Upcoming bi-monthly hui
Our next bi-monthly hui will be held on Sunday 16 August, 1pm at Tauranga Boys’ College wharenui – see you all there.
15
Jul 2015
04
Jul 2013
Ngāi Tahu ki Ōtaki
E ngā uri o Tahu, tēnā tātou.
Ahakoa te makariri o Maruaroa, o Toru, o Whā i tēnei te wā o te Matariki, he mihi mahana ki a tātou katoa huri noa i te motu.
Next hui
Our next hui will be held on 14 July.
Kaupapa: Whakanui i a Matariki mā te kai tahi i a tātou hua māra kai.
Celebrating Matariki with the produce from our own gardens.
Matariki ahunga nui
The Pleiades when many mounds were heaped up.
Kia tū mai a Matariki kua ahuahua te whenua kia rite ai mō te ono kūmara.
The season of Pleiades is the time that many mounds should be heaped up in preparation for kūmara planting.
(Source: www.kōrero.māori.nz – Matariki booklet 2010) – Aoraki Matatū.
Ngāi Tahu ki Tāmaki Makaurau
On May 25-26 we had the pleasure of hearing Raina and Doc Ferris share their vast knowledge with us at our Mana Wahine and Mana Tane Wānanga. The weather was not the best – a bit chilly and wet – but we hardly noticed given the interesting topics discussed.
The whanaungatanga had the warmth and wairua surrounding us all in the very special wharenui, which depicted all our tūpuna.
Those who attended received much knowledge and support from our wonderful facilitators and many of our whānau would like Raina and Department of Conservation to facilitate more of these wānanga for us.
Ronald Kerle (known as Bones to many of us) and June Rissetto have just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A great afternoon was had by all, with many guests coming from far and wide. Many old friends and new friends came to wish them well on reaching this milestone.
Coming up is the Hui-ā-Tau, 25-27 October. Make sure you have this in your diaries We’re looking forward to seeing you all there.
Kāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
Congratulations
Proud dad Mark Raines attended the graduation of his son Buck from the Porirua Police College at the end of last year. Mark and Buck whakapapa to Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri. Mark is a committee member of the local rōpū. Buck is now working in Rotorua. Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana wish Buck all the best in his job within Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa.
Mark Raines (right) and his son Buck.
Chance meeting
It’s a small world out there. Our secretary Kim Ellison was visiting Rarotonga and went along to the Te Punanga Nui Saturday morning market where she bumped into Ngāi Tahu Iwi Communications Advisor, Whetu Moataane, who just happened to be visiting Rarotonga at the same time. You never know where and when you will meet up with other Ngāi Tahu whānau.
Hui
Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana bi-montly hui will be held at Tauranga Boys’ College wharenui at 1pm on the following Sundays: 18 August, 20 October and 1 December.
26
Apr 2013
Ngāi Tahu ki Tāmaki Makaurau
Congratulations
Congratulations to Paora Edwards for completing and passing his last year in Business Administration. Paora is now studying Human Resources at Auckland University. A big thank you to Ngāi Tahu for their financial support.
News roundup
Just to let you know our Papa Bones is on the mend slowly.
We had our first committee meeting for the year and have organised our annual general meeting. We will have the results of the election in the next pānui.
Please book the last weekend in October for our Hui-ā-Tau. Healthy Living is the theme again this year and we will have healers booked. Come and take advantage of their skills. As usual, we will also have the Whakapapa Unit, Whai Rawa and more waiata. The best part is the whakawhanaungatanga throughout the weekend.
Nā Sue Nicoll.
