KAITUNU KAI
KAITUNU KAI
Helen Carew NGĀTI KOATA, NGĀTI RĀRUA, TE ĀTIAWA, NGĀTI TAMA
If
you’ve been at the last couple of AGMs or SGMs you may have seen Helen Carew – she’ll have
been either out the front selling Wakatū t-shirts and books or in the kitchen as part of the hākari crew. Her whakapapa connection to Wakatū is through her mum Joan Rini, to one of the original Owners, Te Wera. A two-year course at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) Culinary Arts school followed by a business management course via Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has given Helen the skills and confidence to take her passion for kai one step further, and in 2019 she is launching her own catering company, 3Ts. The name comes from the first initial of each of her three adult children, Tamaira, Tyla and Tyrion. ‘I come from a big family, and sharing meals together is important to us. Our family meals are
Helen with her youngest, Sophia. (Photo: Kate MacPherson)
noisy and fun, and we always have delicious kai. ‘I’m inspired by using local and fresh
Sophia. ‘We are totally besotted with Sophia. And
ingredients. I’ve done a lot of cooking on the marae,
2019 is going to be an exciting and interesting year
and I like to have my own take on traditional dishes.
– having a young baby, putting more emphasis on
On the marae you are often cooking for big groups
my catering, as well as continuing to strengthen my
of people, and I love the challenge of cooking on a
links to the Wakatū whānau.
large scale while still keeping the food interesting.’
We enjoy being at Wakatū events like the AGM
In 2018, Helen was the kaitunu kai for two noho
where Sophia can meet her whānau whānui – all
organised by Wakatū, which focused on whakapapa. ‘It was such a privilege to provide the kai. It was
the aunties, uncles and cousins. I sing and speak to Sophia in te reo Māori, and I loved that she heard
good fun and really deepened my connection to
her first kapa haka in the wharekai at Te Āwhina
Wakatū. Being in the wharekai gives you such a
marae when she was just one month old.
sense of purpose – knowing that people appreciate the kai that you have prepared with love is an
I’m excited she is growing up surrounded by her whānau, her culture and a whole lot of aroha.’
awesome feeling.’ At the end of 2018, Helen and her husband Nick welcomed a new addition to their whānau, daughter
On the next page Helen shares with us her 3Ts seafood chowder.
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