Marae

Our focus to support and progress the marae with our māra kai beds has finally come to fruition! It was brilliant timing having the nurseries available with our supply of plants for the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu kaimahi visit. We hope the team who chose to come out enjoyed their visit, I thoroughly appreciated their time helping with our spring plantings and the beginnings of us becoming even more sustainable. The plants came through a māra kai fund provided by Te Puni Kōkiri. I can now finally provide a report to show we are well on the way to making our marae more sustainable. The programme of encouraging small work activities with our rōpū has been welcomed with groups seeing the marae beginning to flourish and very much looking forward to being fully available to assist.

We have hosted a number of rōpū receiving their cultural professional development and board meetings over the month. All were well provided for with kai Māori specially requested through our preferred caterer for their lunch – as well as humble offerings of the first catch of the West Coast whitebait caught and cooked by Richard for those who jumped on the bus to Rāpaki from Ngāi Tahu. A very enjoyable day. As part of our environment and the building of the new wharekai we are now at the point where bookings may be affected due to the works taking place. We may therefore have to cancel some bookings – this will be decided on a case by case basis dependent on requirements. [Read more…]

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke office

The new premises are still under construction so we will remain temporarily on the south side of the marae. This month we have focused on bringing everything together for the end of the financial year and next month will focus on the annual general meeting. Stay safe and stay warm through winter everyone. I look forward to updating on some sensational Spring news next month. [Read more…]

MR875 Rāpaki trustees nominations

MR875 Rāpaki Reserves Trustees wishes to call for nominations for Trustee(s) for the MR875 Rāpaki Reserves as pursuant to the Maori Reservations Regulations.

All nominees must reside within the Waitaha/Canterbury Region and descend from the Hapū of Ngāti Wheke. There will not be a postal ballot, all nominees must be over 18 years of age. All persons eligible to become, or vote for, a trustee are encouraged to apply to be registered as a member with Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated. Members of Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated who have previously been registered are encouraged to ensure that their contact details as held by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated are correct. [Read more…]

Congratulations

Next month we will announce the lucky recipient of the Mobil Oil offer to sponsor a female from Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke to a Leadership and Capacity Building course at a five-week seminar in Indonesia. The trip will be all expenses paid. That lucky person will engage in a course facilitated by the world-recognised Plan International USA. The invitation was a result of our relationship building with Mobil Oil and is offered to selected guests across the world. This is a great honour for us as only one other Māori position was offered in New Zealand.

Health portfolio

World Smokefree Day 31 May – we are hosting a kaumātua/whānau 2km walk in Hagley Park. Everyone is welcome and there will be shared kai afterwards at Rehua Marae and the Rockers of Ages will not only be walking but entertaining with awesome voices.

Sign up for the free ‘Healthy Home Improvement Plan’ (insulation, heating, lighting, ventilation and glazing).

Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre brings you a great range of courses including: family inclusive training, grief, loss and trauma plus courses on relating well to men who attend health services and understanding and managing children’s anxiety. These are worthwhile training courses and run professionally.

Christchurch is on the agenda in June (tentative) for the next Protecting our Mokopuna seminar. Another kaupapa you are welcome to contact the office for more information about.

Mark your calendars

Funding Rounds Open: Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke: Criteria and grant applications are available from the office. Applications close on 31 March and 30 September.

Aroha mai, for this being quite a brief report. I will endeavor to provide a lot more information next month.

The portfolio reports

Education
Staff from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu recently spent time at Rāpaki during their noho marae.

Staff participating in a harakeke weaving wānanga.

Staff participating in a harakeke weaving wānanga.

Health

A Māori kaupapa services and community providers list has been created from the earlier health day hui and is readily available via this office, please email [email protected]. It was a well-received day with a variety of health issues covered.

Rāpaki Pā kids

We are proud of the rōpū who come and utilise the marae for all levels of learning as we know our environment is conducive to happy, healthy and successful outcomes. I am personally looking forward to sharing news of a hui held here, which focused on the migration of the Takitimu waka. My father bought his whānau from Pirirākau/Ranginui to hear to stories of that journey – maybe I’ll share that next month.

