Mailer 69

Fighting for Rivers and Ma¯ori

Wairarapa Moana descendant, Hoana Burgman, has been awarded the MNZM, Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Ma¯ori and environmental governance. Based in North Canterbury, Burgman’s whakapapa is Ngai Tahu and Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa.

“My great-grandfather, Ihakara Karaitiana, married into Ngai Tahu; he and his brother both came down and married two sisters – two Ngai Tahu woman, and one was my great-grandmother.”

She said the link between her and Wairarapa was generations back, but she had visited her lands in Wairarapa. Burgman said she was overwhelmed when she heard she’d received the award.

“It’s a privilege that someone thinks it (my effort) has been worthwhile. It has to me; it’s just part of me.”

Burgman has been on the Te Ngai Tuahuriri Runanga executive from approximately 1990, and has been the Chair of the kaumàtua committee since 2016.

She said she had always been involved with the runanga (tribal council), but when the Resource Management Act was introduced in 1992, she put her hand up to represent Te Ngai Tuahuriri.

“I said, ‘oh well, I’ll give it a go’, only because my mother was always so concerned about the environment.

“The first place I ever remember going to was the Rakahuri river.”

Burgman was a founding member of Te Waihora Management Board and was involved in the establishment of a joint management plan for Te Waihora Lake with the Department of Conservation, and later the broader Te Waihora Co-Governance Agreement.

Hoana is also a founding member of the Mana Whenua Working Party, alongside Ngai Tahu Farming, to ensure best-farming practices are maintained.

To add to her belt, she was a trustee of Te Kohaka o Tuhaitara Trust from 2006 to 2017, responsible for the restoration and ongoing management of 700 hectares of native coastal wetlands.

Burgman has been credited as a key driver of taking a collaborative approach to Resource Management Act engagement by mana whenua, and she is a founding member of Mahaanui Kurataiao Shareholder Board.

›› CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ...

Hoana Burgman

She brought together the five surrounding papatipu runanga in Canterbury to form a unified company to advance kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

Additionally, she helped to re-establish the Tuahiwi branch of the Màori Women’s Welfare League, has been Secretary and is still the President. Burgman said everything she had done had the environment, rivers, and Màori in mind.

As a child Burgman grew up by the water, fishing with her family. As time went by, she watched the much-loved braided rivers degrade until there were very few fish left. “I tell my grandchildren that my father used just to have string wound around a stick with hooks, throw it into the river, and we’d get three or four herrings all in one go.” Burgman said her mother would only take her and her siblings to areas where they could find food, be it fish, fruit and other commodities such as walnuts and firewood.

What had been teeming with life and kai (food) has now been destroyed by human-caused pollution and greed.

“We saw this happening 25 years ago, but no-one ever listened,” she said.

“All my whànau used to meet at the river, but that doesn’t happen now because they’re so filthy and there isn’t any water in them during the summer.”

Burgman said the loss of rivers had affected Màori in every way.

“It’s our whakapapa, our whakapapa goes with the rivers, lakes and the sea.”

She was hopeful for the future with young, environmentally-minded people coming into the mix, whom she has worked with over the past five to ten years.

Article provided by: Wairarapa Times-Age

Author: Grace Prior

A Walk Down Memory Lane –Masterton Central School prefects, 1953

Masterton Central School opened on 6 February 1882 in Russell Street – between Queen and Chapel Streets.

In 1884, the school changed from Masterton Central to Masterton District High School and started to accept secondary students. At the end of 1885 and with a small secondary student roll, Masterton District, reverted back to Masterton Central to a primary school.

In 1902, Masterton District High School was re-established at Masterton Central School in Russell Street.

In 1923, Wairarapa High School opened to secondary students and as a result, Masterton District High School reverted to Masterton Central School for primary students.

In 1970, ageing buildings and increasing maintenance costs saw Masterton Central School move to South Road into new, warm, spacious surroundings. In 2004

Masterton Central School prefects, 1953.

