:
- Significant governance experience at a senior level
- Good communicator
- Ability to maintain an active linkage with Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and the Ōtākou Marae.
- Strong sense of affiliation to Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou
- Active experience of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou people and values
- Knowledge of Ngāi Tahu tikanga and competency in te reo
- Commitment to Ngāi Tahu whānui
- Integrity
- Able to work as part of a team
- Computer literacy.
Restrictions and qualifiers:
- Applicants must be registered members of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Incorporated.
- Applicants will require the support of four (4) members of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou whānui.
Application forms for both positions are available from the rūnanga manager, Rachel Wesley.
Contact details: Phone 03-4780352, email [email protected]
Applications close at 4pm, Friday 22 November.
Kaumātua kai
What do you do during the school holidays when you’re living on the kaik and feeling bored? You come to the marae, cook kai for the local kaumātua, and go and take it to them in their homes.
From left, Taiaroa McDonald, Janece Taiaroa, Ryleigh Davis, Mihiata Wesley-Evens, Makareta Wesley-Evans and Koreana Wesley-Evens (partly obscured).
Hui-ā-tau
This year we will be one of the satellite venues for the Ngāi Tahu Hui-ā-Tau on 23 November. Please contact the office if you wish to attend.