New sculpture
On 8 April, Papa Kukupa Tirikatene and Papa Bones went to the installation, blessing and cutting of the ribbon for a piece of Lonnie Hutchinson’s artwork at Lake Rotoroa, in Hamilton. Lonnie is of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kuri, Samoan and European descent. She sent pictures of her work to Papa Kukupa for naming and he chose ‘Te Waharoa ki te ao Mārama,’ which is the entrance way to the world of enlightenment. It’s an awesome piece of work. Lonnie talks about her own work here:
The concept for this work is my response to the history of Lake Rotoroa in Hamilton and its significance to tangata whenua in the past, now and in the future. The lake was once a prime resource of food and materials and with sustained conservation, care and nurture this will continue. The kōwhaiwhai design is my interpretation of the mangō-pare (hammer head shark) and is often referred to as a symbol of strength and perseverance. Of never giving up. Related to my signature concertina cut-out works in black builder’s paper, the form of this work is taken from my builder’s paper model that is literally a twist and bends on a closed concertina that opens down the diagonal shaft and the vertical upright. The form becomes a waharoa or gateway that acts as a threshold that leads into a public recreational space. The kōwhaiwhai fronds fold up and out giving a sense of flourishing energy.
Lonnie is a distinguished multi-media, visual and installation artist, who exhibits throughout Australasia, and in international group shows, most recently in the touring exhibition Unnerved: The New Zealand Project, at Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane; and at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne Australia 2010/2011.
Links to Lonnie’s work www.lonniehutchinson.com www.jonathansmartgallery.com
Kukupa Tirikatene turns the first turf for the installation of the new sculpture by Lonnie Hutchison.
A side view of the new sculpture.
Lonnie Hutchison’s new sculptural work.
Ngāi Tahu ki Te Tairawhiti
Book review
I’m reading this book. I pick it up and open it on any page and read with great satisfaction. Val Mete, who tells me she can’t write, has written this amazing account of growing up a Chatham Islander. She talks mostly about whānau. As she talks, you get a picture of the economic backdrop, the physical environment and the island values but most of all you get a whole picture of whakapapa and whānau.
As I read, I can almost taste the kai Val is describing. It’s all about pictures in your mind and tastes in your mouth; and it’s all in words. There are recipes based on the island’s crayfish, pāua, kina and blue cod. She tells us how to improvise while maintaining knowledge of the medicinal benefits of everything on the land, or in the sea.
The Chathams are New Zealand’s most easterly region and include eleven islands (only two of which are inhabited), lying 800 kilometres east of Christchurch.
Valerie Hoana Mete was born at Waitangi in 1938, of Moriori descent. She is from the Preece whānau. She married a Mete and these days lives under the mantle of the Rakaipaaka people at Nuhaka. Val is in our Ngāi Tahu ki te Tairawhiti rōpū and she is going to be our next guest speaker.
Get this book and read it. Val’s photos show island life from the 1930s to the 1980s – everything from horse-drawn mail carts to horse racing and the early days of the crayfish industry. You’ll also be licking your chops as you re-live Val’s tales of preparing and eating blind eels with her Nana. She is one heck of a writer who can persuade you that blind eels are ‘sweet stuff.’ You can buy the book at www.IslandMoonlight.com. Read it. You will love it.
Nā Mere Pohatu.
Valerie Hoana Mete and Mere Pohatu (right) Tairawhiti.
Ngāi Tahu ki Te Whanganui-ā-Tara
E aku rakatira, tēnei te mihi maioha ki a koutou e noho tata ana ki te kāika, tēnā koutou. Ki a mātou kā taura here i Te Whanganui-ā-Tara e kaingākau nui ana ki ngā whakamārama mō ngā kaupapa o Ngāi Tahu, tēnā tātou katoa.
Ngāi Tahu ki Te Whanganui-ā-Tara is an informal group of interested tribal members who reside in Wellington and surrounding districts. Our main purpose is whakawhanaukataka – meeting whānau from our hapū and iwi and building a network in Wellington.
While many of us remain connected to our hapū, much can be gained by getting together to find out about opportunities through Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, and to learn waiata so that we can participate in tribal events in Wellington.
Ngāi Tahu whānui came together in December last year to celebrate the festive season and spend a relaxing afternoon of activities with our tamariki – fun in the sun with kai. Thanks to Teone Sciascia and Whetu Moataane for coming along and providing an update on Whai Rawa, Aoraki Bound and other Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu news and opportunities. Thanks also to Whaea Carol Reihana for sharing your community networks in Paekākāriki, with us.
