Congratulations
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Hayden Condon who both hail from Condons Road, Mahitahi, Bruce Bay.
Nikki-Leigh Wilson-Beazley, daughter of Kara Edwards and Terrance Beazley married Hayden Condon, son of Jacqui Patterson and John Condon in Ōtautahi last month.
The happy couple celebrated their union by jetting off to Vietnam for their honeymoon with the bride’s family in tow.
Wishing you a long and happy marriage blessed with more beautiful South Westland babies.
Nikki-Leigh, Hayden and Nixon (Paitoto) following the wedding.
From left, Kahurangi Mahuika, Kara Edwards holding moko Nixon, Nikki-Leigh and Hayden Condon and Helen and Ian Rasmussen.
Makaawhio koha at Gallipoli
A little of the mauri of our awa tapu, Makaawhio is now tumbling in the tides of the Aegean Sea at Gallipoli on the very beach where four of our WW1 soldiers from Makaawhio Pā, Pahikore te Koeti and three of his nephews, Kinihe Katau, James Bannister and Tuhuru Bannister fought in 1915.
Department of Conservation South Westland services manager Wayne Costello, who was part of the Gallipoli 100-year commemorations at Anzac Cove, accepted an invitation from Makaawhio deputy chair Kara Edwards to carry a memento of Makaawhio with him to remember our men. He carried a small aotea from the awa and waitai from Māori Beach at Mahitahi. We are grateful to Wayne for so generously honouring our war heroes. E kore kā mihi e mutu, Wayne.
Wayne Costello casting the aotea and waitai into the Aegean Sea at North Beach, Gallipoli.
Makaawhio movie
Documentary makers filming, Beneath New Zealand, airing on Prime Television, paid us a visit last month.
The documentary explores New Zealand geology, including a Māori perspective and we were invited to provide the creation stories of Aoraki and Kā Tiritiri o te Moana (Southern Alps) and Kā Roimata o Hinehukatere (Franz Josef Glacier).
Our Tumuaki, Susan Wallace inside Kaipō being interviewed for the documentary.
Secondary school grants
We are pleased to advise that our annual Makaawhio secondary school grant process has been completed and 30 applicants have received a grant to assist them with school related expenses. The grant is available for members of our rūnanga who are registered and attending secondary school. Applications are generally open during term one of the school year.