On Tuesday 3 May, I received an email from the Ōraka Aparima office saying they were looking for enthusiastic people to help with locating and catching kiwi in their environment.

I jumped at the chance and phoned Lynley McKay. She agreed I could come down and help out. On Saturday 7 May I was on a plane to Invercargill. Riki Dallas picked me up from the airport and took me to Takutai o te Tītī Marae. It was a busy weekend at the marae. Because I was there, I was invited to attend a hui for developing an Action Plan for Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka, Te Reo Māori Strategy. The next day (Sunday) I went to the Pink Ribbon Breakfast and then attended the general monthly hui at the marae. It was fantastic to catch up with extended whānau in person. [Read more…]

Kia ora whānau,
The past month has been a hectic one with a diverse range of activities taking place or being scheduled for the forthcoming month. Earlier on in the month we hosted a large delegation of Ngā Puhi kaumātua at Takutai o te Tītī Marae. This was a great afternoon where many old friendships were rekindled and stories told. The marae was also used as a base for the final water monitoring hīkoi which took place over the weekend of 8-11 April. A more detailed report of this hīkoi will follow in next month’s issue. A group from Verdon College will also have a noho marae later in the month. [Read more…]

On Tuesday 3 May the first Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka taurahere rōpū hui was held. This included whānau living in Christchurch and staff members from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu who affiliate to Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka. The hui was facilitated by Kyle Davis. It was agreed that the rōpū will continue to meet once a month over a shared kai. Keep watching this space for further updates.

Ōraka Taurahere rōpū.

There are exciting opportunities for tamariki through the Tamariki Ngā Taonga Programme. This initiative runs on the same days as the general monthly hui, between 10am and 12.30pm at no cost. Activities will include arts and crafts, learning waiata, te reo māori, pukapuka māori and learning your pepeha. These will be facilitated by Doreen Whakamoe. For more information phone Doreen on 03 214 5260.

The Bulls Head Lyre

In June 2013 John Knotts a local artisan and carver started a labour of love project. This was to take some 1500 hours.

The bulls head lyre (the first stringed instrument in the world) was found in a tomb in 1929. The tomb when opened revealed many gold objects and the remains of 74 retainers buried with the Queen 4,500 years ago. The harpists fingers were still on the strings when the poison they took killed them. [Read more…]

Kia ora whānau,

We hope that you had an enjoyable Easter break and were able to spend time with whānau over this period.

To whānau who are going to Mutton Bird Islands, we wish you a safe and bountiful journey.

The last month has been a hectic one with a number of events taking place prior to and after the Easter break. A seemingly endless round of hui have been coupled with many awesome visitors to our beautiful rohe, including Nic Low, who finished his historic hīkoi at Takutai o Te Tītī Marae. More information on this story will follow in a later edition. [Read more…]