Ka mihi aroha
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura extends our aroha and sympathy to all our whānau suffering the loss of loved ones at this time.
Rā whānau
Congratulations to everyone who celebrated birthdays this month.
July: Reimana Kiriona-Clarke, Mataupiraka Stirling, Vanessa Norton-Sadler, Victor Manawatu, Jasmine Solomon, Tini Solomon, Pania Manawatu, Hana Manawatu, Martin (Ned) Manawatu, Ricky Timms, Anita Marie Ruhe, Lisa Kahu, Louisa Murray, Anna Taylor, Sallyanne Clemett, Corey McGregor, Alan Rae, Atawhai Murray and Cecelia Fletcher.
August: Ada Clarke, Harlow Clarke-Priddle, Awhina Manawatu, Scott Riddell, Hamiora Stirling, Serenity Manawatu, Grace Manawatu, Mandy Fissenden, Savannah Manawatu, Letitia Mullaly and Nathan Boyd.
September: Ma-rea Clayton, Rana Poharama, Te Auhia Solomon, Rosie Clemett, Jackie Te Wani, Justin Solomon, Sapphire Poharama, Che Solomon, Raki Solomon, Miriama Furlong, Te Amo Solomon, Ramari Ruhe, Rana Edgarton, Mark Solomon, Meriana Manawatu-Harris, Hariata Manawatu, Nats Walford, Suzanne King and Tina Smith.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Ashley Monique Ripikoi, Te Tohu post-graduate, Hauora Māori.
Ko Kama Te Reinga Moana Ripikoi Thompson, Te Tohu, B.A Maori, Media. Ko Malek, te tama a Kama he tino toa ia ki te kēmu Chess, nō Tamaki Makaurau rātou. Ko Rosalind Gemmell – Ripikoi tō rātou Māmā/Tāua Nāna tōku korowai whānau i raranga.
Ka harikoa te whānau katoa i āku mokopuna.
Nā Moana Gemmell tō rātou tāua.
Kaumātua day out
Our kaumātua enjoyed a lovely outing hosted by Te Tai o Marokura Social Services. They were picked up and greeted with a kete filled with goodies including soaps, moisturisers and little knick-knacks. Once on the bus, they were taken to the Caves Restaurant for lunch. After enjoying their lunch, Aunty Phyllis played a couple of old tunes on the piano, which our kaumātua all enjoyed. They had a lovely sing-along.
Te Tai o Marokura has more up-and-coming events planned for our kaumātua. Their next outing is to the movies, which some say they have not been to for a very long time. A trip to Hanmer Springs is also on the cards in the near future. Ngā mihi ki Te Tai o Marokura Social Services.
Aunty Reo Solomon, Uncle Dick Solomon, Uncle Spencer Kahu, Aunty Ata Manawatu, Tamara Rikiti and Kim Kahu.
The lovely table setting just for our kaumātua.
Haromi Taylor, Darcia Solomon, Tamara Rikiti and Phyllis Papworth.
Māori wardens
While many of us are in our warm whare on a Friday and Saturday night, our dedicated new Māori wardens are out patrolling, meeting people and getting to know local business owners.
There has been wonderful support and encouragement from our community to finally have Māori wardens here in Kaikōura. Ka mau te wehi koutou.
Aroha Boyd, Deb Green, Nancy Reeves and Tamara Rikiti with the owner of the Sushi Shop, Kim.
Pacific conferences
Gina Solomon was recently supported by Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura and Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura to attend two conferences: the Society for Conservation Biology Oceania (SCBO) 2014 Conference in Suva, Fiji in July and the Environmental Defence Society Conference 2014 in Auckland in August.
Gina advises she is very appreciative for the support from these two organisations. The experiences were so valuable and rewarding (not just the sun bathing in Fiji in the middle of our winter) but the kōrero heard, the sharing of great ideas and meeting really nice people.
Society for Conservation Biology Oceania (SCBO) Conference
Gina is the rūnanga representative on Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura and the group’s administrator/secretary. She attended this conference in Fiji with Peter Lawless of the Lawless Edge, facilitator/plan writer for Te Korowai. They gave a joint presentation outlining the melding of traditional knowledge, science, law and the values of Western society and how this is necessary for effective coastal management in the Pacific.
