Nā te Kaiwhakahaere Over the past few weeks, I have enjoyed catching up with many of you at the Ngāi Tahu Roadshows. The purpose of roadshows is to discuss, share, and receive feedback on the current direction of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and how this fits with Ngāi Tahu 2025 and Papatipu Rūnanga aspirations. To date we have visited whānau in Waitaha, Tāmaki Makaurau, Te Tairāwhiti, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Ōtepoti. There has been a good turnout at each hui and whānau have been asking some really good questions and providing useful feedback, particularly on how and where we focus our efforts to lift wellbeing and enhance the connections between all of us. We look forward to the last two hui in Hokitika and Invercargill.
Another enjoyable in hui in recent weeks was a special breakfast that Te Rūnanga attended with our He Toki ki te Rika partners, Hawkins and CPIT. He Toki is the iwi-led Māori trades training programme in Christchurch, which aims to upskill our people and position them to take on leadership roles in the rebuild. The breakfast was an opportunity to talk to potential employers about the programme and our aspirations for graduates. Recently we hosted a hui with Te Tau Ihu iwi chairs to discuss the idea of forming a forum for Te Waipounamu iwi. The hui was well received and it was agreed to name the forum, Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs Forum. The purpose of the forum is to promote whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga and manaakitanga; to share information and expertise; to have a collective political voice to influence the Crown on matters of common concern; and to seek common
ground and consensus but not to undermine the mana of each iwi to determine their own respective position or strategy on any matter. The forum will meet quarterly and where possible, meetings will be held leading up to the National Iwi Chairs Forum. I look forward to working closely with Te Tau Ihu iwi and advancing and progressing our relationships. Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua will be hosting Hui-ā-Tau this year. The date is Saturday 23 November, please lock this in your diaries and calendars. A friendly reminder that Hui-ā-Tau is a one-day event held every two years and Hui-ā-Iwi is a three-day festival held every other year. More information about this year’s Hui-ā-Tau can be found on page 31. Ngā mihi, Mark
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Kia ora whānau, ngā mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa.
Rā whānau
Parinui o Whiti kapa haka
Congratulations to the “Magnificent 7 plus 1” from the Manawatu whānau, who all celebrated birthdays during July – Shanae, Pania, Victor, Te Rina, Hana, Kieren, Melanie. And just who is the plus 1? Well it’s Ned, who just snuck in on 31 July. Also during July, the angels could be heard singing atop of Tapuae-o-Uenuku as Koha Hawke, Te Hiria Manawatu and Nakutira Kahu also celebrated. Kicking off August is Adan Te Huia followed by Matai and Jahdia McDonald, Grace Manawatu and Kim Kahu.
Practice is underway for our kapa haka group, which will be performing at this year’s Te Atakura Festival in October. Future practices will be on Sunday afternoons in Christchurch (for times and venue, or to join the group, contact Maani Stirling at maanistirling@gmail. com). Practices in Kaikōura will be held at Takahanga Marae on the second Saturday of each month, from 10am. The practices in Kaikōura coincide with our rūnanga meetings, which are held on Sundays. All whānau and friends are encouraged to join in for what is a fantastic time together, learning waiata with a special emphasis on all things Ngāti Kurī. Maani’s cooking is not too bad either.
Waiata from Ngāti Kurī
A CD/DVD is to be produced featuring waiata written by Ngāti Kurī, and for Ngāti Kurī, so for those of you out there who have material you would like included, could you please contact either Adan Te Huia at the office of Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura (phone 03 3196523) or Henare Manawatu (phone 021 905724).
2