Te Matatini 2015 – Ngā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha Cultural Council
Te Matatini 2015 is on the distant horizon and the planning work of the Waitaha Cultural Council, as host of the festival, is gaining impetus. The Waitaha executive has been meeting with Te Matatini and our other key stakeholders Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Christchurch City Council (CCC).
As chair of the Waitaha Cultural Council I have invited Te Rūnanga and the CCC to form a governance group. Tā Mark Solomon, Mayor Lianne Dalziel and myself are on the group which is called Te Kāhui Pūtuitanga. We will meet regularly to ensure the partner relationships are maintained and our collective commitments to Te Matatini are being met.
The Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has offered support to the Cultural Council which we have accepted. In particular they will help to ensure Ngāi Tahu whānui is well informed and aware of the festival and opportunities to engage and participate in the festival. The CCC will also have a critical support role.
A key factor in the success of the Cultural Council’s hosting responsibilities will be the ability to create a volunteer workforce. Our volunteer kaimahi will be crucial to ensure we can manaaki our manuhiri with the best of our southern kai and to have the venue looking beautiful, the event running smoothly and do all the jobs that need to be done for New Zealand’s premier cultural festival.
It is a huge task with up to 400 kaimahi needed to support the kaupapa through a host of different roles from car parking duties through to hosting our manuhiri. There will be full training offered to volunteers, so if you are able to volunteer or interested in finding out more information, please register your interest online at www.waitahacc.co.nz
The Cultural Council is also planning roadshows around the motu in February next year to update whānau about progress, how they can participate and to invite registrations for volunteers. We will be in touch with further details.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Ranui Ngarimu.
