He pēpi
A big congratulations, to proud parents Terangia Kaya Mason and her partner, on the safe arrival of Kaya Latoya Mason born 24 September, weighing 3160 grams.
A big mihi goes out to Kaya’s tāua and pōua, Donna Mason and Tyrone Tainui, and also great-tāua and pōua, Jillian and Donald Mason, and Selena Tainui.
Kaya and her great-tāua.
Māori netball tournament
On 20 September, Kia Toa Hokitika had the pleasure of hosting the South Island Māori Netball tournament here in Hokitika. Attending clubs were Whangaraupō, Pīpīwharauroa (both from Ōtautahi) and Te Ahikāroa (from the Blenheim and Kaikōura Netball clubs).
The day began with a pōwhiri followed by a march from all participating teams and then the games. The weather held for us and as the day progressed we had time for a fun game of netball. Kaumātua, whānau and supporters alike, got out there to enjoy some game time and a few good laughs.
The day concluded with a banquet dinner held at the Hokitika Boys Brigade Hall, where all clubs and whānau came together one last time to share some yummy kai, kapa haka and the presentation of trophies.
Kia Toa Hokitika would like to give a big mihi to the South Island Māori Netball Association, all the clubs that travelled, Ngāti Waewae and Makaawhio Rūnaka, the Hokitika community and all our whānau who helped make the tournament a success. Ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa. We look forward to the 2015 tournament.
Fusion
It’s always nice to see all our kids reunite for Fusion wānanga. We have a new kaiako, Tihou Weepu, who introduced lots of fun with his Māori games and kōrero on the history of our tīpuna. It was a pleasure to see him connect with all our tamariki. Welcome to the team Tihou.
A big mihi to all our kaiako for their time and effort to make this wānanga a success – Miriama White, Tihou Weepu, Chantal Tumahai, Nelly Mason and Hamiria Hutana. Thanks also to our rūnaka, our whānau and the amazing tamariki who make this wānanga possible.
Throughout the week, Miriama took classes on kapa haka, where the tamariki learnt new songs and actions, Chantal taught those funky hip hop moves and Tihou led them in Māori games and team building.
On the Friday instead of making the kids do a show for all the parents, we took them on a ‘Fusion Friday Surprise Fun day out’ to On Yer Bike where all those aged 11 and over got to ride on 4-wheelers bikes, supervised by Chantal and Tihou.
The younger kids rode on the Hagglund, which carried about 14 of us at a time. We then took the tamariki to the Māwhera swimming pools with KFC to finish. The journey home was very quiet with all the kids exhausted from a big week.
Tamariki having fun during the Fusion wānanga.
He pēpi
Nau mai haere mai ki te ao. On Wednesday 24 September, Amber-Jane Forsyth and Kemp Winiata welcomed their daughter, Miss Amara Aotea Winiata into the world.
Baby Amara weighed 8lb.10oz. Congratulations Amber, Kemp, big brother Khaison, Tāua Marie Mahuika-Forsyth and whānau.
From left, Kemp Winiata, Khaison, Amara and Amber-Jane Forsyth.
He pēpi
On 5 September, Leon and Juliana De Oliveira Stone welcomed their second son Vitor, who was born in Rangiora and weighed 8lbs 3oz.
Vitor is a little brother for Luca and another grandchild for Mutu and Sue Stone – they are thrilled to have another mokopuna in the whānau.
Monica Nunes, Vitor’s other tāua, is visiting from Rio de Janiero, Brazil and is enjoying her time with her two Kāti Wheke mokopuna.
Monica Nunes with her mokopuna Vitor.
Rangatahi forum
The rangatahi forum held during the first week of the school holidays was a huge success. Sixteen rangatahi spent four days getting to know each other, having fun, learning whakapapa, gathering kaimoana and lots more. We hope this will be the first of many more to come. A huge thank you to all those who gave their time, expertise and support to making it such a wonderful time for our rangatahi.
Rangatahi who went on the hīkoi.
Hineamaru and her perfect hāngī steam puddings.
Gathering cockles.
Hīkoi to Kuratawhiti.
Putting down the hāngī.
Preparing the hāngī.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Arirangi Stevens (Kāti Waewae) and Te Kaio Cranwell for being selected to play for the Canterbury under nine rugby league team.
They travelled to Māwhera and played the West Coast on 20-21 September. On the Saturday, after a 4-hour bus trip over the pass, they had a game and lost 34-12.
