He pēpi

Allanah Burgess and Lucas Waaka would like to finally introduce their beautiful little princess, Kaia Irakau Marama Waaka. She was born 10 December 2014 at 7.58pm in Christchurch, weighing 7lb 6.5oz.

Kaia is another mokopuna for Lilian Marama (née Reeves) and Murray Burgess and is the newest addition to the Whakapapa Unit at Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Baby Kaia.

Baby Kaia.

Beach flags ‘pocket rocket’

Our little Mihiroa Pauling (Ngāti Waewae, Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki) drew on some of her Puketeraki whakapapa to represent strongly at the South Island Junior Surf Lifesaving Championships held at Waikouaiti in late January.

Mihiroa took out four gold medals for U11 beach flags and sprints as well as U12 mixed beach relay and mixed Cameron Relay with her Waimairi club mates.

Her whanaunga Te Kaio Cranwell (nō Wairewa) who also picked up a handful of medals and competed against Wairaamia Taratoa-Bannister (nō te whānau Tikao) who also grabbed the silver in the U11 beach flags and sprints.

Although a tough step up, Mihiroa then headed to Mauao/Mount Maunganui to compete in ‘Oceans 15’ – the New Zealand Under 14 National Surf Lifesaving Champs at the end of February, which was held over four days with more than 800 young athletes competing from 42 clubs.

The sun was blinding, the competition fierce and the sand hot and soft.  Mihiroa made the semis for her sprints and fought hard to take out a bronze medal in the U11 beach flags from an original field of almost 80 girls. This was an awesome achievement for her first time at nationals and against competitors some twice her size.

Mihiroa is now looking forward to the next season and going back to Oceans 16 with some of her Ngāi Tahu whanaunga competing by her side.

Mihiroa in action. Photo by Jamie Troughton of Dscribe Media Services.

Mihiroa in action. Photo by Jamie Troughton of Dscribe Media Services.

Mihiroa with one of her gold medals.

Mihiroa with one of her gold medals.

Makaawhio picnic and sports day

On 21 March, rain dampened the plans for our annual hīkoi to the Woodstock Domain for our picnic and sports day.

Instead those who had not been put off by the weather grabbed their togs and towels and joined us at the Hokitika Centennial Pool.

It was a much smaller group than usual, but everyone still enjoyed the chance to catch up, have a kai and swim.

Whānau on the pool-side enjoying their kai.

Whānau on the pool-side enjoying their kai.

Tamariki enjoyed their time at the swimming pool.

Tamariki enjoyed their time at the swimming pool.

Wānaka rakatahi

From Friday 3, until Sunday 5 April, we held a wānaka rakatahi at Te Tauraka Waka a Māui Marae.

A group of 10 rakatahi left their cell phones and iPads behind to spend Easter Weekend at the marae where they learned new skills, such as how to put down a hāngī using traditional methods, how to weave a kono, and how fire was started i ngā rā o mua – before matches and flints.

Jeff Mahuika and Paul Madgwick passed on some of the old Māori bush craft they learned from their kaumātua when they were rakatahi themselves.

Everyone enjoyed their time in the bush building a maimai, a visit to the beach to collect waitai (white quartz stones) for the hāngī and kuku (mussels) for the bonfire, and of course time down the awa looking for our taonga kōhatu, aotea.

They had a fire lighting demonstration, using only dry mahoe and kaikōmako, although on this occasion the old adage ‘where there’s smoke there’s fire’ was not necessarily true – hei aha, it was all a new experience.

Rakatahi also had fun making and throwing tekateka made from harakeke. The competitive edge came out, when they had a competition to see who could throw the furthest ­– toa of the day was Dennis Kihi who threw a respectable 80 metres.

Back at the marae, Susan Wallace helped the rakatahi with their pepeha and a waiata, and they also got to experience a kawe mate as whānau arrived with a photo of Aunty Rebecca, plus two 100-year-old ‘death pennies’ from World War 1 for the two Katau brothers who left Makaawhio Pā to fight overseas, never to return.

The highlight was building their own hāngī from scratch, from digging the hole and gathering the wood, to pulling up the steaming basket. The waitai cooked everything to perfection, and about 40 whānau arrived to tuck into a delicious hāngī courtesy of the rakatahi.

The weekend was rounded off with a short Easter church service in our whare tipuna Kaipo, led by our Upoko Rūnanga, Archdeacon Richard Wallace, after which everyone was treated to some Easter eggs.

It was a great weekend of whanaungatanga and learning, where the rakatahi learned a little about their whakapapa and shared histories, some valuable new skills, how to behave on the marae and most importantly, manaakitanga.

More wānaka will be held to reinforce and add to everything learned, including some of the fishing that was ruled out because of the weather.