Back row left: Charles Carlson, Deirdre Cornor, John Nini, Carol Zillwood, Robert Te Whaiti. Seated: Pam Francis, Jerry Simmonson, Carol Walker, Graham Costello, Lesley Palmer.

Masterton Central School merged with Harley Street School to form today's Masterton Primary School.

The only survivor from Masterton Central School is the 130 year or more, old school bell that sits in its new bell tower at Masterton Primary in South Road.

Ref: Wairarapa Times-Age, Wairarapa Archive, NZ Herald.

Wairarapa Moana calls for stronger environmental protections in new resource management system

Two Bills, the Spatial Planning Bill and Natural and Built Environment Bill are currently before the Environment Select Committee. These Bills represent a major overhaul of the current system. The Government expects to pass these into law before the General Election later this year.

Anaru Smiler, Group General Manager, in a Wairarapa Moana 10-page written submission to the Environment Committee sets out our concerns with these reforms.

“Wairarapa Moana support the inclusion of the concept of Te Oranga o te Taiao in the Natural and Built Environment Bill, however, we are concerned that the way in which this has been drafted is not consistent with the Te Ao Màori view of te taiao – which is holistic and integrated. Te Taiao is not just about the natural environment as stated in the Bill,” said Anaru Smiler.

“We have also told the Environment Committee that Te Oranga o te Taiao should provide clear direction about environmental priorities or a hierarchy of obligations.”

Te Mana o te Wai, a bicultural framework provides a blueprint, that we consider could have been easily adopted in the new resource management system.

Te Mana o te Wai is based on the principles of Mana Whakahaere, Kaitiakitanga, Manaakitanga, Governance, Stewardship, Care and Respect.

In Te Mana o te Wai1 there is a clear hierarchy, with our first obligation being to the health and mauri of the water, before providing for human needs and wants. This is Aotearoa’s freshwater framework within which central government, local government, tangata whenua, and communities all need to work towards.

Wairarapa Moana have asked the Environment Committee to change the primary reference term in the Spatial Planning Bill and Natural and Built Environment Bill for Màori rights and responsibilities holders to “mana whakahaere”, based on the definition in the National Policy Statement Freshwater.

We are also disappointed that no meaningful progress has been made on the resolution of Màori rights and interests in freshwater. Wairarapa Moana have proposed specific drafting changes to the Natural and Built Environment Bill to better protect those rights and interests.

This is because the Bill proposes a system of environmental targets and limits. However, there is no requirement in the Bill for targets to be set at a state that is sustainable It gets worse, the Bill also provides for limits to be set at worse than current state if the current state will cause continuing degradation. This takes an approach that where the environment is really degraded, we should not pursue recovering it, or even maintaining it.

“We don’t think this aligns with our vision of Nurturing our Taonga, kaitiakitanga and our values of tika, whanaungatanga, rangatiratanga, wànanga and Kotahitanga. This is why we have written to the Environment Committee,” said Anne Carter.

“As kaitiaki of our whenua, like other farmers, growers, and communities we are all on a journey to improve our environmental management. This is something Wairarapa Moana take seriously. As kaitiaki we aim to leave our whenua, and taonga in a better state than we found them, for the next generation, and the generations after that,” said Anaru Smiler.

Whànau, if you are interested in this kaupapa, then more information can be found www.foma.org.nz

Anne Carter, Committee of Management said: “Wairarapa Moana have also told the Environment Committee that we are very concerned that the Natural and Built Environment Bill is a step backwards for Aotearoa in terms of environmental management.” A copy of Wairarapa Moana

Incorporation written submission on the Spatial Planning Bill and Natural and Built Environment Bill can be found on www.parliament.nz

Wai 85 Update

Crown forces settlement on Wairarapa Moana owners

On 13 December 2022, the Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Ta¯maki nui-a¯-Rua Claims Settlement Bill had its third and final reading in Parliament. It then became law.

The Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua Claims Settlement Act extinguished Wairarapa Moana Wai 85 claim and forced a settlement against the wishes of the majority of Wairarapa Moana owners.

This is despite at the end of last year, the Supreme Court upholding our appeal, and paving the way for us to return to the Waitangi Tribunal and pursue our resumption application for the return of lands at Pouàkani.

“…if the Nga¯ti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Ta¯maki nui-a¯-Rua Claims Settlement Bill were not passed into law tomorrow, the Tribunal would pursue the path outlined for it in Wairarapa Moana ki Poua¯kani Incorporation v Mercury NZ Limited [2022] NZSC 142. This might have had the effect of returning significant hydro assets to the Wairarapa Moana ki Poua¯kani Incorporation or another appropriate entity. It might also have resolved longstanding raru between tangata whenua at Poua¯kani and Wairarapa Ma¯ori through a tikanga process that was allowed to run its course. However, the government has decided to extinguish those possibilities by passage of law tomorrow.”

Judge CM Wainwright, Waitangi Tribunal, 12 December 2022

The Crown’s treatment of Wairarapa Ma¯ori is “a remarkable story of injustice”…“ a trail of tears”.

Justice Cooke, High Court, Wellington, 30 March 2021

The Crown ignored the Waitangi Tribunal finding in November 2021 that the Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua Settlement Trust was not mandated to settle Wai 85. The mandate to settle was with the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation.

This isn’t the outcome the Committee of Management, and the majority of our owners were seeking. The act to legislate away our rights whilst pursuing a matter before the New Zealand courts, is a breach of te Tiriti, the New Zealand Bill of Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

With the Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nuià-Rua Claims Settlement now law, another chapter in our journey towards redress and compensation for the Crown’s te Tiriti breaches at Pouàkani has drawn to a close. But it is not the end.

The Committee of Management are considering next steps. At the AGM in October last year, we advised owners and whànau that we had filed with the High Court an application for judicial review of the Crown actions to extinguish the Wai 85 whilst proceedings were before the Waitangi Tribunal, a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We mihi to all of our owners and whànau who have sent through messages of support. We wish to also acknowledge the ongoing support of the Pouàkani Claims Trust, the Federation of Màori Authorities, and the New Zealand Màori Council.

The History of Wai 85 – A Brief Recap

⦾ 1853-1896

Màori steadfastly and successfully resisted strong pressure from the Crown to relinquish control of Lake Wairarapa and Lake Onoke.

⦾ 1896

Wairarapa Lakes and surrounding disputed land, gifted to the Crown by Wairarapa Màori, with Crown agreeing to provide for reserves in Wairarapa.

⦾ 1908

Government officials try to acquire land within the Wairarapa district. Prices at auction were higher than expected and no land was purchased by the Crown for granting to the lake’s former owners.

⦾ 1916

A proclamation issued vesting 30,486 acres of the Pouàkani block in Wairarapa Màori, according to the Native Land Court order, April 1916.

⦾ 1940

Government authorises construction of waterpower from Lake Taupò and the Waikato River. The Maraetai site, part of the Pouàkani lands was one of a number of gorges deemed as having excellent potential as a site for hydro-development.

⦾ 1945

Construction of town and the dam start before notice given to the Owners or the process to acquire the land had begun.

⦾ 1946

Work begins on the construction of the Maraetai I power station.

⦾ 1947

Prime Minister Fraser visits Pouàkani and learns that the Owners had not been notified of the construction, May 1947. He orders that the interest of the owners be protected, and that they be consulted on all matters affecting their land.

⦾ 1948

Cabinet approves in September 1948 permanent acquisition of 787 acres for hydro works and 583 acres for Mangakino township by lease from the owners at rental to be set by Native Land Court.

⦾ 1949

Part of the Pouàkani No. 2 block of 787 acres taken under the Public Works Act for the development of hydro power. Land already taken for what would become the Mangakino township.

⦾ 1952

Maraetai I power station commissioned.

