Congratulations
Savanna Steele recently took part in the 2013 First Nations Touch Tournament in Gold Coast Australia in October 2013. She also competed in the NZ Maori Nationals and even though her team didn’t do as well as they wanted she had some personal success, as she was selected to represent New Zealand again in the New Zealand open mixed touch team. She has also been selected for the Under 16 youth team.
Savanna Steele with her trophy.
Congratulations to Kalani Elder on his recent success on the rugby field. Kalani is the son of Carole Tomlin, the grandson of Rowena (nee Cleaver) and Ken Tomlin and the great-grandson of Johnston and Margaret Cleaver of Colac Bay.
Kalani was in the Southland under 65kg team that won the recent South Island tournament. Southland had not won the tournament since 2005. Kalani scored 32 points in the win over Canterbury Country, with four tries and six conversions. He was also named in the South Island paper team for 2013.
His feats on the rugby field have earned Kalani the shared title of the Southland under 65kg Player of the Year Award 2013, the Southland Under 65kg best back title and a host of other school and club awards.
Aparima College physical education teacher, Richard Jones believes Kalani, with his strength, speed and ability to read the game, is certainly destined for higher honours. Unfortunately the college does not have enough players in the correct age bracket to field a 1st XV, so Kalani has been turning out for Midlands this season. Kalani has also received a couple of offers to further his academic and sporting career and is currently in the process of weighing up his options for the future.
One thing is for certain, we are bound to see a lot more of this personable and talented young man in the future.
One thing is for certain, we are bound to see a lot more of this personable and talented young man in the future.
Pānui
We hope that you all had an enjoyable Christmas break and that you are now back into the swing of things and ready to meet the challenges of 2014. If you have enjoyed a birthday in the last month or have new additions to your whānau, congratulations and here’s wishing you all good health and prosperity for the year ahead.
Over the last month the office has been in a bit of turmoil, as the refurbishment of the building gets underway. These alterations have created more space and will provide a much needed meeting room. The general monthly meetings take place on the second Sunday of each month and the dates are as follows: 9 February, 9 March, 13 April, 11 May, 8 June, 13 July, 10 August, 14 September, 12 October, 9 November, 14 December.
All members are welcome to attend these general meetings, so please feel free to come along and find out what is happening. If for any reason these dates change, we will notify whānau as soon as possible.
Stewart Bull, chairman of Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka, posing with a kākāpō presented to the Rūnaka by the Department of Conservation.
Whānau relaxing and having kai at the Xmas party.
The hāngī being lifted for the Xmas party.
Rigby-Paku-Pohio reunion
As part of the Rigby-Paku-Pohio reunion this year, Dr Terry Ryan came to speak to the whānau about their Ngāi Tahu whakapapa, in particular the Rigby line.
In this modern age, to have Terry stand and present such important information without any technical assistance, and to pull facts and figures from his head, showed to the whānau how important it is to have him sharing our whakapapa. The whānau were amazed at the way he was able to bring alive our tīpuna and put together the journey of Mary Susan Whitehouse (Merehana) from Stewart Island to Ahuriri where she met and married William Joseph Rigby.
Thank you Uncle Terry for taking time out of your annual holidays and speaking to our whānau. Everyone agreed that you were the highlight.
Dr Terry Ryan giving a copy of the whakapapa to Erena Rigby.