Kia ora koutou, time is flying and it’s spring now – yeah it’s time to spring clean, not for me though.

We’ve had hui on at the marae: local schools kapa haka practice for the Hautonga competition. South Otago School had a noho marae and they were all very good to have on the marae. Police, housing and also the wharekai redevelopment project that’s being led well by Raewynne Evans; and we are getting into the exciting part of it now.

We had a combined Otago and Murihiku meeting in Queenstown, and come the day of the meeting I ended up in the hospital. I missed everything, not good at all but we drove home the next day, we were straight to the hospital and I was there for eight hours. Talk about getting asthma at the wrong time, jeez.

Kapa haka kids in Invercargill were awesome at the Hautonga competition and the Polyfest Festival – well done to you all.

Happy birthday to all those young and old who had a birthday in August. I hope you all had a great day; and not forgetting all the new pēpi who have graced our whānau – congratulations to you all. And to those ones who have just found out they are having a baby awesome whānau.

Well that’s it from me. Whānau, wherever you may be take care of yourselves, give your whānau big hugs when they are not expecting it to show them how much you love them. Aroha nui to you all. All the best folks until next month, hei konā, Squirrel on the Hill, Waihōpai Rūnaka.

From left, Marcia Te Au-Thomson, Aunty Jane Davis, Betty Rickus, Shona Fordyce and Winsome Skerrett.

From left, Marcia Te Au-Thomson, Aunty Jane Davis, Betty Rickus, Shona Fordyce and Winsome Skerrett.

From left, Marcia Te Au-Thomson, Ora Barron, Helen Roskilley, Joanne Roskilley, Megan Roskilley and Winsome Skerrett.

From left, Marcia Te Au-Thomson, Ora Barron, Helen Roskilley, Joanne Roskilley, Megan Roskilley and Winsome Skerrett.