Kāi Tahu whānui, tēnā koutou katoa
Nei rā te mihi matakuikui o Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio ki a koutou.
Nei rā hoki te mihi poroporoaki ki kā tini aituā kua hika mai, kua hika atu. Ki a rātou o ia whānau, ia hapū, ia iwi kua hīkoi atu ki tua o te ārai, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie. Rātou ki ā rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.
Like the rest of the country, the weather here on Te Tai o Poutini has been all over the place. A really nasty cyclone hit the coast just before Easter, wreaking havoc. Nothing was spared, with trees levelled, homes torn apart, roofs ripped off and vehicles overturned.
A rōpū from Whakatū, who finished their noho at our marae, were held up by road closures, first at Whataroa and then in Hokitika, where overnight accommodation was booked out solid. Fortunately beds were found for them all and they were able to complete their journey home, albeit a slow one, the next day.
A mixture of sunshine, rain and wintery temperatures has continued since then, with some heavy deluges over the past few days keeping everyone inside.
Tree uprooted in the storm, crushes building in Whataroa.
Jacobs River School, South Westland
A reunion for ex-pupils, teachers and anyone associated with the Jacobs River School will be held over Waitangi Day weekend, 6-8 February 2015, at the school, Bruce Bay Hall and the marae. Details to follow.
Contact Helen Rasmussen, 03 750 0030 or the Makaawhio office 03 755 7885 for more information.
Whakatipuwaitai ki Mahitahi
Martins Bay to Bruce Bay
Our close relationship with Hollyford Track, owned by Ngāi Tahu Tourism, continued on weekend of 2-3 May with our annual hosting of the Hollyford guides at our marae. They have just finished a full season of hosting, introducing hundreds of trampers to this very remote and stunning part of the country and then hosting them at the luxury lodge at the sea-head of the Hollyford Track – Martins Bay, or Whakatipuwaitai.
Each year our rūnanga is treated to a free guided trip into Whakatipuwaitai – the southernmost pā site of Ngāti Māhaki, and the last residence of Tutoko – to reconnect with our whakapapa links with this remote part of our rohe.
For the past two years it has been our privilege to reciprocate by hosting these guides – including our own ‘Guide Rangi’, Kahurangi Mahuika – at our marae. Last weekend, we hosted the latest Hollyford crew before they disperse for the off-season.
Guiding resumes in October, when Makaawhio will send another group of whānau in to explore this wonder land. Members should register your interest with the Rūnanga office now.
The Hollyford crew enjoy an afternoon on the awa looking for aotea and with some extraordinary luck, some very beautiful pieces were found.
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.
Hui rūnanganui – executive meetings
Our 2014 hui schedule has been confirmed and is available on our website, www.makaawhio.maori.nz The next scheduled hui is set for 9.30am on 7 June in Hokitika. Members are welcome to attend, but should RSVP via office for catering purposes.
Wānaka Marae – 30 May-2 June
Starting from Friday evening at 7pm, we will be holding a Wānaka Marae focusing on whaikōrero, karanga, waiata and kōrero māhaki. You will learn through participation some of the skills required to tautoko our marae and hapū. Please contact the office to reserve your place (0800 955 007).
Wero mātauraka – winter reading challenge
Our Winter Reading Challenge will be kicking off again during the next school holidays, on 5-20 Toru (July). It’s an ideal time to read, while snuggled inside and keeping out of the winter chill. Last year we had 16 tamariki/rakatahi participate and this year we would like to encourage even more to enter.
The challenge requires tamariki and rakatahi to read each day of the school holidays, marking off a form to confirm. There’s no criteria on what you read or an expectation that you read a book each day, just that you set aside time to read each day. Every entry receives a prize and all go into a draw for the major prizes. Contact the office for entry forms.
Arbour Day – marae open day
Together with Department of Conservation, we will celebrate Arbour Day at our marae on 7 June, starting with a pōwhiri at 10am. There will be a range of activities taking place on the day. Nau mai, haere mai.
Communication
Our final edition of Ka tangi te kōkō has been issued.
A call has been made to cease production due to the rising cost of printing and postage. We will be looking at online options, utilising our blog and web page, plus of course Te Pānui Rūnaka to keep everyone updated.
We would still like to hear from you, so if you would like to share with our Kāti Māhaki Whānau, please send news and photos to [email protected] or post a hard copy to PŌ Box 225, Hokitika 7842.
You can keep up to date with what’s happening via our web site: www.makaawhio.maori.nz; Facebook; makaawhio.blogspot.co.nz; Twitter: @makaawhio; or pick up the phone and give us a call on phone 03 755 7885 or 0800 955 007.
Finally before closing, we have a long list of members who have not updated their contact details and for whom we have been receiving returned mail. Please contact the office if you need to update your details or want to discuss anything. Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki hoki. Mauri ora.