⦾ 1955

Màori Land Court award compensation to owners, which was later described by the Waitangi Tribunal as “niggardly in the extreme”.

⦾ 1963

The remaining frontage to the Waikato River within the Pouàkani No. 2 blocks was taken under the Public Works Act.

⦾ 1970

Maraetai II power station commissioned.

⦾ 1987

The State-Owned Enterprises Act 1987 came into force, April 1987. Some of the land in Pouàkani No.2 block taken for hydro-development transferred to the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand on its establishment.

⦾ 1989

Wai 85 claim registered with the Waitangi Tribunal, August 1989.

⦾ 2002

The Pouàkani II Trust and Mangakino Township Incorporation amalgamated in July 2002 and the Wairarapa Moana Ki Pouàkani Incorporation (WMI) was formed by order of the Màori Land Court.

⦾ 2004- 2005

Wairarapa Ki Tararua Waitangi Tribunal inquiry conducted, including the Wai 85 claim.

⦾ 2010

Waitangi Tribunal issues the Wairarapa ki Tararua Report. Tribunal recommends Crown re-assess the compensation paid to the owners for the land taken for the Maraetai Dam.

WMI shareholders mandate Committee of Management to settle WAI 85 in 2010 and again in 2011.

⦾ 2016

The Crown and the Settlement Trust sign an Agreement in Principle, May 2016.

WMI shareholders reconfirm mandate of Committee of Management to settle Wai 85 on their behalf.

⦾ 2017

Wai 85 application for binding recommendations filed by WMI on 10 February 2017.

⦾ 2018

Settlement Trust and the Crown initial a Deed of Settlement, March 2018.

Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal grants WMI application for an urgent remedies hearing, May 2018.

⦾ 2019

Waitangi Tribunal hears Wai 85 application for binding recommendations May through to December.

⦾ March 2020

Waitangi Tribunal issues “Preliminary Determination” indicating support for return of the Pouàkani lands to an entity representing all of Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua.

⦾ May 2020

Mercury files for judicial review, followed in July 2020 by applications from the Crown and Raukawa Settlement Trust.

⦾ March 2021

High Court issues judicial review decision, March 2021. Justice Cooke, High Court decided s 8A of the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975 requires a “wellfounded” claim to relate specifically to the land sought to be returned, and land can only be returned to mana whenua.

⦾ April 2021

Mercury, WMI and Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua Settlement Trust all file notices of appeal in respect of the High Court decision.

⦾ July 2021

Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations writes to WMI advising settlement package revised and will go out for ratification beginning 26 July 2021.

Shareholder Search –Can you help?

We would like your help to trace descendants of shareholder

PUINGA JURY

Any information you may be able to share with us will be most appreciated. Call Amethyst on 0800 662 624 or email

“The Crown, because they were concerned about the return of the land to Wairarapa Moana through the resumption order of the Waitangi Tribunal, forced the iwi group to include it within the claim settlement so they don’t have to deal with it, and now they have just kicked another treaty breach down the road to be addressed in another 30 years’ time.”

Kingi Smiler, Chairman, Wairarapa Moana Incorporation, Waatea News, 14 December 2022

⦾ September 2021

Voter turnout for the revised Crown offer low, at 31% of all eligible voters and one in three voted NO.

⦾ October 2021

Supreme Court grants leave to hear WMI appeal direct from High Court, leapfrogging the Court of Appeal, October 2021.

Waitangi Tribunal hears WMI urgent claim.

⦾ November 2021

Waitangi Tribunal report concludes that the Ngàti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa Tàmaki nui-à-Rua Settlement Trust does not have the mandate to settle Wai 85, and the Crown should “pause” the settlement process.

⦾ February 2022

Crown introduces Settlement Legislation Bill, that will extinguish Wai 85 claim, on 4 February 2022 in advance of Supreme Court hearing 9-10 February 2022.