On the Sunday morning, they played again and this time they played more like a team and won 24-10. On one of the last play options, the ball was touched by all eight players on the ground and it went through 12 sets of hands; it was an awesome team try.
Te Kaio Cranwell and Arirangi Stevens.
Te Kaio Cranwell on the break.
The boys with their rugby league team.
Canterbury Cultural Festival
On 1-5 September, the Horncastle Arena in Christchurch came to life as Christchurch primary and intermediate schools performed at the 2014 Canterbury Cultural Festival.
Boasting a spectacular smorgasbord of multicultural performances, wearable art pageants and visual art exhibitions, this year’s showcase impressed everyone. The show presented traditional and contemporary performances by 70 groups, representing 10 nationalities from all over Canterbury.
The festival is a unique and colourful stage show, which celebrates the many vibrant cultures in our schools and in Aotearoa. Some of our whānau where represented in the schools that performed on the stage, with Georgia Panirau standing with Christchurch East, Taiki and Aki Pou, Metua and Te Kaio Cranwell and Te Manaaki and Te Miringa Karasulas with Te Kura o Roimata (Woolston School).
Metua Cranwell and Te Manaaki Karasulas.
Te Kura o Roimata.
Congratulations
Lachlan Springford is the great-grandson of Maria Johnson (Teihoka whānau), who is also known as Aunty Ake. Twelve year-old Lachlan plays both rugby and basketball. During the school holidays, he competed at the South Island School rugby tournament, held in Christchurch.
His team, the Southland Under 48kg squad went on to win their section of the tournament. Lachlan, who plays as a hooker, was then selected to play for the South Island team. Lachlan’s sporting achievements don’t stop there. He has been selected to go to the Under 13 basketball nationals in Dunedin and is also in the Southland basketball team. Congratulations Lachlan, your whānau are very proud of you.
Lachlan to the right.
Lachlan’s team posing for a photo.
Second from the left, Lachlan Springford.
Lachlan and his fellow Southland rugby team mates.
The team with their medals and winning shield.
Tamariki day
These school holidays, whānau went on a tamariki day hīkoi to Tūhaitara Coastal Park at Pegasus. Thank you to Greg Byrnes, who is the general manager at Tūhaitara, for facilitating the visit and for the interesting kōrero regarding environmental and restoration issues.
Ngā tamariki were particularly interested in viewing specimens in the pest freezer e.g.rats, stoats, and opossums. Thank you also to the Ngāi Tahu Fund for supporting our tamariki day programmes. The support allows the rūnanga to continue to run interesting and fun activity days each set of school holidays.
Whānau on the lookout.
Tamariki and Greg Byrnes (giving the thumbs up).
Sports talent
Congratulations also to Adrianna Reiri. Adrianna, 15, has played representative sport at Wairarapa College, in Masterton since she was eight.
Her parents Diana and Russell Reiri are very proud of her sporting achievements. Adrianna has played for Wai-Bush and has been a member of the Under 11 and Under 18 hockey teams. This year she was also a member of the 1st XI girls’ hockey team squad and was named the star player for 2012, 2013, and 2014.
Her Wairarapa College team are currently ranked as the fifth top team in the national college grade. On 1-5 September, Adrianna’s team competed at the Federation Cup in Dunedin, to confirm their national placing for 2015. During the tournament they played against local St Hildas team to win the Wellington premier division. Her Moeraki whānau attended the competition and would like to further congratulate her.
Adrianna’s siblings Logan and Te Ana have both had sporting and academic success. Logan,13, attends Wairarapa College and has played rugby since he was five. He currently plays as a forward in the representative Wai-Bush Under 14 rugby team and has in the past represented the Under nine, Under 11 and Under 12-year-old teams.
Twelve-year-old Te Ana, is a student at Masterton Intermediate School and like her older sister she too, plays hockey. Te Ana was recently selected to participate in the ‘Gifted Kids’ programme, making this year the third consecutive year she’s been selected.
Watch this space whānau. Nā Koa W.K.
From left, Te Ana, Logan and Adrianna.
Adrianna Reiri.
Volunteer week
The latest Ki Uta Ki Tai Volunteer Week took place on 26-29 September and once again it was a resounding success. The four conservation groups, Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka, River Estuary Care, East Otago Taiāpure and Hawksbury Lagoon, welcomed student volunteers from two University of Otago classes (supervised by Dr. Anne-Marie Jackson and Assoc. Prof Lyn Carter) and many members of the community and past helpers, who had previously volunteered in the field.