Again, many thanks to all the whānau and manuhiri who come out to mahi and facilitate hui on the marae and engage with the tikanga and kawa practices.

For any booking information, please contact the office on 03328 9415. Nā Cushla Dwyer, Rāpaki office manager.

From left, back row: Mariata Couch, Pamela Couch, Maria Couch, Teacher, Billy Hutana. From left, front row: Henry Couch, Suzy Rehu, Johnny Rehu, Moeroa Tauwhare, Melville Rehu.

From left, back row: Mariata Couch, Pamela Couch, Maria Couch, Teacher, Billy Hutana. From left, front row: Henry Couch, Suzy Rehu, Johnny Rehu, Moeroa Tauwhare, Melville Rehu.

The trustees hereby give notice that a meeting will be held at Rāpaki Marae on Sunday 18 October at 10.30am for the owners of Row Allan Blk VIII section 7.

The agenda is as follows:

  • Discussion on the regrowth of forest
  • Brief discussion on financial statement
  • Nominations and election of trustees
  • Open discussion.

Any enquires please contact George Tikao on 03 389 9378.

Ngā mate

It is with great sadness we acknowledge the passing of Susie Amoamo Rehu this month but she is home in Rāpaki at her final resting place.

Rā whānau

Belated August birthday messages to: Tutehounuku Korako, James Oliver Korako, James Manihera Dwyer, Shane Laffey, Josh Barlow, Paula Rakena, Felicity Phillips, Tārewa Pakau- McGregor, Rangimarie Takurua, Mamae Sheddon, Dudley Couch, Benjie Guthrie, Reihana Parata, Mamae Warnes, Ria Deacon, Te Ariki Tamatea Pokai Whenua and Joseph Walton.

Our September birthday wishes go out to: Isabelle Dwyer, Henry Dwyer, Kellee Tūrei, Charmaine Lee, Pip Rakena, Rachael Rakena and Honey Barlow.

A meeting owners will be held at Rāpaki Marae on Sunday 18 October at 10.30am for the Row Allan Blk II Section 7. The purpose of this meeting is to report on the current state of section 7 and to nominate four trustees – open discussion. If you have any queries please contact George Tikao (trustee) 03 389 9378.

This is an announcement for all Rāpaki affiliated persons that on September 13 at 9am we will be holding our annual general meeting at Te Wheke Marae, Rāpaki.

The sacking of Parihaka took place on the morning of 5 November 1881, when around 1600 volunteer and armed constabulary led by John Bryce invaded Parihaka. John, who described Parihaka as ‘that headquarters of fanaticism and disaffection’ called on Te Whiti and Tohu to surrender. [Read more…]

On 4 October, the descendants of Kiti and George Couch gathered at Rāpaki to celebrate the book launch of Kiti and George Couch of Rāpaki, A Family History, written by Donald Couch.

The book took centre stage in the whare tipuna, positioned in front of the Paipeta poupou.

Alan Perry officiated at the gathering and was pleased to see that the children of Kiti and George Couch were present at the gathering. He also thanked Donald for writing the book for everyone and asked what his next project would be. A special thank you was also given to Catherine Stuart, who assisted Alan in organising the event. [Read more…]

Rāpaki fire destroys donated tōtara

Nā Ila Couch.

A fire started by a Christmas Day barbecue on the beach at Rāpaki has destroyed a number of native trees planted as part of a fundraiser for Te Wheke Marae.

Brian Downey and Rewi Couch, who planted the trees, spoke to a witness who said the use of an accelerant coupled with a strong sou’wester caused the grass above the far end of the beach to catch fire. The wind drove the fire up the gully, destroying regenerating native plants including nine tōtara planted on behalf of families who had donated trees as part of the fundraising efforts to build the marae.

