The Office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu has created two new scholarships for Ngāi Tahu whānui.

These scholarships aim to create pathways for Ngāi Tahu whānui to work in communications and environmental management. They include full fees for study and paid work experience within the office. If you are interested email [email protected] or call 0800 KAI TAHU and ask for Nicole Bowden.

Arihia Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, says these are an opportunity for whānau to gain a qualification and get valuable experience within the office. [Read more…]

We were privileged to have Dr Candy Cookson-Cox come and speak to us at our June hui. Dr Cookson (Te Arawa, Ngāi Tahu) consults to the Lakes District Health Board.

Dr Cookson has been involved in the health and education sector for over 30 years and is a renowned suicide researcher. Her research method facilitates review, reflection and restoration and is proving very successful.

Some of the key points she touched on in her presentation to our rōpū gave us all plenty to think about. She outlined that depression is not age, gender or race specific and everyone is impacted by it in some form. She believes shedding light on the topic and learning strategies and perspectives on this important issue can enable us to make a difference in our communities. [Read more…]

As part of our Health and Safety training Awarua Rūnanga organised for the New Zealand Fire Service Pou Takawaenga, Paki Johnston and his colleague, Joe Manihera to visit us at Te Rau Marae on 1 July. Staff and volunteers from the rūnanga office, study centre, marae and Awarua Hub-SEED received hands on fire equipment training. Who would have thought that we have three types of fire extinguishers around the marae and other buildings. More importantly it was good to learn what type to use for different situations, when not to use them and just get out. [Read more…]

Applications for the 2017 Tame Parata Scholarship are now open. The rūnaka has established the Hon.Tame Parata Scholarships for secondary and tertiary students who are members of our hapū. The scholarships recognise the ongoing active participation and contribution of our rangatahi to the future development of the hapū.

There are two categories – junior and senior. Each category is awarded a scholarship of $1,000 which can be used in further education such as school or university fees and/or resources, for example: a laptop or tablet. [Read more…]

Te Rūnanga o Moeraki invited scholarship recipients and members of their whānau to a dinner at the marae on Saturday evening of our July whakawhanaungatanga weekend, where they were presented with their scholarship. Unfortunately, not all recipients were able to attend to be presented with their cheques, but we wish them all well in their studies and a bright future.

The Te Rūnanga o Moeraki Education Scholarship recipients for 2016 are: [Read more…]

We have held various hui over the last month, a Poupou Karanga course was held at Waihoa and members of the Ngāi Tahu Funds and Archives teams came to conduct some interviews and oral archiving work with whānau.

Aunty Dorothy Cuthers

Aunty Dorothy Cuthers (née Manning) Helen and Takerei doing an oral history interview.

Wendy

Wendy and her rōpū giving their presentation at the Poupou Karanga course.

Helen Thoms, Takerei Norton, and Morgan Lee came to assist with interviewing for archiving and Ngāi Tahu Fund applications.

Helen Thoms, Takerei Norton, and Morgan Lee came to assist with interviewing for archiving and Ngāi Tahu Fund applications.

Ngāi Tahu Tourism is delighted to launch a brand new scholarship – Te Pia Tāpoi, for Ngāi Tahu students.

The Te Pia Tāpoi Scholarship is an opportunity for Ngāi Tahu students studying towards a tourism qualification. We are looking for future stars who love the tourism industry and want to make their mark. We will be offering support with study fees, the chance for paid holiday work and invaluable work experience plus amazing opportunities to grow your cultural skills and learn more about your iwi.
[Read more…]

Kia ora whānau,

Another hectic month has flown by which has seen a number of activities take place at Takutai o te Tītī Marae. Our pink ribbon breakfast was a great success as was the Western Schools Ki o Rahi tournament. Verdon College also had a noho marae. During the third week of May we completed some much needed mahi to the houses on Rarotoka. This consisted of removing the old chimneys and open fires and installing new fires. We also did an electrical upgrade and some roofing work. This should make conditions a lot more comfortable for our hard working volunteers. [Read more…]

Tiaki Umalia Te Au Cameron graduated from Te Whare Wānaka o Otago with a Bachelor of Arts, major in music and minor in Māori studies. Tiaki is 24-years-old and grew up in Murihiku. He descends from Kāi Tahu me Ngāti Porou hoki and is the moko of Mrs Marcia Te Au-Thompson and son of Jodi Cameron and Shawarma Tautau. In his spare time, Tiaki plays rugby for Alhambra Union and also enjoys playing his gat. His long-term aspiration is to be employed as a secondary school music teacher. His connection to Moeraki is through his Tāua, Mrs Marcia Te Au-Thompson. Koia kai a koe e kare. [Read more…]

Its nearly that time of year again – the winter reading challenge for Makaawhio tamariki and rakatahi will be taking place 11-22 July. Whānau are invited to pick up the challenge and enter. It’s simple, all you need to do is read something every day of the school holidays and tick the form to acknowledge you have.