⦾ December 2022

On 7 December 2022 Supreme Court judgement released which upholds WMI appeal. On 12 December 2022 WMI returns to the Waitangi Tribunal. On 13 December 2022 Crown extinguishes Wairarapa Moana Wai 85 claim – forcing settlement on Wairarapa Moana owners and whànau.

Crown actions a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

⦾ January 2023

WMI files with High Court an application for judicial review of Crown action to extinguish Wai 85 whilst proceedings before the Waitangi Tribunal, a breach of the Bill of Rights Act 1990, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Education Funding 2023

Scholarships are available to descendants of an original Wairarapa Moana owner. Criteria is applied to all funding.

FUTURE LEADERS SCHOLARSHIPS

Open Monday 20 February

Closing 12.00pm Thursday 30 March 2023

Ngà Kete o Te Wànanga – Tertiary Scholarships are targeted at students studying a diploma, degree, Masters or PhD.

Ngà Mahi À-Rehe – Trade Training & Apprenticeship Scholarships are provided to those studying and working towards a trade or an apprenticeship.

POUTAMA FUND GRANT

There is no closing date and applications are available until the annual funding is used. Particularly useful to Wairarapa Moana descendants wanting to "Bridge a Gap" towards pre-requisite study to get into a threeyear degree, or to complete a certificate, or a license for enhanced employment opportunities.

TE KETE URUURU TAU SCHOLARSHIPS

Two special scholarships available to various fields within agri-business.

Inquiries welcome, applications are available from the office.

l p l e 06 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 trust@wairarapamoana.org.nz

Find out more ...

WM Facebook Join us on Facebook as we share everything from on farm action to trust scholarships, wànanga and waiata, through to our history, news and photos. https://www.facebook.com/WairarapaMoanaInc

WM Website For information, news and events. https://www.wairarapamoana.org.nz

WM Waiata on YouTube Check out the Wairarapa Moana YouTube channel and listen to the collection of waiata. https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCRBU5TvlRmJXh8atuVppAnw

Education Grants and Scholarships

Wairarapa Moana are proud Taihonoa Partners of Victoria University of Wellington

Tertiary education grants and scholarships awarded by Wairarapa Moana are matched dollar-for-dollar by Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington through the Taihonoa partnership programme.

Since the inception of the partnership four years ago, a total of 19 scholarship recipients have received a total $28,000.00

“I am honoured to be a recipient of the Taihonoa Wairarapa Moana Future Leaders Scholarship...it is a huge relief financially and I am able to focus more on university and learning.”

Scarlett Travers. BA student and Wairarapa Moana Future Leaders Taihonoa grant recipient 2019

When deciding about your tertiary journey and which university you want to attend, the Wairarapa Moana partnership with Victoria University may prompt you to consider studying at this prestigious institution.

To register your interest for a Wairarapa Moana 2023 application, contact the Masterton office on:

l p l e 06 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 trust@wairarapamoana.org.nz

RETURNED MAIL ...

Where are you?

The office is seeking to find the whereabouts of these shareholders, descendants, or trustees.

If you are able to provide any relevant information or contact details, please contact Amethyst on 06 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 or wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz

Donna Maree Thompson

Michael Leslie Hugh Watson

Tami Varney

Doreen Mathews Junior

Te¯na¯ koutou e te huinga o Wairarapa Moana

Nei ra¯ te reo mihi e rere atu ki a koutou, i ta¯ koutou ha¯pai i ta¯ ma¯tou kaupapa kia tu¯hura ki whenua ke¯. Katahi te haerenga mīharo, harikoa, whakaohooho, ka tika he hararei heoi he nui hoki nga¯ akoranga. E whai ake nei ko nga¯ ko¯rero whakamihi a¯ nga¯ Tauira.