The tōtara were part of a wider 2009 Land Management Plan using broom as a companion plant to native trees. “The broom provides perfect protection for the native seedlings which would otherwise die if exposed to too much wind and sun,” says Brian. “Eventually the natives outgrow the broom and the regenerating bush takes over.” [Read more…]

Kaumātua and tamariki from Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke were treated to a beautiful pre-Christmas dinner prepared by Mariana Phillips, Riki Keith and their helpers. Starting at 11am, kaumātua got together to discuss anything and everything. There was plenty of laughter when they remembered some of the forgotten happenings. There were games for the tamariki, many of whom headed for the beach to cool down, and on their return Hana Kōkō was there with his sack full of interesting presents. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Those celebrating birthdays in August were: Shane Laffey, Josh Barlow, Paula Rakena, Felicity Phillips, Tarewa Pakau-McGregor, Rangimarie Parata Takurua, Dudley Couch, Benjie Gutherie, Tui Timihou, Melville Rehu, Tania Tikao, Andre Thompson, Reihana Parata, Ria Deacon, Te Ariki Tamatea Pokai Whenua and Joseph Walton.

A budding rugby champion

Jordan is the youngest of Wally and Jackie Stone’s three boys and mokopuna of the late Priscilla and David Stone. He was raised in Kaikōura and is a very talented rugby player, playing in the halfback position. Like his older siblings, Israel and Jermaine, Jordan was a rugby representative for Marlborough before attending Christchurch Boys’ High School in his last two years. There, he played for the first XV in 2011 and 2012.
This year Jordan played for Christchurch Rugby Club’s colts team and was selected to play in their premier team as well. He trains with the Crusaders Academy and has also been selected to play for the Canterbury Māori Rugby senior team. Although only 18 at the time, he was thrilled to have the opportunity to play alongside All Black captain, Richie McCaw, in Christchurch and a highlight was holding the winning shield with Ritchie after their match. [Read more…]

Te Atakura

Nau mai haere mai e te whānau o Rāpaki ki te tautoko i Te Atakura 2013. Sharlene Pirikahu, Tim Pirikahu and Ripeka Paraone look forward to once again supporting whānau of all ages from Rāpaki, as they stand to represent our marae, our hapū at Te Atakura 2013. Our aim is to strengthen our identity as Rāpaki through songs and haka old and new. Te Atakura is a festival where we can celebrate being from Rāpaki with all our cousins from Ngāi Tahu whānau whānui.

Practices are at Rāpaki Marae on Sundays at 1pm. Check out our Facebook page Rāpaki Marae https://www.facebook.com/rapaki.marae?fref=tsfor any changes to times or days.

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Rāpaki Marae.

The May rūnaka meeting is on Sunday 19 May; followed by hui on 9 June and 14 July.

Rāpaki goes international in Paris, France

The Rāpaki Garden Project: Te Pūtake, a permanent Māori garden in France, was launched to over 70 European media representatives at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris, on 4 April. Hosted by the New Zealand Ambassador, Rosemary Banks, it was attended by the Moselle Conseil General, Vice President, Francois Levergne, (who has visited Rāpaki), along with Head of Culture & Tourism, Bernard Herzog and the French Te Pūtake Project Director, Pascal Garbe. David Carter, the Speaker of the NZ House of Representatives also attended with his whānau. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

April
Charlie Subritzky, Sharlene Pirikahu, Terry McConnell, Jesse Thompson, Rei Couch, Yvette Couch-Lewis, Pania Laffey, Honey-Rae Toria Thompson, Adelaide Couch-Snow, Kirsten Dell-Hartgers, Matea Gillies, Nola Jones, Josephine Briggs, Janina Konia, Sofia Houghton, Maui Stuart. [Read more…]

The Wildfoods Festival brought a good mixture of people to Hokitika. Hokitika Primary School kapa haka members were excited to perform at this year’s festival. [Read more…]

Applications for the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Representative and Alternate Representative Positions

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc. Appointment Committee formally calls for nominations for the Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Representative and Alternate Representative positions to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

The Appointment Committee is tasked with the process of appointing the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Representative and Alternate Representative in accordance with clause 16(2)(c) of the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Act 1996.

Applications open Monday 25 March 2013 and close at 5pm on Friday 26 April 2013.

For an application form, including the eligibility criteria, please call the Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Rūnanga Office on 03 328 9415 to request the application information and forms by post.

Nā Herena Stone
Chairperson
Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc (Rāpaki Rūnanga) Appointments Committee.