Issuu

THE MAGAZINE FOR WAKATŪ

Issue #2 Ngāhuru 2020

Kōwhaiwhai Kōwhaiwhai are a traditional Māori artform, with patterns often inspired by nature. As well as being decorative, kōwhaiwhai help to tell a story. The kōwhaiwhai featured throughout the magazine is specific to Wakatū; designed by one of our Te Hunga Panuku, Te Waiho Paratene. There are three strands central to the design; the awa (rivers) that nurture the lands of Wakatū, the heke, the migration of our whānau and hapū from the North Island to Te Tauihu, and the journey of Wakatū since its incorporation in 1977. Each segment of the kōwhaiwhai represents the hapū of Wakatū who descend from the iwi of Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa. These segments symbolise chain links. Built from the strength of those who came before, the chain represents the strong links Wakatū has with its Owners, whānau, employees and business associates. It also represents the presence of Wakatū in Te Tauihu, Aotearoa, and the world, now and in the future.

Mārahau

RECONNECTING WITH THE WHENUA

and also: KAUPAPA TUPURANGA TŪPUNA LEGACY TOWARDS ZERO WASTE OUR WHĀNAU WHĀNUI

MIHI

E koakoa ana te ngākau, ko tēnei te tauira tuarua o Koekoeā. Anei anō te mihi ki a koutou, ngā uri o Te Tauihu, tēnā koutou katoa.

E rere rā tāku reo mihi ki ngā tai e whā o te motu whānui. Kei aku nui, kei aku rahi – tēnā koutou katoa.

Last year was an exciting one for Wakatū. We launched

Welcome to our second issue of Koekoeā. We are

a new business, Auora, and we took the lead on the Te

so proud to share the stories of Wakatū with you,

Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy, a new approach to

our whānau, as well as with the wider community.

regional development. We’re proud to be a part of this

As well as reading about the emerging Te Tauihu

exciting initiative that brings together diverse voices of

Intergenerational Strategy, in this issue you’ll also hear

people across Te Tauihu who are committed to building

from various people who are working on initiatives

a strong and resilient region.

across Wakatū, such as Renee Thomas and Matt

As we travelled around the rohe attending hui

Kelly, our kaitiaki at Mārahau, and Hōani Tākao, who

as part of our community outreach for this strategy,

is leading an initiative to create more employment

I observed a new sense of urgency to tackle the big

opportunities for our whānau within the horticulture

issues. At the same time, there was overwhelming

industry. There are also updates on our Whenua Ora

positivity about what we can achieve as a community

strategy that, over time, will transform our businesses

working together.

and how we do things.

In this issue, we take a closer look at the

We update you on our proceedings against the

intergenerational strategy and what it means for our

Crown following our 2017 Supreme Court win in

whānau, draw inspiration from our entrepreneurial

Proprietors of Wakatū & Others v Attorney-General;

tūpuna, Tāmati Pirimona Marino, and see that the

and share with you some beautiful creative writing,

future is in good hands with our future leaders, our Te

a poem ‘Ihumātao’ by Donna McLeod.

Hunga Panuku.

We hope you enjoy reading Koekoeā – and please share this magazine with whānau and friends.

Otirā, tēnā tātou katoa, Mauri ora, Pāora Te Poa Karoro Morgan Tiamana Wakatū Incorporation

Kerensa Johnston Tumu Whakarae, Wakatū Whānui Chief Executive, Wakatū Group

R Ā R A NG I T U H I NG A

Issue #2 Ngāhuru 2020

Mārahau, reconnecting with

the whenua Tūpuna Pono: Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy

Stepping into te ao Māori

Next steps: litigation update

Our tūpuna legacy: Tāmati

Pirimona Marino Trade talks

Kaimahi kōrero: Riki Kotua

Kaitunu kai: Blair Taylor

Tohutohu tao kai: apple tarte tatin

Tō mātou whare: Wilson whānau

Five minutes with Joe Hanita

Johannah Kātene-Burge,Wakatū intern

New whare for Wakatū

Advocating for a world without waste

Para Kore – reducing waste at events

Poipoia te kākano

Kaupapa Tupuranga

‘Ihumātao’ by Donna McLeod

Wātaka

KOE KOE Ā

Mārahau beach. Bottom right: looking on to Abel Tasman National Park.

Mārahau ‘O

W I T H T H E W H E N UA

n a good day, it’s beautiful here,’ says

dawn blessings at five in the morning, yes, I set an

Renee Thomas (Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama),

alarm.’

kaitiaki for Wakatū Incorporation on the

R E C ON N E C T I NG

This soil here, dark and friable, has been owned

whenua at Mārahau. ‘On a bad day, it’s pretty bad.

by the families of Wakatū for generations. The

The house shakes, and that’s not even the wind; it’s

whānau and hapū settled here at Mārahau in the

the sea hitting the sand. It’s very exposed.’ All the

early 1800s and have owned the land ever since.

same, at Mārahau she feels her senses returning.