We wish to acknowledge the support we received in 2022 for our trip to Rarotonga. We departed Aotearoa on the 30th of November for a five-night stay in Rarotonga. Twelve of us departed together meeting up with another two of the whànau already over there. We loved the beautiful hot weather, which meant a lot of swimming, we also did some cool activities like swimming with big colourful fish and night-time stand-up paddle boarding. What made it more special though was how so many things in Rarotonga relate to Aotearoa and our Màori culture such as the language, the history, tikanga, marae and waka. Following are expressions of thanks from our students: Just want to give thanks to Wairarapa Moana for allowing us Wharekura students to take part on our wonderful journey to Rarotonga. Your koha helped us to take part in cool activities such as learning about the land and how us Māori voyaged from the Cook Islands to Aotearoa. The journey taught me heaps about the culture and people of the land and would love to look to travel back some time in the future.

Mihi nui, Kawana Rongonui

Tēnei au e mihi ana ki a kōutou mā nō Wairarapa Moana, me te whakaaro aroha ki te tautoko i a mātou te Wharekura o Wairarapa. Na mātou te waimaria kia whai wheako ki roto i ngā whenua o Rarotonga. Me te ako ano hoki i ngā whakapapa maha me ngā hononga katoa kia mātou. Hei whakakōpani ahau i ōku kōrero i konei e kore ngā mihi e mimiti mō kōutou.

Ngā mihi nui Judith Reiri

Nei rā ngā mihi nui ki a koutou o Wairarapa Moana, mō tō koutou kaha tautoko i a mātou ngā tauira wharekura ki te haere ki runga i tō mātou haerenga papai ki Rarotonga. Kaore i haere mo te hararei noa iho i ako mātou i te whakapapatanga

tā Rarotonga me te hononga ki a mātou ngā Māori. No reira e mihi ana ki a kōutou mo te koha ki a mātou nā tō koutou koha i taea mātou te haere ki Rarotonga me te mahi i ngā mahi papai rawa nō reira tēna koutou.

Mihi nui, Kaia Mita

Nei rā te mihi matakuikui ki a koutou o Wairarapa Moana mō tā koutou manawa nui, whakaaro nui ki te tākoha mai he koha hei tautoko i a mātou me tā mātou haerenga ki te whenua ātaahua o Rarotonga. Tino Waimarie mātou ki te whiwhi i ta koutou tautoko, nā koutou i awhina i a mātou hei whiwhi wheako hou me te ako i ēnei momo matauranga mai i a Rarotonga. Nā reira tēnei mātou e tuku aroha ki a koutou, nā koutou hoki i hāpai i te kaupapa nei. E kore ngā mihi e mimiti noa. Mihi nui, Matariki Riwai-Couch

To briefly summarise the students’ personal thanks: They all express a lot of love and many thanks for your support to enable not only our travel to Rarotonga but to partake also in many fun activities. We honestly had the time of our lives. It wasn’t only fun in the sun but a lot of history as well including whakapapa and learning of our historical waka Màori stopping over in Rarotonga before continuing to Aotearoa. Specifically, Takitimu waka settling in Rarotonga for a long period of time. We at Te Kura Kaupapa Màori from the students to the teachers, the board and our wider whànau really appreciate the support that you have given us.

“Ma¯ te huruhuru te manu ka rere”

Te wha¯nau wharekura ki Rarotonga

Notification of a Deceased Shareholder

Death is never easy to announce; and we will all find ourselves in this situation at some time in our lives.

Now and then the office is unaware that a shareholder has passed away and correspondence and the Wairarapa Moana Mailer will continue to be sent to the deceased shareholder’s address.

It would be greatly appreciated if whànau could let the office know of shareholders who have passed on. Give us a call so we can update the share register and support the whànau to succeed.

He kokonga whare e kitea, he kokonga nga¯kau e kore e kitea. The corners of a house may be seen and examined, not so the corners of the heart.

This whakataukì indicates that where we can visibly see the corners of a house, we do not have the ability to see the inner thoughts or feelings of a person. This reminds us to take care when engaging with others, as we are not aware of what may be happening for them or in their lives.

Contact Amethyst on 0800 662 624 or wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz

Wairarapa Moana: The Lake and Its People

Chapter 13: The Birds of Wairarapa Moana.

