Kia ora whānau, each year the trust makes sure that considerable funds are available to support our whānau. Those grants are now open again and I invite you to make an application. You must be registered with the trust – if you are not registered please go onto www.taiaroa.co.nz and download a registration form, complete it and send it to me: [email protected]
If you have received a grant in the last two years you are not eligible this year, unless you are in tertiary education. I really encourage you to apply. Most grants are for school fees, uniforms, sport equipment, travel assistance, club registration fees etc. It might only be $300 but every little bit helps and it’s an individual grant, so if you have three children put in three grant applications. It is not just for children, the trust supports all the descendants – young and old. In fact if you know of a descendent who has reached the golden age of 65, let me know. They will get a nice wee kaumātua bonus at Christmas from Uncle Riki.
While I have your attention, I just want to say that if you are at the urupā in Ōtākou, please pull a weed or two from around HK’s grave. HK and his three sons lie within one grave so it is a large area that gets weedy fast. Because it is an enclosed grave the council do not tend to it like the others, so it is up to us to ensure it is kept tidy and respectable, especially given the mana of the man.
I hope you are all fighting fit and feeling the love. Aroha nui, Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald. If you need to contact me you can do so on 027 2815679;or 872 Harington Point Road, Ōtākou, Dunedin, 9077.