We are looking forward to being more active this year so Ngāi Tahu ki Te Whanganui-ā-Tara are looking for volunteers to help organise and co-ordinate events. Please contact Angela Wallace ([email protected]) if you are interested in helping out with activities, or if you want to be added to the email group.
Kāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
Rare kākāriki released
On 5 April our Ngāi Tahu Department of Conservation Officer, John Heaphy invited our committee member Annis Somerville to accompany him and helicopter pilot, Glenn Oliff to fly to Tuhua for the special task of releasing twelve orange-fronted kākāriki. Annis and John flew from Tauranga to Rotorua to meet the plane from Christchurch and collect the special cargo. After a quick trip across the ocean, they landed in the Tuhua crater and released the birds in the nearby bush. These birds have a high risk of extinction, so our local Ngāi Tahu group is privileged to be part of their preservation. Our group took part in the initial bird release, which took place on Tuhua, with a pōwhiri, two years ago.
We are grateful for John’s willingness to include us in his special venture. For Annis it was a magical trip never to be forgotten. Thank you John and good luck to all the little kākāriki which have made the journey up north.
John Heaphy and Annis Sommerville release kākāriki on Tuhua.
John Heaphy and Annis Sommerville, ready for take-off.
21
Mar 2013
Ngāi Tahu ki Tāmaki Makaurau
It is with a heavy heart that I announce the sudden passing of Peter Plumb’s beloved partner Cindy Cross. It was an honour to have known such an amazing lady with an amazing voice. You will be sadly missed at our Ngāi Tahu gatherings and forever in our thoughts. To Peter, we express our deepest sympathy and we are with you always, especially during this difficult time. Arohanui, your Ngāi Tahu ki Tāmaki Makaurau whānau.
On a happier note, we celebrated another great Waitangi Day celebration here in Tāmaki. There were many new faces this year, although many of the older faces were missing. Clayton made the big move back to Te Waipounamu the weekend before. We missed you and your whānau Clayton. It was great to have the Waikato whānau with us this year and we look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
We had bouncy castles for the tamariki, a boxing ring for the rangatahi, and Peter Plumb’s live band with music for everyone. Brian How was there promoting and supporting the 28th Māori Battalion. Vicky was in charge of pony rides for the tamariki, and Sue led the weaving.
This year with the Tāmaki-wide fire ban we were unable to put on the usual hāngī, so instead we had a spit roast. A big thank you to both David Tikao and Arapata Reuben for coming along and promoting Whai Rawa and whakapapa, and speaking with whānau. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
Ngāi Tahu ki Horowhenua
We’re still meeting every second Sunday of the month at Tū Roa kōhanga, 11am, with a shared kai after the hui. There are plenty of things planned this year for our rōpū, including mahi toi (raranga and kōwhaiwhai), reo wānaka and learning new waiata. Nō reira nau mai, hara mai whānauka mā. Below are photos of whānau at our February hui.
Donna and Gael with mokopuna, Amiria.
Ropine and Raiha Cook.
Kura Reo 2013
E hari ana, e koa ana ki te haere ki te Kura Reo ki Arowhenua i te Iwa o te tau nei. Ko mātou tērā ko Manawanui, ko Kiritiaho, aku piki kōtuku, e rere atu ki Te Waka o Aoraki ki te whākaihia tērā kai reka, arā ko te reo. Ka mihi ake rā ki kā rika, me kā waewae o ‘Kā Manukura’, o ‘Kotahi Mano Kāika’, nā koutou mātou i tautoko, i āwhina kia tae pai atu ki te whare rā, ki Te Hapa o Niu Tireni. Koutou mā o te hau kāika, kā mokopuna o Te Rehe, e whakapau kaha ana ki te manaaki i kā whānau o te Kura Reo, ka nui rā te mihi. Tae noa ki kā kaiako, kā poutokomanawa o te iwi, e hāpaitia ana tō tātou reo o Kāi Tahu i te ao, i te pō, nei rā te mihi ki a koutou. Ka kite mātou o Kāi Tahu ki Ōtaki i a koutou ā tērā tau!
