Kāi Tahu whānui, tēnā koutou katoa
Nei rā te mihi o Kāti Māhaki ki a koutou katoa.

Nei rā hoki te mihi poroporoaki ki kā tini mate kua hika mai, kua hika atu. Ki a rātou katoa kua hika, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie.

Rātou ki ā rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.
The weather gods have continued to send us a mixed bag of weather here on Poutini. We have experienced all seasons including the sting of makariri.

Fortunately, we have already delivered wood to all our local kaumātua with fires to help them ward away the winter chills.

It continues to be super busy here on Poutini. In addition to the countless meetings and hui over the past month, we have hosted several groups at our marae. Over ANZAC Weekend whānau gathered for our six-weekly hui rūnanganui (executive meeting), a farewell, a celebration of life, a rūnanga movie night and our Annual ANZAC Day service.

The following weekend we returned to host Ngāi Tahu Tourism staff from Guided Walks and Hollyford as part of our annual exchange. They have just finished a full season of hosting –introducing hundreds of trampers to this very remote and stunning part of the country and then hosting them at the luxury lodge at the sea-head of the Hollyford Track – Martins Bay, or Whakatipu Waitai.

Every two years our rūnanga is treated to a free guided trip into Whakatipu Waitai – the southernmost pā site of Kāti Māhaki, and the last residence of rakatira Tūtoko – to reconnect with our whakapapa links to this remote part of our rohe. For the past three years it has been our privilege to reciprocate by hosting these guides.

Guiding resumes in October, when Makaawhio will send another group of whānau in to explore this wonderland. Members should register their interest with the rūnanga office now.

Ngāi Tahu Tourism regional general manager – southern, David Kennedy with Hollyford and Guided Walks staff being welcomed to Te Tauraka Waka.

Ngāi Tahu Tourism regional general manager – southern, David Kennedy with Hollyford and Guided Walks staff being welcomed to Te Tauraka Waka.

Chairman Paul Madgwick shares kōrero about Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio on our awa Makaawhio.

Chairman Paul Madgwick shares kōrero about Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio on our awa Makaawhio.

Whare mahi

On the office front, we have welcomed two new staff who will be based at our whare mahi.

Jackie Douglas has been employed fulltime as a Whānau Ora navigator. Her role is contracted via Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae but with a focus on our rohe and whānau. Jackie will be responsible for developing and implementing whānau aspirational plans, providing co-ordination, facilitating activities, services and opportunities to support the aspirations of whānau so that they become self-managing and can take responsibility for their health, economic, cultural, social development and wellbeing. One of two navigators operating on Te Tai o Poutini, Jackie has already started to reach out to whānau and make connections.

Kathleen Langi has been employed part-time (0.5) as our Kaitoko Mātauranga. She is contracted via Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu but based with us and with a Mātauranga Makaawhio component in the role. Kathleen is responsible for empowering Ngāi Tahu descendants to be lifelong participants in learning with a focus on giving effect to the rautaki mātauranga (TRoNT) and its implementation and our rūnanga aspirations in the mātauranga space.

There have been a couple of changes here at the office with a new hui space converted in our garage at the rear of the property and some further work commencing shortly to move the current fences. This is preceding maintenance work that is to be carried out on our whare mahi, garage and storage areas.