Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou – We will remember them.

While crowds gathered at Chunuk Bair and many other memorial sites, a small rōpū gathered at dawn outside Ōtākou wharenui to remember the service and sacrifice of those who fought for our world freedom, and how their absence impacted on those at home.

Karakia was led by kaumātua Edward Ellison, before the rōpū weaved its way to the urupā to lay poppies on whānau graves. It was a moving experience completed by waiata led by He Waka Kōtuia. [Read more…]

Kā mihi aroha

E aroha nui atu ana ki a koutou i tēnei wā, our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with whānau at this time. Our thoughts are especially with the whānau of Robert Gray, the brother of Alison Ellison, and husband and father of Michelle and Gregory.

Whakatau

“Me he manawa tītī me tōna hiringa, kia hoki anō i te whatumanawa o te whānau” – Like the courageous heart of the tītī in all its glory, let the passion of the people return.

South Eastern Marine Protection Forum hui

Reminder that this hui about the effects of marine reserves on our coast line is being held on 28 May. There will be a hui in the morning for the hapū and a public hui in the afternoon. Please RSVP to [email protected] if you wish to attend.

Member details

We have added the hapū “Gone No Address” list to the member’s area on our website. Please go and check whether you or any whānau members are on there. Please contact the office to update your address details.

The elections for the Appointments Komiti are coming up, so it’s important that we have the correct address for all registered members over eighteen.

Marae closure

The marae is closed between 16 May to 10 June. The hui room will still be available for use.

New horizons

Rachel Wesley has tendered her resignation effective from 13 May, so by the time you read this Rachel will just be starting her new appointment on 23 May. To our loss, Rachel has accepted the Curator, Māori position at the Otago Museum. We are sure she will do a fantastic job.

We are sorry to see Rachel go as she has managed her current role very well, having taken us through a number of projects and the day-to-day management of rūnaka business and as Tahu has acknowledged, Rachel has clearly managed the tricky hapū territory very well. We wish Rachel every success for her and her young family’s future.

Te Pānui Rūnaka news

The Ōtākou office welcomes your whanau or personal news for inclusion in our pānui. Please send your news items ie, achievements in sports, education or anything else of community interest, pēpi hou, memorials, kupu hou and photos to [email protected] Your photos must have captions and names of people in the photo.
Thank you.

Ōtākou website

Feel free to browse our website. Whānau wishing to book the marae for functions can do so online. www.otakourunaka.co.nz

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Inc.

Notice of Intention to hold a Postal Ballot
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Inc wishes to inform current and potential members of the rūnanga of its intention to conduct a postal ballot for the purposes of electing the members of the Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Inc Appointment Committee. Once elected, the Appointment Committee will be responsible for appointing the Representative and Alternate Representative of the rūnanga to represent the interests of the rūnanga at meetings of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Please note only those people who have established by whakapapa their eligibility to be members of the rūnanga before 5pm on 27 June 2016 will receive voting papers for this postal ballot, therefore all persons eligible to become a member of the rūnanga are encouraged to apply to be registered with the rūnanga. Members of the rūnanga who have previously been registered are encouraged to ensure that their contact details held by the rūnanga are correct.

Appointment Committee nominations

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Inc is also calling for nominations for the Appointment Committee. Nomination forms and information regarding criteria can be obtained by contacting the Rūnanga office and must be received by 5pm on 27 June 2016.

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou Inc
Rūnanga Office
Telephone: 03 478 0352
Email: [email protected]

Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou (The University of Otago) staff alongside fifth year medical students from Te Kura Whaiora o Ōtepoti (The Dunedin School of Medicine), held their annual noho marae Wednesday 13 to Friday 15 April.

The University’s Hauora Māori Convenor’s Anna Tiatia Fa’atoese Latu (Kāi Tahu, Arowhenua) Associate Professor Joanne Baxter (Kāi Tahu, Makaawhio), staff members and members of the community were invited. Manawhenua representatives Peter Ellison, Dougie Ditford, Michelle McDonald, and Tui Kent warmly welcomed all 79 students and nine staff members on to Ōtākou Marae at the Wednesday afternoon pōwhiri. [Read more…]

We often get asked what we do in the office. On a typical day Nic will see to correspondence and general enquiries, receive applications such as Polytech Rūnaka Scholarships or for the Methodist Pūtea; accounts management and hui management, manage the website with information such as hui bookings and sponsor forms. [Read more…]

Several organisations that the marae has established relationships with have recently used the marae including: the A3K 3-day noho marae; University of Otago medical students noho marae sponsored by Tui Kent; LEOTC Pine Hill School noho marae sponsored by Moana Wesley; MPA-consultation hui and DCC Māori Participation Working Party sponsored by Edward Ellison. Whānau wishing to book the marae for functions can do so online. http://www.otakourunaka.co.nz/