Written by Colin Scadden.

Bringing you short snippets from the book to encourage you to read and increase your knowledge of this taonga. Enjoy!

Walks around Wairarapa Moana with its lake, lagoon and wetlands reveal a large and diverse variety of birds.

Over the years the area’s birds have been a significant source of food for local inhabitants. The abundant ducks and Black Swans were once important dietary components. During the moult they would have been easy prey and eggs would have been harvested when the birds nested.

“Bird populations have fluctuated with predators, managed introductions and changing natural habitat.”

Academic Success for Wairarapa Moana descendant

It’s been a super hectic couple of years for Wairarapa Moana descendant, Kelly-Anne Bentley, both with her studies and trying to develop a career.

It all began in 2020 when Kelly-Anne started a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Food Science, at Lincoln University. Despite the global pandemic she was able to obtain highlevel grades, which enabled her to apply for the Pùtaiao Scholarship at Lincoln. The scholarship is for students who are performing highly in their academia. Fortunately, Kelly-Anne was awarded the scholarship, which helped financially with her studies.

In 2021 at the university, she continued to work hard and achieved a lot with some of her undergrad research, contributing to a big project that was presented at the International Congress of Meat Science and Technology, which is a super-cool achievement.

To finish 2021, Kelly-Anne was working as a Product Development Intern in the Dairy Department at Goodman Fielder. It was an amazing chance to put some of her theoretical skills to practice.

Following her year of study in 2021 she was awarded the Academic Success Award, at the Lincoln University's Food

and Fibre Awards Dinner. She received the Top Student Award in the Bachelor of Science (Food Science) degree for 2021.

Having completed her Bachelor's degree in the middle of 2022, Kelly-Anne continued to study towards a Master of Science, although this summer she has taken a small break from her studies to work at The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, as a summer student where she has had some amazing support to develop her career, including the opportunity to present at the International Congress of Biological Invasion, in May this year.

Kelly-Anne looks forward to what this year brings for her career as she’ll be starting work towards her Masters’ thesis and working at the university as a mentor, tutor, and research associate.

Kelly-Anne is a past recipient of a Wairarapa Moana Future Leaders Scholarship which has financially assisted costs towards her studies.

Continuing the trend of recent months, rainfall, well above historical averages, has required the WMI

Farms to be extremely adaptive.

For the year-on-year period June to May the farms have received 100% of the long-term average annual rainfall, in the six months to the end of December.

The farming operations of grass silage harvesting required careful management to ensure that quality feed reserves were harvested under delayed timeframes. WMI silage contractors engaged this season were exceptional in the service they provided.

Our thanks to Ireland and Bluegrass contracting as they have gone above and beyond for the WMI Farms.

Waikato Regional Council visited all the WMI Farms in December at very short notice to inspect the effluent systems. All farms were compliant on inspection which

allowed the permitted activity status to continue with no remedial work needing to be undertaken. This is a fantastic result.

Milk production has continued to track well and during December the farms were able to achieve a 5% decline in production from the previous month of November. A 5% decline in milk production is an industry benchmark which is considered as high achieving. This result illustrates farm teams who are focused on delivering results which everybody can be proud of.

Can you help?

WIREMU TE WHAITI

The office is holding unclaimed dividends for Wiremu, and we are attempting to locate any descendants/rightful beneficiaries and would appreciate any information that may bring a successful result. This is the information we have found about Wiremu:

Wiremu’s parents were Henare Ngapuoterangi Te Whaiti and Te Rauhina Pita Mohi.

Wiremu was born on 11 May 1935 and died in Marton in June 2006.

Wiremu married Maramatanga Hine Ngairo and was understood to have had one son and one daughter.

It is believed Wiremu has a daughter named Amiria Rauhina Te Whaiti who may be living in Australia.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Call Amethyst on 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 or email: wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz

AGM 2023 ... change of date

The date of the 2023 New Zealand general election was announced in mid-January and will be held on Saturday 14th October.

