Puketeraki Marae to learn more about their whakapapa and build a sense of whānaungatanga, particularly among the third and fourth generations. Whānau members came from as far away as England, Australia, Waiheke Island and Whangarei to join in the learnings and celebrations. The four days were filled with lots of storytelling (about when the eight Simon children were growing up in Tomahawk, Mornington and Christchurch, as well as many happy times in Karitāne), learning of our pēpeha and a selection of waiata Kāi Tahu, walks along the beach and out on the Huriawa Peninsula, team-building activities, a quiz night, kohi kaimoana, water sports and so on. This was peppered with loads of laughs and plenty of wonderful kai. The Simon whānau wishes to acknowledge the generous assistance received through the Ngāi Tahu Fund, and to also thank Matapura, Suzanne, Aroha and Brendan for supporting us throughout different parts of the wānanga when they should have been still celebrating the festive season. He mihi kau atu tēnei ki a koutou!
their grandparents’ original family home, “Te Maraenui” in Dunedin. Jane and Margot each chose one of Ani’s kete for themselves to eventually hand on to their own daughters. The remaining kete will be given to the Otago Museum, which has seen the collection and have indicated it is absolutely delighted to have them, especially as there are some very rare examples of weaving. He kete, he taonga tuku iho.
Sisters, Margot Yates and Jane Burns on the front porch of “Te Maraenui” with their kete that belonged to their grandmother, Ani Parata Evans, Christmas 2009.
Te Ngaru Hou Puketeraki is set to host an exciting season of contemporary dance by indigenous performers. The event featuring new works by Louise Potiki-Bryant (Ngāi Tahu), Rachel Ruckstuhl-Mann (Ngāi Tahu) and Vicki Van Hout (Aboriginal from Sydney) is part of the Dunedin Fringe Festival. Each performer is presenting a 20-minute multi-media piece at different locations inside Huirapa and on the marae ātea. There will be performances starting 8pm Friday 26 March and Saturday 27 March and a matinee from 2pm Sunday 28 March. Tickets to each performance will be limited to 100, so pre-sales and bookings will be essential. Tickets will be available from the rūnaka office soon. See www.dunedinfringe.org.nz for more information.
During the Parata whānau reunion held at Puketeraki over the Christmas period, the entire whānau who had gathered together made a visit to Te Maraenui where John Broughton now lives. Whānau toured the family home and saw the style in which our tupuna lived over 100 years ago. Of particular interest was Tame Parata’s original facsimile copy of The Treaty of Waitangi dated 1870. Patu/Mere
Ned Parata and Māori Rugby Celebrations to mark the centennial of Māori rugby and the contribution made by Ned Parata as the “father of Māori rugby” are being planned to take place in Dunedin over Labour Weekend this year. If you or your whānau have an association with Māori rugby, you might want to consider heading to Dunedin to join in the celebrations. We hope that information about the programme and contact people will be available for the March Te Pānui Rūnaka.
Seeking information regarding the origins of this patu. Mark Traynor is seeking information regarding the origin of this patu/mere, as he would like to know if it is of significance to the area. Mark’s mother, Jean Apes, received the patu from her father Robert. Robert received the patu from his father, who Mark’s whānau believe actually used it. Mark would love to hear from anyone who has any information about the patu/mere if it is of significance to the area he would like the because item to go back the marae history display. If you have any information to offer you can contact the rūnaka office and we will pass your details on to Mark.
Mokopuna of Ani Parata Evans Ani Parata was the youngest daughter of The Hon Tame Parata MHR and Peti Hurene. Before Ani married Clive Evans at Huiterangiora Church at Puketeraki in 1905, she often accompanied her father to Wellington in a role that we would refer to today as a PA or personal assistant. Part of Ani’s legacy was a collection of beautiful kete that date from the 1890s, most of which have very exquisite weaving patterns. Ani’s youngest daughter was Margaret, who married Dr L.W. Broughton. Some of their children gathered together at Christmas in
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