Kaumātua Thomas Rochford demonstrates how to make a kono.

Kaumātua Thomas Rochford demonstrates how to make a kono.

Rakatahi take a break.

Rakatahi take a break.

Paul Madgwick points out landmarks and shares stories of our awa with the rakatahi.

Paul Madgwick points out landmarks and shares stories of our awa with the rakatahi.

Tutoko Wallace-Jones leading the group in a team building exercise.

Tutoko Wallace-Jones leading the group in a team building exercise.

Congratulations

We would love to share our daughter’s special graduation moment from preschool with you all. Sonnie Aaronita Mokomoko who is the mokopuna of the late Sonny Mokomoko will be heading off to school next month and she can’t wait.

The first of many graduations for this Ngāi Tahu member as she travels on her learning journey.

Sonnie with her special graduation bear.

Sonnie with her special graduation bear.

News from K.K.K

Cheers everyone hope you all enjoyed Easter – I bet you did because I did. What with gambling and winning what else would you expect?

Condolences to all who have lost loved ones in the last month or two.

A big congratulations to my great-great moko Dante, for receiving top junior taiaha warrior at the Taumutu Āwhitu Estate during the weekend – I am very proud of you.

Matatini is over and well forgotten I suppose, but not by me as I never missed a beat. There were people who wanted to sit with their hats on in front of our table, but it was ok.

Our marae has been very busy and every week there has been a hui of some sort even (double dipping) I mean two hui at once, so it is just as well we have other whare.

Our whare is booked well into September but there could be cancellations along the way, so watch this space.

I am also still waiting for our glassware to come back from someone as they didn’t have legs or roller-skates.
Please could we have them back, and also our dish from out of the bain-mārie. We should have 30 glass bowls but we have three – same goes for our glassware. No they weren’t marked but from now on they will be.

Also when bringing kai to the marae would you please take your dishes home with you.
There are boxes of stuff here that is not ours, and if they are not collected they will be going to the Salvation Army. Well I won’t moan anymore – I bet my cousin Charlie is saying, “That’s good.”

Oh hang on, did anyone have any fried bread at Matatini, if you didn’t, well you don’t know what you missed – spread with real butter and golden syrup, also tītī, cabbage and all the frills – I think that I might have one for tea (mutton bird that is).

That is all I have to say this month, so I don’t hog up all the pages of Te Pānui Rūnaka – but who cares – catch you all later. Luv ya all, K.K.K.

P.S – they say that self-praise is no recommendation. I did praise myself in the last Te Pānui Rūnaka and as my whānau says “I am a bit of a blow hard” and why not – that is me.

Junior taiaha warrior, Dante.

Junior taiaha warrior, Dante.

Portia King in Poland

On 24 January, Portia King (daughter of Fiona Pimm) headed off to Poland for a year long adventure before she goes on to University in 2016.

Portia has been accepted into the Lattitude Global Volunteering Programme and will be living in Warsaw, Poland. Portia is excited about the opportunity but also knows it will be a challenging year.

She will be working in a Polish school as the English teacher’s assistant helping to teach the children English. The school where she is working is a small private school in the Biatoteka District. There are 200 students ranging from seven to 15-years-old.

As well as assisting the English teacher, Portia will join in and help with the schools extra-curricular activities and school trips.

She will be hosted by different families from the school during the year staying for two months at a time with each family.
She will have a real opportunity to experience everyday Polish life and culture including the very cold winter.

During the two month summer holidays, Portia is looking forward to travelling around parts of Europe with the friends she makes through the programme.

Portia King.

Portia King.

Youth hui

From 25-28 February, Arowhenua Marae hosted the Environment Canterbury (Ecan) Ōrari, Ōpihi, Pareora zone youth hui.

South Canterbury youth aged between 15 and 25 with an interest in water issues, environmental management and what’s happening in South Canterbury were invited to attend the free four-day hui with a focus on water, its issues and management in the Ōrari, Ōpihi, Pareora Zone.

The purpose of the hui/noho marae was to encourage young people to become more involved in the water management/issues, with a specific focus on the Ōrari/Ōpihi/Pareora Zone.  As the future generation of water users in our region they are the ones who will gain or lose the most from decisions currently being made. This is why it is important to engage young people, providing them with opportunities to learn and to become actively involved.

It is also important to provide opportunities and experiences for decision makers and others to spend time with young people, experiencing for themselves their interest and capabilities in this area.

Debbie Eddington of ECAN arranged field trips and practical activities and workshops for the group. Day one included a trip to Te Ana and a presentation from Mandy Home on her work with native fish, tangata tiaki and cultural health monitoring.

