Ngāi Tahu Taurahere ki Te Matau a Māui

Upcoming events
We would like to let whānau know that we have booked Tuahuru Marae in Mahia from 30 January until 1 February 2015. We are treating this as the dress rehearsal for the Te Matatini pōwhiri. I would like to let as many whānau know in the hope that a few from all our close taurahaere can attend. The ties that bind our hearts. [Read more…]

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).