With this in mind, Wairarapa Moana Incorporation has decided to move our AGM a week earlier than the date proposed at our 2022 AGM.

Mark the date in your diary...

Wairarapa Moana AGM

October 7th, 2023.

AGM information will be provided in the June Mailer.

WAIRARAPA MOANA MERCHANDISE

The office has the following merchandise available for purchase. To order, contact Amethyst at wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz or visit our website shop at www.wairarapamoana.org.nz/shop/

WAIRARAPA MOANA: THE LAKE AND ITS PEOPLE

The story of the North Island’s third largest lake complex from history to environmental problems.

T SHIRT

Colour: Charcoal

Sizes: S – 3XL

Price: $20.00

100% Micro Polyester

Keeps You Cool & Dry

Anti-Shrink, Anti-Fade Fabric

T SHIRT

Colour: Denim

Sizes: S – 3XL

Price: $20.00

100% Premium Cotton

Stretch & Shape Recovery

Long Lasting & Durable

POLO SHIRT

Colour: Cyan

Sizes: S – 3XL

Price: $28.00

100% Micro Polyester

Anti-Shrink, Anti-Fade Fabric Quick Drying

POLO SHIRT

Colour: Black

Sizes: S – 3XL

Price: $28.00

100% Cotton

SLEEVELESS VEST

Colour: Black

Sizes: S – 3XL

Price: $56.00

Nylon Ottoman Vest

CAPS and BEANIES

Colours: Black or Navy Blue (One size fits all)

Price: $12.00 each

Shareholder Bank Accounts

50 Unclaimed Dividends

If you are able to provide any information that can help us to make contact with these shareholders or their descendants, please contact the office on 06 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 or email wmoffice@wairarapamoana.org.nz

RIPEKA KAIWARAKIHI

IHIPERA WHANA WHANA

LUCY RIWAI

NGAHINA TE IHI

TE AORURU RANGITAUIRA

RAHERA TE IRIHINAHINA

PUINGA JURY

RUMATIKI KINGI

HINEARI WATSON

HENARE HARE

KOHITAU VADIERA WILLIAMS

LESLEY RAE ANDREWS

JAMES HIMONA ESTATE

TE KIRI PATITO HERANGI

TAURIPO KINGI

HURIA JEANETTE MILLER

If you are living in New Zealand, unpaid dividends will continue to be direct credited to your New Zealand bank account.

IRA RANGIPAI LOVE

DION CAROL MORRIS

RANGI KAKAPI THOMPSON

KAREN KINGI

IRAIPA HEHE

JANICE TUI ROSS

H. A. M. WHÀNAU TRUST

RONGOMAIPAPA TAIKATO

JOYCE OPIE

NINIWA KINGI

MAY AGNES FLUTEY

MANGA RENATA BROWN

HUIA HORIANA IHIPERA J HOLMES

KONI TAKU NUKU WHÀNAU TRUST

PAREKURA RANGIHAEA RICE

LEONARD TE HIKO TAMIHANA

Amethyst is available Monday to Thursday 9.00am to 2.30pm.

Do

WHÀNAU TRUST

EMILY LAURA OWEN

a story to share? What about a

RETA CARLSON

PAUL ROBERT LOVE

RANGI MCGREGOR

VIOLET DOREEN RUKA

ALAN PETER PARKINSON

GEORGE WHETU KARAITIANA

MARIANNA HINEKURA TIKAO

LEAH MANIHERA WARETINI

WIREMU TE WHAITI

PATRICIA RONGOMAITARA

HAYWARD

MAVIS ANN HUTANA

TAWHIWHI OTENE JNR

KALVARNE EDWARDS

PETER COWAN

RIPEKA VAIOULU

TAKA RIKI ESTATE

RANGIMARIE STAFFORD

Contact

us on 06 370 2608 or 0800 662 624 or info@wairarapamoana.org.nz

Contacting

Wairarapa Moana