Day two involved a field trip from the foothills to lowlands, taking in the Ōpihi Taniwha at Hanging Rock, water monitoring at Skipton’s bridge on the Ōpuha River and discussion on didymo. At Ōpuha Dam Julia Crossman discussed the operations and the benefits to the local area, Mandy Home covered the cultural perspective, Phil Lees talked about the history of the dam, breach and flood management, and Graeme Clarke spoke on the river ecology and impacts of the dam on this, the groundwater/surface water interaction within the zone and recreational water monitoring.

This was followed by a visit to Allandale Bridge to give an invert comparision of a didymo clean site, then on to John and Sarah Wright’s property to discuss irrigation. Paul Eddy meet the group at the Pleasant Point Sale Yards bridge where the topic was River Engineering and the TDC drinking water and industrial demands on water in the zone.

Mataitai and mahinga kai were part of the evening activities including a spot of eeling.

Day four’s theme was “Your Voice – Be Heard”, guest speakers included Pauline Roberston – youth perspective/local government, Lan Pham – native fish, and Colin Higgins and Maria Foley – using art to express your opinion.

Emma Coleman showed the group around the Awarua planting, Dave Anderson from the Department of Conservation gave a bat presentation, and Hamish Stevens from Fish and Game went over their role.

Saturday morning was spent collating the information and giving feedback, with presentations from the participants.

Well done to Debbie and her team on a very successful and informative OOP Zone Youth Hui.

On-site at the Māori rock art at Hanging Rock.

On-site at the Māori rock art at Hanging Rock.

Students from a number of secondary schools around South Canterbury get to know each other through an energiser game at the marae.

Students from a number of secondary schools around South Canterbury get to know each other through an energiser game at the marae.

An adventure of a lifetime

In January, I took part in the Spirit of Adventure Trust 10-day voyage on the Spirit of New Zealand boat. On this voyage, I was flown up to Auckland and then I headed straight to the ship ready to start the amazing journey.

Spirit of adventure is a 10-day voyage that helps young teenagers who aspire to be leaders to get the confidence and have a voice that will be heard. My experience on the ship is one that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It really changed the way I see things and how I approach everyday situations.

I am thankful to the rūnaka, because without their help I wouldn’t have been able to go on this trip. This voyage really helped me understand myself a lot more. I now have the confidence to let my voice be heard and be a great leader. I am so grateful for the way they helped me change my life.

Nā, Atawhai ō te wai Parata-Ellison.

Atawhai Parata-Ellison (second from the right) and fellow sailors who attended Spirit of Adventure.

Atawhai Parata-Ellison (second from the right) and fellow sailors who attended Spirit of Adventure.

Raising the mainsail.

Raising the mainsail.

Marae visit

On 26 March, we had a school visit from Te Anau Primary School who are biannual visitors to our marae. It is always a pleasure to welcome the tamariki, their parents and teachers onto the marae.

After the pōwhiri we broke into a series of groups that included; waiata, stick games, pūrākau, ukulele, beach walking and building a whare rau.

The enthusiasm with which the tamariki set about their tasks was heartwarming. It was awesome to see them buzzing from station to station and sharing with their friends the new skills and information they had learned.

In between sessions and at lunchtime it was marvelous to see the refurbished playground being tested to the max.

These visits are great learning opportunities for us as well as tamariki and their whānau. Aside from the educational benefits, such ventures also serve as an opportunity for us to promote an understanding of our values to the wider community. A big thank you to everybody who contributed and made this such a successful day.

Marama Cooper teaches the children a Māori stick game.

Marama Cooper teaches the children a Māori stick game.

Rangimaria Suddaby during a lesson with the tamariki.

Rangimaria Suddaby during a lesson with the tamariki.

Judy McDowall leading tamariki in a waiata session.

Judy McDowall leading tamariki in a waiata session.

Port Softball Club success

After many years of being dormant, the Port Softball Club entered three teams in the local Southland tee-ball competition. These teams were the tio’s U7 team and two U9 teams, the tītī’s and the taniwha’s.

The committee’s goal was to have a summer sport that people of all ages could enjoy; unite whānau; teach tamariki dedication, sportsmanship and how to be a team player.

Congratulations go to the taniwha’s who won their U9 grade without a loss. Ka mau te wehi. This achievement, along with getting tamariki participating in sport wouldn’t have been possible without the tautoko of the club’s committee, coaches, whānau and the local businesses that backed them.

Next year these teams will be moving up in grades and the club is hopeful that they might be able to enter a mixed adult social team.

Some of the tamariki involved in the Port Softball Clubs under 7 and under 9 tee-ball teams.

Some of the tamariki involved in the Port Softball Clubs under 7 and under 9 tee-ball teams.

The winning team.

The winning team.