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WHITI ORA: Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation celebrates 50 years
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On a cool winter evening at the end of July, the Whanganui War Memorial Hall welcomed nearly 400 shareholders of the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation to celebrate its 50th anniversary. A night of kai, kōrero and celebration for shareholders and whānau at the Whiti Ora dinner.
The event, Whiti Ora, was also an opportunity to acknowledge Puanga,or the Māori new year.
From kaumātua to rangatahi, and those in between, it was a special occasion for everyone with the ladies in their glad rags and the men looking dapper - all dressed up for a night to remember.
Mavis Mullins, the chair of the incorporation, said there were several things that really stood out for her about the evening.
“It was about food, it was about festivities, it was about whānau, it was about whakapapa, and what a privilege it was to be part of the journey, to reach our 50th anniversary.”
But one of her main highlights was the special recognition that kaumātua Mark Gray received, as being one of the eldest shareholders.
“Seeing him there, seeing him with Shar Amner (Mark Gray’s mokopuna) and close whanaunga, and the taonga he received holding it above his head like it was a gold medal, it was wonderful.”
While the audience was being served dinner that included beef from Ātihau-Whanganui Inc. farms, the stage was set for six wāhine to kōrero, and provide some banter and entertainment.
Mavis, who was one of the six, said “It was great to be on the couch with those stroppy women, to talk about their challenges, and hear their honesty, their very blatant honesty, about how they saw the future for their tamariki, their whānau and the wider Māori community.
The occasion was also an opportunity to reflect on the journey the the Ātihau-Whanganui Incorporation has been on, and how it stands today from when it was first established more than half a century ago.
“It would never have been foreseen by the tūpuna who set it up,” said Dana Blackburn, former incorporation general manager. “The cards were dealt against us so much they never would have envisaged us getting to this stage.”
Mavis agreed and paid tribute to the determination the tūpuna had to plough the way.
That kaupapa will continue, too, with up-and-coming iwi leaders embracing the history of the organisation while looking into the future.
Connor and Cruz Pauro of Ngāti Ruaka and Ngā Paerangi descent are 19-year-old identical twins who have aspirations for the incorporation.
Connor said: “I think that what the incorporation is doing at the moment with rangatahi is awesome. With Awhiwhenua the cadetship; our rangatahi learning how to be farmers.
“Also, I’d like to see our rangatahi go on the land and working (sic) it like our tūpuna did, such as eeling like our ancestors did.”
Mavis welcomed his words, saying, “It’s that kind of energy that young people bring that make me happy about the future of the Ātihau- Whanganui Incorporation.”
