Though we were delighted with the amount and quality of kōrero at our recent meeting, it is stating the obvious to say that most of the regular attendees would love to see more tamariki and rakatahi gracing Aronui, our adopted home in Tauranga Moana. We’d love to see some new faces coming along.
Among apologies received was one from our past committee member and regular attendee, Fred Newton, who is now on the road to recovery from his illness; we wish him a speedy recovery.
Hot topic for the day was an event we are all looking forward to – the chance to see and hear first-hand about places of importance in Ngāi Tahu history. Anna Were is busy organising the trip and her husband Alec has volunteered to be chef for the occasion.
Anna is to write a pānui about it all. Keep an eye out for it. She will also send a notice to the email addresses we have on our network list. At present the goal is Labour Weekend 2014. It is hoped that the venue for the event will be Tuahiwi Marae.
As always on occasions of whanaukataka, it doesn’t take much to get stories about the past flowing. Among those that surfaced at our meeting were various tales about the southern incursions of Te Rauparaha and his various deeds and misdeeds.
Past chairperson, Annis Somerville treated us to an impromptu rundown on the implications that the sacking of Kaiapoi Pā had for the dispersal and subsequent development of Ngāi Tahu as an iwi.
She included reference to female escapees heeding the cry of the day to ‘go forth and multiply’. Annis linked this with the profusion of Pākehā family names that are now a common feature of our whakapapa.
These and other personal stories contributed were more than enough to keep the korero flowing over into cuppa and kai time.
Meri Kirihimete ki a koutou, from Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana, and a big thanks to those who regularly come and meet and support us throughout the year. Without you all, we would not be able to sustain our rōpū.
We welcome other whānau to come and join us in 2014. Next year, our bi-monthly hui will be held at Tauranga Boys’ College Wharenui, on the following Sundays, starting at 1pm: 16 February; 27 April (AGM); 15 June; 17 August; 19 October and 7 December (venue TBA).
Nā Laurie Loper.