Ki a rātou kua whetūrangitia, tē kite i tō tātou whare. Ko koutou tērā e whakarākei ana i te rangi, hei tohutohu i te ara mā mātou i te pō, kia puta ki te whai ao ki te ao mārama. E ngā mate kua wehe atu i te ao te wehe atu i te pae o mahara.
Our Arahura whare tipuna dawn blessing and opening was held on Friday 21 November. The day started with Arahura whānau assembling at the waharoa around 5.15am. They were led through the waharoa by our tāne kaiwero. Ngāi Tahu whānui and other manuhiri were led by our Ngāi Tahu whānau, who conducted the kaikarakia, Tā Tipene O’Regan, Justin Tipa and Jymal Morgan were supported by Che Wilson. This was followed by a pōwhiri at 10am.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organisations who contributed to the realisation of our moemoeā “Arahura Marae.” Firstly we thank and acknowledge all of the support from our Arahura whānau and Ngāi Tahu whānui.
Sadly some of our kaumātua who worked tirelessly to support the Arahura Marae development project have passed. Our upoko rūnanga, Uncle Hup (Wereta) Tainui, Aunty Babe (Mary) and Uncle Jock Tulloch, Aunty Te Māori Raukawa (Tort) Tainui and Aunty Miriam (Nin) Henderson, Uncle Bob Tuhuru, Marion Kingi and Aunty Jean Doland.
We thank the following people and groups for their koha: Nolene Tainui, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua, Te Mairiki Ellison Taiaroa Trust, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, Māwhera Incorporation, Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga, Ngāi Tahu Seafood, Ngāi Tahu Farming, Makaawhio Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu Property. A number of whānau gave koha for the pounamu tiles that are to be installed in 2015.
We are grateful for the support of the following funders: Ngāi Tahu Fund, Lotteries Marae Heritage, Solid Energy, Bathurst Resources, Meridian Energy, Oceana Gold, Te Puni Kōkiri, Seafields Resources, Development West Coast, Westland District Council, Work and Income NZ, Arahura Holding Ltd, Kāti Waewae Charitable Trust and Community Employment Group.
We acknowledge the following organisations that were part of the construction: MAP Architecture, ABA Consulting, Mike Muir Builders and sub-contractors, Jeff Evans Plumbing, Hokitika Electrical, Art Fetiche, Electronet, Jeff Parker, West Roads, Southern Hospitality, Metro Flooring, Commlite, Sound Workshops, Department of Conservation and the office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
We would like to acknowledge the following groups: The Māori Wardens, the Police and the Department of Conservation.
We send a special thank you to the following people who dedicated blood, sweat and tears to the project: Francois and Lisa Tumahai, Ned and Ursula Tauwhare and to our rūnanga executive past and present – Kori Hutana, Ben Hutana, Karen Coakley, Violet Bradley, Hohepa Mason, Jason Tuhuru, David Mason, Rick Barber and Pierre Tumahai.
Thanks to our staff past and present: Hamiria Hutana, Danealla Mason, Chantal Tumahai, Daryl Tainui, Caroline Parker, Leann (Missy) Campbell, Des Hetherington, Anthony Coakley, Julie Nicole, Aaron Shannon, Wendy Bedford, Amanda Downs and Ben Te Aika.
Thanks to our weavers: Rititia Read, Tangi Weepu, Susie Gibb, Anita and Richard Gibb-Barlow, Miriam Downs, Leonie Tainui, Nadia Tainui, Kelly Mason, Bunty Mason, Bella Russell, Aroha Timothy, Matthew Sollis; also a special thank you to Ranui Ngarimu.
We also thank all of the weavers who came to support us from other Papatipu Rūnanga and iwi. Over time there have been numerous people who have supported this project and we apologise if we have missed any names.
Thanks to our carvers: Mahana Coulston, Caleb Robinson, Jamie Whittle, James York (whare tipuna), Turi Gibb (waharoa), Riki Manual (kōruru),
Lewis Gardiner (tekoteko), Ian-Wayne Grant and Tony Thompson. And a big thank you to our lead carver, Fayne Robinson.
Thanks to our tutors: Jerry Pu (kaiwero) and Teena Henderson (kaikaranga), Te Rua Mason, Miriama White, David Brennan and Horiana Tootell (waiata) and Pita and Maraea Peawini (kapa haka).
Te Pao a Tahu, especially Henare and Corban Te Aika, Te Kura Tuatahi o Hokitika Kapa Haka Rōpū and Te Kura Tuarua o Hokitika Kapa Haka Rōpū, we thank you all for your commitment and support. Tino Ātaahua te kapa haka koutou mā. A big thank you to Tā Tipene O’Regan for your advice and support. To Jymal Morgan and the KMK team we thank you.
To our whānau a special acknowledgement and thank you to: Leann (Missy) Campbell, Diana and Wayne Coulston, Daniel Tainui, Trish Barlow and Gary Lang, Andre and Nigel Mehrtens, Jake Meihana, Tihou Messenger-Weepu, Shane Lang and Annabelle Lee, Sam Tauwhare, Dane Tumahai, Lewis Robinson and Tana Luke, Patrick Tootell and Dotty Morrison. Cazna and Lee Luke, Bronwyn Thompson, Trudy Thompson and Rhonda Thompson.
To our kaumātua: Hilda and Hector Tainui, Maika Mason, Papakura Tainui, Matariki Tumahai, Gay and Tahana Tauwhare, Ina and Jerry Pu, Martha and Reuben Sargeant, June and Paul Tuhuru, Teresa and Barry Rooney, Hemi and Karen Mason, Barbara Vaea, Bill Russell, Muri Tuhuru, Iris and Gordon Weaver, Nora McQuarrie, Bill Henderson, John Tauwhare, Alan Tainui and Eli and Te Whe Weepu, thank you all.
To the Arahura whānau, Ngāi Tahu whānui and community groups/individuals who supported our opening we thank you. We apologise if we have missed any names.
To Vicki Ratana and the whānau at Mokowhiti Ltd – our marvellous events management team – we would not have made it through the final months without your amazing dedication and support.
A special thank you to our rūnanga chair and marae development project manager, Francois Tumahai – kā mihi aroha ki a koe.
Kaikarakia: Tā Tipene O’Regan, Tahu Potiki, Justin Tipa, Jymal Morgan, Te Mairiki Williams; Tāua Papakura Tainui Puhi, Leigh Grace Tainui; kaikaranga: Horiana Tootell, Diana Coulston, Leann (Missy) Campbell, Hamiria Hutana and Teena Henderson; Kaiwero: Jerry Pu, Hector Tainui (Snr), Hector Tainui (Jnr), Katene Campbell, Teoti Campbell, Caleb Robinson, James Ellers, Matthew Sollis, Anthony Barlow, Te Ahu Russell, Chantal Tumahai, Te Amo Pu, Maia Campbell, Brooke Parker and Zoe Wallace; kaiwhaikōrero: Ned Tauwhare, Te Rua Mason, Rino Tirakatene, Richard Wallace and Tā Tipene O’Regan.