On the first day, the volunteers worked with Hawksbury Lagoon, planting native trees and shrubs at an old pine plantation site, at the lagoon.
On Saturday, they teamed up with River Estuary Care to plant native trees along the north branch of the Waikouaiti River, on a sheep and beef farm behind the beautiful Hikaroroa maunga. The owners recently fenced off a large area of riparian margin to exclude stock from the river.
More than 50 volunteers were present throughout the day and spirits were high, the sun was shining and over 1700 plants were planted.
As a result of this mahi, the habitat for long finned eels will be enhanced and the water quality should also be improved.
On Sunday, Mark Brown from Blueskin Nursery, talked to the volunteers about seed-raising and after lunch they visited the East Otago Tāiapure to survey marine life in the estuary and in and around the Huriawa Peninsula.
On Monday, the group was treated to a morning waka ama paddle with the rūnaka. It was a time to reflect on the previous three days and to understand the importance of relationships and what it is that makes the programme work.
Mahinga kai lies at the heart of volunteer week. Whānau are encouraged to be kaitiaki of their environment and to express the values of looking after these places that nurture us, through the food that is supplied. It feeds the hearts and minds of people; also feeding our wairua, hinengaro and whānau.
Right; Students carry out Marine Meter Squared surveys for the East Otago Taiapure Committee.
Ki Uta Ki Tai rōpū up on the north branch of the Waikouaiti River, Hikaroroa, East Otago.
Taiaha wānanga
On 12-14 September, Puketeraki Marae hosted its inaugural Mau Taiaha wānanga. Forty-five men of all ages gathered to learn the different aspects of the taiaha.
We were lucky to have had two of our senior tutors facilitate the wānanga and share their expertise. To conclude the wānanga, the boys put on a performance, which was followed by a prize-giving ceremony.
The next taiaha wānanga is scheduled for Labour Weekend at Taumutu. If you are interested in going, please contact Waiariki at [email protected] to register your interest.
Here is one participant’s account of the wānanga:
“Kia ora koutou, ko Karamū Taratoa-Bannister tōku ingoa, tekau mā toru ōku tau. Ka mau kē te wehi o te wānanga Taiaha. I haere au ki ētahi atu wānanga maha, engari, ko tēnei taku wānanga tuatahi mō te Taiaha. I whakaaro au i te mana me te wehi o te taiaha i tēnei wānanga.
Ka tino rerekē tēnei rangona wairua ki au, ahakoa, tino pai rawa hoki. Ināianei, ka piki ake ōku whakaaro pai ki te ao nēhera o te iwi Māori.
I rongo au i te kaha o tēnei mahi. I maumahara au ki tētahi rā i kaha karanga au, nā te mea, i mahi taiaha mātou i runga i te karaihe, i whāwhā ō mātou waewae i ngā pūngitangita (prickles) i raro–auē te mamae. I te mutunga o te mahi pakari i tīmata mātou ki te hākinakina hari. I ohorere te hinengaro. I mahi mātou ki ngā wāhi ātaahua.
Ko tāku tino taonga o tēnei wānanga, ko te māramatanga o te wāhanga o te taiaha me ngā kaupapa tūturu hoki. Kei runga noa atu ngā tāngata i te wānanga, nā rātou au i poipoi ki te whai i tēnei mahi kia toa.
Nō reira e te whānau, mēnā ka kitea nei e koutou ētahi pānui mō tētahi wānanga taiaha, me haere. Ka whati te tai, ka pao te tōrea. Seize the opportunity,” Nā Karamū Taratoa-Bannister.
Tamariki at the taiaha wānanga.
Some serious training on Apes Road, Puketeraki.
Kia ora Waihōpai whānau, me ngā whānau o Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha. I hope you are all well, fit and happy. Waihōpai Rūnanga, kia ora to your whānau and to whānau who are in the North Island or overseas, aroha nui.
To all the whānau who are having, or will be having a pēpi, congratulations to you all. Also, to all the whānau who are celebrating birthdays this month have a great time and enjoy it, it’s your day.
To our whānau who are māuiui, aroha nui to you all. Team Waihōpai has moved along slowly this last month. We held various hui on the marae, such as the Kōhanga Reo concert, Te Ao Māori Programme and our 12-week graduation. Awesome, well done team.
