Kāi Tahu, tēnā koutou.
Nei rā te whakamiha ki a koutou o Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio ki a koutou. Nei rā hoki te mihi poroporoaki ki kā tini mate, kua hika mai, kua hika atu. Ki a koutou katoa i hīkoi atu ki tua o te ārai, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie. Rātou ki a rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou, ka huri anō ki a tātou o te ao takata. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.

He pātai nui tēnei…kei whea te raumati?

Here on Poutini we could be forgiven for thinking summer has all but passed us by. Apart from the odd visit from Tama-nui-te-raki, we have been hit with rain and wintery blasts and that’s all before the weather bomb exploded, letting loose so much rain – not even the Poutini could handle the volume.

We have a few catch up stories from 2016 to share this month. We have also had some great celebrations already this year, in what is shaping up to be another busy one.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic Exhibition

On 4 November 2016, the local Polytechnic exhibited the the work of the latest cohort of certificate and diploma students in their hardstone and jade carving course. Makaawhio kaumātua supported the occasion with our Upoko, Richard Wallace providing a karakia. Congratulations to Josey Coyle, Tutoko Wallace-Jones and Josh Tamainu Pu who won awards. Certificate students Josey and Josh were recognised as the most improved (the award Tutoko won last year), and Tutoko was acknowledged for being the Pāpā Bear – tino kaitautoko o te rōpū supporting and helping other students with their mahi and designs, and holding the fort on a couple of occasions. Well done everyone, with a special acknowledgement of Josh (mokopuna of Nan Pu) and Tutoko, two Kāti Māhaki ki Makaawhio descendants creating another generation of kaiwhakairo pounamu. Ka mau te wehi.

Marae news

Bach for sale
Only for descendants of traditional land owners and hapū members.
Peter and Heather Orr wish to offer their bach for sale at a sale price of $130,000.
Expressions of Interest for Lot 1 – DP3882, Block XIV Bruce Bay to be sent to:
The Secretary, Mahitahi Ahu Whenua Trust,
PO Box 255, Hokitika 7842
or email: [email protected]

Rūnaka website and e-pānui

For those of you who have not had a chance to check out our newly-launched website, we invite you to do so: www.makaawhio.maori.nz Members can access a members-only section which allows registered members to access more information than anyone else visiting the site. All passwords have been emailed and posted out to whānau. If you have not received one, please contact the office. Our pānui are sent by email and can be accessed via a link in the members section of our website.

Keeping in contact

Our recent mail-outs have resulted in a lot of returned mail, which means our efforts to ensure that our membership database is up-to-date still needs plenty of work. Members can help by contacting the office and checking we have your correct address and email contact details for you, your tamariki and/or your mokopuna.

Facebook: makaawhio.blogspot.co.nz; Twitter: @makaawhio; phone 03 755 7885 email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki, e tiaki hoki. Mauri ora.

Marae donations

Members have been asking how they can contribute to our marae when they live far away. One way is to make automatic payments into the marae bank account. If this is something you would like to do please note the following details:

Pay to: Te Rūnanga o Makaawhio Inc Marae
Bank account: 01 0797 0636793 02
Details to appear on their bank statement: Surname initials

We have several whānau that have been contributing small but regular payments since the marae opened in 2005. Others have made one-off payments and irregular payments as they want. The amount and frequency of payment is up to you.