We were lucky enough to share the experience with two other paddling teams, Kotahi Anö nō Te Waka Pounamu who placed third overall and won themselves a medal - big congratulations boys - and Fiveo nō Canterbury Paddling Club who also made the finals.
Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Tēnā koutou te whānau whānui, kā mihi nui mō tēnei tau hou 2011. Kā Mate Chappie Grennell (brother of Auntie Sal Rakena) and Kathleen Jarvis (sister of Sue Stone). Haere mai kā pēpi
Pania Laffey and Scott Toohey. Congratulations also to Katherine Couch (Donald’s daughter) who recently married Ian Burroughs in Canada. Some of us met Katherine’s new husband Ian at the Couch Whānau Reunion in Rāpaki last Easter. It was a Te Waipounamu proposal too!
[Insert photo: Corbin is holding his new sister Maddi]
Robert Smith and Casey Turner were to get married on Rāpaki beach but due to the high winds, the tide did not recede enough so it was up to the alternate venue, The Gondola. The ceremony was followed by the reception, which had a “kiwiana theme.”
Isaac and Taryn Fahey welcome a new addition to their whānau, a sister for Corbin, named Maddi Makere Joy Fahey. Born 29 December weighing a healthy 6lb 14 oz, making Margaret Fahey-Herewini a very proud Tāua. Michelle (Wilson) and Clint have presented Judith and Alan Wilson with another beautiful wee moko and Uncle Kena and Auntie Sal Rakena are proud great grandparents.
Back to School To all our Rāpaki tamariki, rakatahi, mokopuna mā, we wish you all a fantastic year ahead. Learn all you can, study hard and make your whānau proud.
Rā Whānau Birthday greetings to those who have had a birthday and are having birthdays in the next month.
Tamatea Pōkai Whenua With all these aftershocks we have one less worry, the City Council workers have broken up the very large rock on Tamatea that threatened some of our homes. They used a helicopter to transport parts of a digger up there, which were reassembled and used to break the rock up.
Congratulations Congratulations to Pania Laffey and Scott Toohey who came across from Australia for a visit and ended up getting engaged on New Year’s Eve in Punakaiki. They plan to get married in Rāpaki sometime in February next year. Pania’s Rāpaki whānau is delighted.
Our Marae Our December rūnaka meeting was the first in our new whare, followed by the annual Christmas party with
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