There are no rules around what you read, it can be anything (for example; a few pages of a book, a magazine, newspaper, online apps). You don’t need to read a whole book (unless you want to), just set aside time to read each day. [Read more…]

A massive ‘big ups’ to Martini for graduating with his Bachelors of Youth Development from the Wellington Institute of Technology. We wish you the best of luck for the future and we hope you continue to strive for what you want in life — grab it with both hands — ngā mihi ki a koe.

Left to right: Marijke Miller (Mum), Martini Miller and Martini’s wife, Elza van Boxel.

Left to right: Marijke Miller (Mum), Martini Miller and Martini’s wife, Elza van Boxel.

Dr Kēpa Morgan (BE, MBA, PhD, CPEng, FIPENZ) has a bicultural background rooted in his cultural identity and whakapapa to Te Arawa, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Ngāi Tahu. During his engineering career Kēpa has strengthened his understanding of his cultural roots while also striving for excellence both professionally and academically. As an indirect result of this combination of identity, interests and expertise, Kēpa often finds himself at the juncture between Indigenous aspirations and the engineering profession. [Read more…]

At the beginning of May a group of Otago University Geology students who are taking the Geog 380 field research studies paper participated in a week long field trip to Bluff to interview community leaders, local people and members of local community groups.

During their visit they based themselves out of the rūnaka office where many of their interviews took place.
The purpose of the project is to get an understanding on what community based action is happening to rejuvenate Bluff. The team investigated peoples’ perception of Bluff and the potential for community based development. [Read more…]

We are now attempting to move the Te Reo Māori Strategy to the next stage by developing an action/ implementation plan. You will recall the questionnaires that were sent out last year regarding this. A hui has been scheduled for early May.

We have invited representatives from the Mātauranga Team and Kotahi Mano Kāika Team of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to attend, as well as Will Edwards who has been involved in the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori in Taranaki. All participants have been invited to share their ideas, experience and expertise and the lessons they have learned.

Alice Anderson

Alice is the daughter of Janine Walker (Winton) and Grant Anderson (Aparima). She is currently in her fifth year at Otago University studying toward her LLB and BA majoring in Indigenous Development.

Alice has had some outstanding achievements this year and we would like to share this with you. She was elected as Tumuaki of Te Rōpu Whai Pūtake – President of the Māori Law Students Association at Otago University. She facilitates events for Māori law students and oversees the governance of the student organisation. She has recognised that many students struggle with their identity upon moving to Dunedin, and ensures she creates opportunities where they feel welcome and can thrive. [Read more…]

Hirapeka Metua Nichola

Hirapeka Metua Nichola, graduated on Friday 8 April, at the Civic Centre In Rotorua with a Bachelor of Nursing. She is the daughter of Maria Mako (née Tipa), and Antoni Nicholas and mokopuna to Judy and Darkie Tipa She also received an award from the CEO of Waiariki Institute of Technology for Outstanding Overall student of both campus. A very proud moment for the Tipa whānau, our first graduate. [Read more…]

The appointment of a Kaitoko Mātauranga to support the education aspirations of ‘ngā rūnanga me ngā whānau o Arowhenua rāua ko Waihao has been confirmed. The successful candidate for the role as Kaitoko Mātauranga is Irai Weepu, who has whakapapa links to a number of Ngāi Tahu hapū and Papatipu Rūnanga. Irai is currently employed by the Christchurch City Council as its Kaitakawaenga (Māori Community Liaison). He completed an Honors Degree in Māori and indigenous studies, where his research was looking into the Māori perceptions of western science and science education, to better understand and find new insights into why Māori disengage; and how to use these perceptions to increase Māori engagement. Irai is focused on the mātauranga and tikanga of the safe harvesting, preparation and consumption of kaimoana, he also brings significant skills in te reo and kapa haka.

Brent has turned his life around. He is the first offender graduate of a new partnership between Corrections, Koukourārata Marae and Lincoln University. He is the recipient of a Proficiency in Chainsaws certificate and quad bikes.

According to Canterbury district manager Lisa Joseph, the intention of the partnership is that offenders will gain skills for employment and a taste for further training. [Read more…]

Ngaire Briggs and Gina-lee Duncan are now trained facilitators with TetraMap International Limited. TetraMap transforms team performance, strengthens your work and personal relationships empowering individuals and whānau.

Its vision is to reduce conflict and leverage diversity, and is a great professional and personal development tool. This fits well with both of their personal and professional lives. Ngaire is the Koukourārata Whānau Navigator and Gina-Lee, a Whānau Ora Advisor for Te Pūtahitanga. Both are very passionate about their work roles and as mothers and whānau members. [Read more…]

Cultural mapping hui

He mihi kau atu ki a Takerei Rongopatahi Norton mō wāna mahi papai rawa atu hai whakahaere te hui e pā ana ki kā ikoa wāhi o te takiwā o Wairewa. After a long wait, we finally got Takerei Norton to bring his cultural mapping work out home on a Sunday in April.

With over 30 participants it was a learning and thoroughly enjoyable experience. The work that the cultural mapping team has completed so far is a taoka for the iwi, and for the whole of Aotearoa. If we stop using these names or seeing these names in the landscape, they will be lost for ever. [Read more…]