Arohanui nā,
Emma, Manawanui, Kiritiaho.
Christmas Party 2012
Our whānau Christmas party seems a long time ago but looking back on the photos reminds us of a fun time with lots of tamariki, swimming, kai and Hana Koko to top it off – kei whea mai, kei whea atu i ēnei mahi mō te whakawhānaukataka.
Carmen Carkeek and pēpi.
Raureka Cook and pēpi.
Ngāi Tahu ki te Matau a Māui
Ngā mihi o te wā ki a koutou katoa ngā tini mata o Ngāi Tahu, kia tau ngā manaakitanga a Te Mea Ngaro ki runga i a mātou. Mauri ora ki a tātou!
Greetings to all and I hope everyone is well. Here in the Hawke’s Bay kai is plentiful, especially in the apple department, as well as onions and pumpkins. Our Ngāi Tahu ki Te Matau a Māui have been meeting regularly since our meeting in September.
We have changed our name from Ngāi Tahu ki Kahungunu to Ngāi Tahu ki Te Matau a Māui to better reflect our region and our identity.
We intend to start our year off with an overnight waiata and history wānanga on 29-30 June to be held at the EIT marae in Taradale. More details will follow. Any inquiries please contact: Koro Te Whaiti (022) 329 9706, Thelma Manaena (06) 211 0943 or Zayana Akurangi @ [email protected]
Finally, it is with regret that we advise of the passing of two of our Ngāi Tahu whānau from the Akurangi and Wakefield families – nō reira e ngā manukura, haere kōrua, haere, haere, haere atu rā i runga i te rangimārie me te aroha, koutou ki a koutou te hunga mate, tātou ki tātou te hunga ora ngā waihotanga a rātau mā.
Mā te Atua tātou e manaki, e tiaki, tēnā tātou katoa.
Kāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
There was only a small gathering of whānau for our bi-monthly hui. Our committee member Michael Bosman gave a very personal account of his return journey to Ōtautahi and the post-quake devastation. It was also a photo journey, a message of hope and a message of joy, all rolled into one.
Michael Bosman giving presentation to rōpū at the February Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana hui.
He noted a positive start to the rebuild. He was pleased to see Johnson’s Grocers, his favourite store, albeit operating out of a container. He found walking around the city an eerie experience, hearing birds chirping, heavy machinery and sometimes just silence.
Pou outside Christchurch City Council, photo taken by Michael.
He went to Tuahiwi on 1 December for the opening of the new marae – Maahunui II. There were around 1,500 people at this wonderful hui. Uncle Rik Tau spoke on the history of “Maahunui” or the “Hall” as it is known. It is expected the new hall will have at least 200 years of life in it. There was a presentation of a beautiful pounamu taonga, which took three people to lift.
The last part of Michael’s presentation focussed on Hakopa Te Ata O Tū, one of Michael’s ancestors. A portrait of Hakopa was done by Gottfried Lindauer – see page 59 of Michael King’s book “Māori.” Google has quite a bit on him too. And look out for the upcoming six-part television programme on the paintings of Gottfried Lindauer on Māori Television.
Michael then discussed a very old, small diary written by Thomas Eustace Green (Tame Eutahi Kirini), also one of Michael’s ancestors. Through his investigations Michael found it was held in the Macmillan Brown Library at the University of Canterbury. While in Christchurch, he met with Te Maire Tau, Associate Professor of Māori Studies at the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre at the University of Canterbury, and had the opportunity to view this special piece of family history and taonga.
Pounamu taonga at marae opening, Tuahiwi.
Michael has now been offered an opportunity to do his Masters in History through the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre. He is excited about this opportunity to research Thomas Eustace Green’s diaries, where he documented his life in colonial New Zealand.
This is a good example of how gems of whakapapa and history come to light when we take the trouble to do some digging. Our chair, Huey Rurehe, thanked Michael and wished him well in searching for more information on Thomas Green.
Nā Kim Ellison and Laurie Loper.
