Kāi Tahu ki Waikato
Kāi Tahu ki Waikato was thrilled once again this year to be part of the rōpū that represented our people at Kawemate o Te Mutu at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia. Whānau took on the mate of Maruhaeremuri Stirling and Peter Stevens from Ōtākou who sadly both passed on earlier this year.
We were thrilled to have Sue Nichols, Peggy Peek, Ranui Ngarimu, Terry Ryan, Kukupa Tirikatene and Whetu Moataane at the commemorations. We all enjoyed catching up with the goss and making connections with long lost cuzzies. Spot the noses of Wendy Bush and Peggy Peek who met for the first time at waiata practice. No mistaking that they are related!
Back from left: Sue Nichols, Kukupa Tirikatene, Ahuriri Rueben Nihoniho, Terry Ryan, Ngareta Nihoniho, Iritana Nihoniho, and front row: Ranui Ngarimu, Peggy Peak and Rosie Moeringaroa.
Wendy Bush and Auntie Peggy Peek meet for the first time at waiata practice.
We were also thrilled to have our Ngāi Tahu songbird Puamiria Parata-Goodall travel up and take us for waiata practice the night before Koroneihana. This year our singing efforts were much more confident and tuneful! We were so inspired that we have started monthly waiata practice on a Friday evening so we will be awesome by next year! Watch this space Puamiria!
Koroneihana is an annual week long series of events commemorating the ascendancy of King Tuhetia to the Kīngitanga throne. Ngāi Tahu have been invited to bring our mate on each year along with other iwi from around the mutu. It’s a fantastic opportunity to honour our loved ones who have passed, for meeting and greeting, and enjoying the passion and humour of the whaikōrero of our kaumātua. Oh and of course the kai!!
The next waiata practice will be 6.30pm, 5 October at 33 Victoria St, Hamilton. We will put the dates for the next six months in the next Te Pānui Rūnaka. Don’t forget if you have any contributions for Te Pānui Rūnaka please send them to je.stevens@xtra.co.nz. we would love to hear from you.
Kukupa and Ranui at Community Waikato in Hamilton for our Waiata practice.
Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana
Hui with Whakatāne Ngāi Tahu whānau
In July Annis Somerville met with three Kāi Tahu from Whakatāne who are setting up a new group. Around 40 people attended their initial meeting with Whetu Moataane in Whakatāne. These people are keen to work towards becoming an incorporated society, and this is why they approached our rōpū for ideas and assistance. From left to right are: Sandra Maaka-Ham, Annis Somerville, Oriwia Rehu-Murchie and Pauline Cottrell.
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