Tēnā koutou katoa e te whānau, whānui. Nau mai, haere mai ki te whakarangatira i te hurahanga kōhatu o to tātou tupuna whaea.
We wish to extend a warm invitation to our whānau and friends to attend the unveiling of our beloved Mum’s (Natalie Mary Elizabeth Hawkins née Tini) headstone and the Tini/Hawkins whānau reunion.
Natalie was the second youngest daughter of Walter Tini and Nellie Kipa of Little River, Wairewa.
She loved growing up in this small village, but when she was orphaned at a young age, she was sent to live at Rātana Pā, Whanganui.
Marrying Meihana Hawkins of Mōhaka, Ngāti Kahungunu meant she lived her entire adult life in the North Island where she had eight children, 23 moko and 40+ great and great-great moko. However, it was always her wish for us to take her home to Little River when it was her time.
So now we thank her once again for guiding us home, so we can reconnect with our Ngāi Tahu heritage. We are holding a reunion to celebrate her life, research our Ngāi Tahu whakapapa and enjoy the many other activities.
Her unveiling will be held on Boxing Day, 26 December 2015 commencing at 11am at Makō Marae, Wairewa.
Other planned activities are sightseeing excursions to Akaroa, Okains Bay, Birdling’s Flat, and other parts of Canterbury. We are also holding a sports day survivor series, carnival and joining in with the Little River community for celebrations on New Year’s Eve.
If you’d like more information, please contact Natalie Togia or Nellie-Ann Rerekura, email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Natalie Mary Elizabeth Hawkins.