Ngāi Tahu ki Waikato
Congratulations
After three years of study Madia Diamond graduated from Waiariki Polytechnic (Rotorua) with a Bachelor in Early Childhood. The Diamond whānau gathered in Rotorua to celebrate with Madia. Madia was assisted in her studies with a Ngāi Tahu grant each year and also received the Teach NZ grant in her final year. She is the oldest of four children and chose to study at Waiariki in Rotorua.
She has now moved back to her home town of Ngaruawahia and is working in Hamilton at Central Childcare Centre and loving every moment.
Left to right: Wendy, Madia, Rebecca and Nathan Diamond.
Maaki Tuatini attends Te Matatini
One of our members, Maaki Tuatini, recently attended Te Matatini 2013, the biggest kapa haka event in the world. She shares her experience in Rotorua, and her pride and excitement in Ngāi Tahu hosting the next event in 2015. The biggest kapa haka event in the world is held every two years and Te Arawa hosted Te Matatini 2013.
My whānau and I were so proud to go and support all our Waitaha teams, Te Ahikōmau a Hamoterangi, Ngā Manu a Tane and Te Kotahitanga, with hundreds of other Ngāi Tahu whānau. Hanging out and catching up with all our Ngāi Tahu whānau was a buzz. Eating, talking and watching kapa haka in hot sun was an experience and we armed ourselves with water sprays, fans, umbrellas, beach chairs big blue tarpaulins, sun block, water and food.
We were at the gate 6.30am each day for the 7am opening, hoping to claim a little bit of grass in front of stage. That was all part of the fun.
On Saturday we all stood in silence for a minute to remember the Christchurch earthquake. That was a moving experience with thousands of people standing all around you.
On Sunday, the top nine kapa haka groups battled it out onstage, to find the overall winners: Te Toa Whakaihuwaka: Waka Huia runner-up: Te Whānau-a- Apanui third equal: Tū Te Manawa Maurea, Te Iti Kahurangi and Whangara Mai Tawhiti. Congratulations to all the 41 teams that took part.
Before the last karakia and the presentation of awards to winning teams, Te Arawa handed over the mauri to Ngāi Tahu, who will host the next Te Matatini in 2015. Our tāua and pōua were well represented and members of our Waitaha kapa haka teams received the mauri with pride and honour.
Now we’re looking forward to supporting Te Matatini 2015 in Christchurch.
My whānau will be up and ready to do it all over again – to enjoy all the fun, sun and sound of the greatest kapa haka teams in the world. Bring it on Ngāi Tahu whānau.
Ngā mihi
Maaki Tuatini (Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki).
Ngā Manu a Tane.
Mirimiri and raranga wānanga
We’ll be holding a mirimiri and raranga workshop in Hamilton on Saturday 20 April from 9am to 4pm, *(or later if wairua directs).
We hope to have several kaimirimiri/massage therapists who will come to further their knowledge in the art of mirimiri under the instruction of Nephi Skipwith, a tohunga in the healing arts.
We are seeking an expression of interest from those working or practising in the healing arts, (physio, herbal medicine/rongoā, massage/mirimiri, chiropractor and so on), who wish to participate in this training. Please contact Moana Lousi for more information on 04 858 4911, 021 110 2163 or email: [email protected] and we will place you on our list.
For those wishing to receive mirimiri, we will run a walk-in-clinic, so you won’t need to make a booking. Please feel free to bring a friend, or someone you know, who might be in need of a good mirimiri.
Nephi is a qualified social worker and counsellor. He has worked in marae-based health clinics providing mirimiri / romiromi, rongoā and counselling for many years.
He is the kaumātua for Massey University School of Psychology, and is currently the Senior Taurawhiri for Waitemata District Health Board, Whiti Maurea/Māori Mental Health and Addictions Service.
In all areas of his life Nephi applies traditional interventions as his primary tool for working with people who experience dysfunctions of the being. Nephi has worked for many years advocating, advocating, sharing and applying Māori health philosophies that underpin our models of practice.
Nephi Skipwith (Te Arawa, Tainui, Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngā Puhi) and Sandra Skipwith (Ngāti Manuhiri, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua and Waikato).