KOE KOE Ā
Pou whakahere whakapapa Whakapapa: at the heart of what we do CELIA HIPPOLITE-HĀWEA – NGĀTI KOATA, NGĀTI KUIA, NGĀTI RAUKAWA, NGĀTI TOA, NGĀTI APA, NGĀTI WHAKAMANA, RANGITĀNE
Celia Hippolite-Hāwea was born and raised in
wall in my office and I requested to have the names
Celia’s connection to Wakatū tūpuna are to
of our tūpuna written on the wall. Their names and
Rīria Pakake through her mother’s whānau
stories are my inspiration. It’s important for me,
and Hohapata Te Kahupuka, Te Ratapu Hōani
and important for everyone that comes in here, to
Akitini and Wetekia Hōani Hukaroa through
see how they connect. I want people to know and
her father’s whānau. Leaving Whakatū as a
feel that they belong.
teenager, Celia then lived in Hamilton, Hawaii
My role is all about connection, communication
and Utah, USA. She is a mother of six, and has
and caring – I think of what I do as ‘heart work’.
many mokopuna. Her family has always had a
When I first started here, the role was much
strong focus on whakapapa, and her faith as a
more transactional, with the focus around the
member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
administration of share transfers and dividends.
Day Saints is an important part of her life. She is
While that is still an integral part of what I do, we
passionate about all things Māori, including te
now have a component of whakapapa and research,
reo Māori. In 2009 Celia returned to Whakatū
with a database of over 20,000 names from different
and joined Wakatū in the role of Owner Liaison.
families, including information from Māori Land
She believes she has ‘the best role at Wakatū
Court records and other whakapapa sources.
because she helps connect whānau with their
If anyone has photos of their tūpuna or other
history, whakapapa and shares’. Marking ten
information you would like to share with us, we’d
years in her role this year, Celia tells us why she
love to hear from you.
loves coming to work every day.
W
Over time we are building an amazing tūpuna resource, by collating whakapapa, court minutes,
hen I first came back to Whakatū in
land interests, newspaper clippings, civil record
2009 I wasn’t expecting to stay more
information and photos. In some cases, by looking
than a few months. I only intended to
at the Māori Land Court minutes from the late
be in Whakatū to write the breaches of the Crown
1800s, we can provide whānau with the actual words
as part of the Treaty claim of Ngāti Koata. While
spoken by their tūpuna, which is very powerful and
awaiting the Crown’s response to my report my
moving for them.
whānau told me about this role. Once I was in the
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I remember, when I started, I had a large blank
Whakatū around a large and supportive whānau.
What I love about my role and what the team
role I quickly realised how much I loved working
does is how we can help people see how they
here. Ten years later and that passion has only
connect to Wakatū and Te Tauihu. To see the light
grown and strengthened.
come on in people’s eyes when they realise how they