We continue to hold our weekly (50 plus) kapa haka group, Thursday roasts, Wednesday cards day for the tāua; this all helps to keep the marae alive.
Now listen here Waihōpai whānau, are you not reading this pānui? Where are the recipes and stories? We need them so we can put them in the pānui. Ka pai?
I would also like some photos of our whānau here or overseas, with little stories to go with them. Don’t be shy please send them in. Remember whānau, the pictures will only come out in black and white.
On 7 October, the marae unveiled its new waharoa. Thank you to James York who carved the waharoa and thank you to all his helpers who made it possible. To all those who were able to attend this event – you made it very special. We are very proud to have our waharoa completed.
I must say the spring weather has turned to custard. Blooming cold, wet, windy, never mind, it’s the right time to cuddle-up and keep the whānau warm and safe.
Well, that is all from me for now. Check you all out next month or see you on the West Coast at the Ngāti Waewae marae opening; we are definitely looking forward to it.
Ngā mihi aroha ki a koutou te whānau o ngā mate aroha nui, aroha nui, aroha nui. Time for me to go. Whānau help to keep each other safe, healthy, warm and happy. Ka pai. Nā Squirrel on the hill.
Whānau who attended the waharoa unveiling.
Rangatahi practice their performance for the graduation.
He pēpi
On 27 May, Louise and Heydon Guise of Dunedin, welcomed their son, Kobi Lachlan William Guise. Kobi is the first grandson for Neville and Kerry Guise of Wānaka and he is the second great-grandson for Reina Guise, of Dunedin. Kobi’s grandparents are delighted that he lives in Dunedin, as all their other grandchildren live in Perth, Australia. His whānau say he is a beautiful wee man and is growing nicely; they are already so proud of him.
Kobi Lachlan William Guise.
Congratulations
The rūnanga would like to congratulate Sianne Dougherty for making it to the semi-finals of Homai Te Pakipaki, which will be televised live on Friday 17 October. Sianne, 15 is a student at Naenae College, Lower Hutt.
She is the daughter of Jackie West and Kevin Dougherty. Her pōua is Victor West from Bluff. She is also the mokopuna of the late Wala West and Delca (née Gilroy). Many of her great-uncles were also singers back in their day.
We, along with Sianne’s proud whānau, wish her well for the competition so she can progress to the finals.
Rear from left, Tukotahi, Brent (show host), Sianne and Jackie West. Front, Leevi Dougherty and Bailey Nicole Dougherty.
He pēpi
Another beautiful mokopuna for Whaea Ropine/Aunty Robyn and Matua Sam.
Saoirse Lee Cook Murphy was born on 5 August. Congratulations to mum, Sharmaine Cook, dad, Willie Murphy, sister, Waimarino and brother, Fionn. Nau mai rā e te kuru pounamu.
Kairangi Cook Thompson and baby Saoirse.
Rippa rugby champions
Three of our Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe tamariki were part of the winning team in the annual inter-school Rippa Rugby tournament, which was held in Ōtaki last month.
Pedro Thompson (Kāti Huirapa), Tahu Paki (Kāi Tūāhuriri and Kāti Wheke) and Lukah Richards (Kāti Wheke) all from Te Korowai Whakamana, the Māori immersion unit at Ōtaki School, took out the years five to six grade in a final described as a ‘battle of the giants’. Ka mau te wehi tama mā.
Pedro Thompson.
Tahu Paki and Lukah Richards.
Ngunguru i Te Ao i Te Pō – Taki Rua theatre
KMK were proud sponsors of two of the South Island performances of Ngunguru i Te Ao i Te Pō which is the story of the children of Tangaroa.
Our tamariki were taken on an adventure into the oceanic depths, rocky shore-lines and pristine beaches of East Coast, Aotearoa. In the heart of Te Moana nui a Kiwa, they followed the story of five ocean creatures as they revealed the beauty of their watery home; they also encountered a frightening and terrifying oil slick.
Awash in this new struggle the ocean creatures embraced the principles of tuakana-teina, kaitiakitanga and whanaungatanga and with a little help from Tangaroa’s current and the legendary taniwha Kaiwhare, they were saved.
The performers used high-energy physical performance, waiata and dance to create a theatre work that celebrates all things Te Ao Māori.
It was awesome to watch the whakaari and to meet the performers. A huge mihi to the Taki Rua team who provided a fun and exciting te reo Māori theatre experience. Wananei.
Tamariki with the performers.