Kaikōura is the premier marine mammal tourism area in New Zealand. After eight years of discussion the community agreed on a comprehensive package of protective measures for this unique environment. Central Government agreed to implement the full range of legal instruments.
The outcome had not quite been reached while Gina and Peter were in Fiji, but as we now know, it includes Hikurangi Marine Reserve over the Kaikōura Canyon, five Māori fishing reserves, two marine mammal sanctuaries and changes to recreational fishing limits. Their presentation showed that indigenous people led the process and how their values have driven and shaped the approach adopted. The compromises made by all sectors were described and how these have been translated into special legislation – Te Korowai o Te Tai o Marokura Kaikōura Marine Management Bill. They drew conclusions about the lessons that can be applied to other jurisdictions where indigenous and Western traditions need to be drawn together in coastal management.
Gina said it was a fantastic experience and after hearing many presentations, she felt there is a close alignment in the Pacific and Australia – that people are wanting to work collaboratively in an integrated way to improve their environment, whether it be on the sea or on the land. The common theme was that there is a lot to be learnt from indigenous cultures, their traditions and values and how they look after their environment.
She met a lot of fantastic people, notably a young Kiwi scientist working for an Australian university, who gave a presentation on his work restoring a coastal habitat in Australia. This particular area has visitors arrive for some months, who stay for kai and substance – our Kaikōura tītī. Our tītī leave Kaikōura and fly to Australia for several months. It was wonderful to hear this particular kōrero and how this work is helping to protect and preserve our tītī. Gina is also the rūnanga rep on the Hutton’s Shearwater Charitable Trust, working to preserve this special taonga.
Environmental Defence Society (EDS) Conference 2014
Gina was invited to present on the work of Te Korowai at the Pre-Conference of the Environmental Defence Society Conference. She participated in the workshop that followed.
Gina said it was very interesting to hear what other groups are doing in the same space and in particular, to hear about the work being done in the Hauraki and Kaipara Harbours, which had some similar links to the Te Korowai process. She felt those who presented had similar ideas with regards working collaboratively, in an integrated way with agencies and communities. Some speakers noted their work had been instigated by the community, some from agencies. Some had limited timeframes to work within and wider areas to work across, necessitating more consultation with more people and perhaps more issues to deal with. It was very evident that Kaikōura is well ahead in our process. Gina hopes her presentation was inspirational, giving people a sense of hope and encouragement for their mahi in their own communities.
She said that the conference itself had some fantastic speakers and she learnt a lot from all the kōrero and encourages others to attend the EDS future conferences. Further info on the EDS website: http://www.eds.org.nz/
Team Te Korowai.
Tā Mark Solomon and Brett Cowan.
Rino Tirikatene and Brett Cowan.
Rino Tirikatene, Tā Mark, Minister Nick Smith, Aunty
Darcy Solomon.
Profile of the month – Sisters on their journey
Symonde Laugeson is the owner of Te Mātauranga Humārie.
Her passion arose after she got sick of cooking for many years in hospitality. After a stint at cleaning, she decided to enrol in a holistic massage course. Five of the course participants set up their first practice called Te Whare Wairua, operating from October to May; then Symonde moved into her new premises, which is now called Te Mātauranga o Humārie.
Symonde recalls standing in one of the rooms of the building thinking “do I close the doors or continue?” After listening to her inner voice she knew that whatever happened, she was where she was supposed to be.
At the beginning it was very mechanical and by the book but over time she started to allow her flow to naturally progress with the wairua of her tīpuna.
Symonde believes that she can blend both worlds together using her gift. She has had clients from all around the world return for massage and healing. This has brought many people across her path ranging from whānau to backpackers.
She does a variety of body work and healing techniques catering to each client’s different needs.
Symonde reflects on her Nanny, Waipounamu Timms (Bunty) and holds very fond memories of her. She often refers to her Nanny watching over her, along with her grandfather, Harry Timms. Her grandparents she says, gave her a grounding place and after spending a few years in Australia with her immediate whānau there was always the pull to come home.
