Kāi Tahu whānui, tēnā koutou
Nei rā te mihi matakuikui o Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio ki a koutou. Nei rā hoki kā mihi o te Tau Hou. Tēnā koutou katoa.

Ki a rātou kua hika mai, kua hika atu i kā mate huhua o ia whānau, ia hapū, ia iwi, nei rā te mihi poroporoaki ki a koutou. E auē koutou, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie. Rātou ki ā rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.

The year started with a bang and like most of the country we have been experiencing mixed weather. Our office reopened on 6 January and it has been full-on ever since. We supported the Kūmara Races with a hospitality tent on 11 January, spent three days exploring our South Westland tūrakawaewae from 17-19 January, our rūnanganui (executive) spent the following weekend at our marae for their hui and then we celebrated Waitangi Day with our annual Makaawhio picnic and sports day at Woodstock.

Kūmara Races

Our first event for 2014 was the Kūmara Races, which attracted the biggest crowd to date. The Makaawhio hospitality tent was well-placed to catch all the racing action. Around fifteen whānau members made the tent their base, with lots of others calling in for a catch up throughout the day. Although a couple of our whānau had some good collects, the majority were content with the odd flutter and a day of socialising and great kai.

Upoko Richard Wallace prepares to sample the ample kai.

Upoko Richard Wallace prepares to sample the ample kai.

Whānau enjoying race day in Makaawhio hospitality tent.

Whānau enjoying race day in Makaawhio hospitality tent.

Maramataka

We have a number of wānaka and hui coming up over the next few months, so please save the dates, mark your calendars. Nau mai, haere mai.

Makaawhio whānau whānui

Applications are now open for the annual secondary school grant for Makaawhio members.  The grants are open to all registered members of Makaawhio, for students attending secondary school fulltime (Year 9 to Year 13).

Application forms can be downloaded from our website at www.makaawhio.maori.nz or by ringing the office 0800 955 007 for local calls 755 7885 or by contacting us through our email address at [email protected] for a form to be posted.

Hui rūnanganui-executive meetings

Our 2014 hui schedule has been confirmed with the next hui set for 9.30am on 15 March in Hokitika. This will be followed by a hui at the marae on 26 April. Members are welcome to attend, but should RSVP for catering purposes.

ANZAC commemorative service and get- together

We will be marking ANZAC Day at our marae on 25 April, with a commemorative service. This year is especially poignant given the 100-year Anniversary of World War I.

Please note it in your diary and come join us to remember, acknowledge and celebrate our servicemen and women.

Communication

Our next edition of Ka Tangi te Kōkō will be sent in March. If you have stories you would like to share with our Kāti Māhaki whānau, please send news and photos to [email protected] or post a hard copy to P.O. Box 225, Hokitika 7842. To be in the March edition, I need to receive your contributions by 28 February.

In addition to our quarterly newsletter, you can keep in touch, catch up on news or keep abreast of what’s happening through our website: www.makaawhio.maori.nz, Facebook, our blog: makaawhio.blogspot.co.nz or Twitter: @makaawhio, or pick up the phone and give us a call on phone 03 755 7885 or 0800 955 007.
Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki hoki. Mauri ora.