‘The things we take for granted,’ she says, as she remembers the natural rongoā techniques her Nanny used to use – techniques like using a poultice of kopakopa leaves to draw out infections and boils. These are the things that were ‘planted’ in her as a young girl, things that in part, laid the foundation for her journey.
Symonde’s business has grown from massage to include making her own essential oils, candles, natural cordials, creams and balms.
She was curious as to how oils were made and wanted to know the fundamentals, so she researched methods and brought a copper still. Once her own production was underway, she set up another company called The Māori Pharmacy, which she believes represents both worlds, Māori and Pākehā.
She is now about to launch a new skin care range, which she has secured overseas interest for and will soon be exporting it to China and possibly India. Symonde cannot manufacture the range locally due to not having the appropriate premises so her products will be manufactured in Dunedin and then exported. The main ingredient in her range is kawakawa, which is indigenous to this area.
Symonde’s husband, Jim and her sons go into the ngahere and pick the kawakawa. Jim has been a tower of strength throughout the process. There have been times when it was scary not knowing what lay ahead but she never gave up on her dream and vision. It is her desire to help people and share her knowledge, and the love of her mahi that drives her.
Symonde has helped students at the Kaikōura High School produce a kawakawa cream, which they won an award for. Three of those children were in fact her whanaunga, so she was sharing the knowledge with her whānau. The students had to learn not just about making rongoā or creams but also the knowledge and understanding of the correct karakia, the ngahere – the whole process in fact and she acknowledges the awhi and knowledge of Maurice Manawatu, who helped the students, teaching them the correct karakia before going into the ngahere to pick the rongoā.
Sister Jackie has also returned home and now she works alongside Symonde part-time doing readings. The cards she uses were painted by her artist mother, Angela Timms and they are a beautiful taonga she treasures.
Jackie first discovered her gift about 15 years ago while living in Australia. After the passing of her late husband Ross, she found herself writing in diaries and started to realise that she felt a strong connection with her late husband and her Nanny. The more writing she did, the more her world started to open up to her gift.
Jackie also felt the pull to come home and after years in Australia, made the journey. She always knew home was calling her but she knew it was about divine timing and going through life’s lessons. They were the foundation stones that brought her home. It was those life lessons that inspired her in this mahi and many years of soul searching and playing around with cards, has led her to where she is now. They are not just cards to Jackie they are called “Te Rākau Āporo” (The Apple Tree).
Jackie’s nurturing side shines through, not only in her gift but also in her other mahi. She works as a caregiver, looking after many people in our community. It is her aspiration to complete and publish a book that she has been working on, which also coincides with her cards. Jackie like her sister Symonde, feels very grounded and happy to be home, loving the mahi they both do.
Jackie – answering the call home.
Symonde blending her herbs and oils.
Tito tales – A blast from the past
We decided to walk back in time this month, after we found this treasure in the archives that Ned (Martin) Manawatu wrote many years ago. Enjoy whānau……..
Want to shake rattle and roll, enter a motocross or have alterations made to your car? If so, then come visit us at the marae and check out the new addition to the entranceway. Yes, a judder bar that makes the cliffs of Parinui o Whiti pale into significance.
The first to test the judder bar (unbeknown to them of course) was Aunty Lena and Aunty Darcy. Talk about shudder the udders as they hurdled over the judder bar in Lena’s 1971 Ford Cortina.
#@!-11# Darcy replied.
After returning to earth, the aunties emerged from the car very shaken, much paler in colour and hair more than a little ruffled! First port of call, the wharepaku. As for the car, well it now looks rather odd, with oval domes on the roof, the motor sits where the boot used to be and the wheels lay flattened. Check out the “For Sale” notice in the Kaikōura Star. And what of the judder bar? Its creator was banished from the marae to find a solution to the problem. In no time he was out of there with his wheelbarrow and shovel piling on shingle in an attempt to lessen the gradient. Problem solved but Mt Tapuae o Uenuku is no longer the highest maunga, the judder bar is.