Originally part of the wider papakāinga, the land

‘I’m more aware of my surroundings. Being so much

and foreshore area at Mārahau was reserved for

closer to nature allows you to be more open to

the benefit of the Māori customary owners as part

things, to what’s going on. I’ll pick up wind shifts

of the Nelson Tenths’ Estate in 1845. The land at

and know that rain’s coming. I go to bed when it’s

Mārahau was vested in Wakatū in 1977. It’s been

dark, wake up when it’s light. I don’t set an alarm –

managed by the Committee of Management (the

I rise naturally.’ Then she laughs: ‘Ok, when we have

Wakatū Board) on behalf of the Owners ever since.

M Ā R AH AU

‘I’m more aware of my surroundings. Being so much closer to nature allows you to be more open to things, to what’s going on.’ RENEE THOMAS

Whānau tents at Mārahau, December 2019

‘Our whānau and hapū lived here along the

there, on the high centre – root cellars for the crops

coast during the warmer months, and in the colder

they grew. The island microclimate was ideal, nice

months, they lived on the hills behind the Mārahau

and cool, and the kiore couldn’t get into the food

township. We collected kaimoana and other kai all

stores.’ If the gardening was good in those days, it

year around,’ says Rōpata Taylor, General Manager,

was about to get vastly better with the arrival of the

Manaaki. This place is in his blood. ‘My ancestor

European settlers, who became a lucrative market

Wi Parana, who was also known as Ngāmamaku,

for produce. ‘They would travel all the way into

lived here. He was from Te Ātiawa and was a

Nelson,’ says Rōpata, ‘landing at Mātangi Āwhio,

tōhunga.’ He married a Ngāti Rārua woman called

Auckland Point, and trade there with the New

Te Rangimatohe, thereby consolidating a critical

Zealand Company settlers.’

alliance. ‘The whānau here planted potatoes and kūmara,

‘We planted some trees the other week,’ says Renee, ‘and the soil was just unreal – lovely black

and their winter storehouse was out on Motu

soil – so you can see why, naturally, people would

Aorere-iti, or Fisherman’s Island. There are still pits

settle here, because you’ve got food on one side, and

KOE KOE Ā

Renee Thomas and Matt Kelly in their coffee cart at Mārahau.

more food on the other. And these natural vantage points where you can see who’s coming from any

whenua and the wider whānau and hapū every

direction.’

summer. ‘Last summer, we had a couple of families

The gardens are still here and the whenua still

that had never camped here before. You could see

calls families home. Renee, and her husband, Matt

the transition – at first, being anxious about not

Kelly, had done a few camping holidays here when

being able to hook into wi-fi and really missing

they decided to take on the role of kaitiaki. ‘I’m

that. Then by day three, they are so relaxed. You’d

a recovering accountant,’ she quips. ‘I sold my

see the kids out on their bikes or walking around

house, quit my job, and bought a coffee cart.’ It’s

the property, spending time together, with their

sitting beside the house where the couple now live,

cousins. It’s not just about reconnecting with the

caretakers to the 18 hectares of grounds. Matt is

whenua, it’s about reconnecting with each other, at

mowing lawns, and Renee’s wrangling bookings for

that whānau base. People can go out with their kids

Haumoana (that wind gets another mention), the

to collect kaimoana or go floundering at night – all

bach that is available for Wakatū whānau to rent for

those customary things that we do, and we used to

holidays.

do before iPads. Kids love that stuff.’

Mārahau has always offered sanctuary for the

Renee sees people reconnecting with their

Rōpata says Mārahau offers Wakatū Owners a

Wakatū whānau. It still does: it’s available for

chance to reconnect with their land after decades

Wakatū Owners to come and enjoy any time they

of alienation. For some, that bond will have to

like, either by way of camping or holidaying at

be re-learnt. Whole generations were estranged

Haumoana, and as far as Renee’s concerned, the

from Mārahau after it was placed in 1843 under

more, the merrier. ‘I love it most in summer when

the statutory management of Crown trustees, who

we have people here because it makes the place feel

leased it to a succession of settlers. ‘Most of our

alive. It’s just magical. You’ve got kids here, you’ve

lands in the Nelson region were under lease in the

got families here – our wider whānau all coming

period 1843–1977. The Owners couldn’t control or

together.’

influence the use of the land or the terms of the

M Ā R AH AU

leases – in almost all cases, the Owners could not access their own land. This was one of the main reasons why our grandparents fought so hard for the return of the management of their land, and the establishment of Wakatū in the 1970s. ‘It wasn’t until 1977 when Wakatū Incorporation was established and the control of our land was returned to the whānau that we could begin the process of opening up our lands to the whānau as

Last summer, we had a couple of families that had never camped here before. You could see the transition – at first, being anxious about not being able to hook into wi-fi and missing that. Then by day three, they are so relaxed. RENEE THOMAS

well as making our own decisions about what would happen on our land.’ Mārahau is part of the larger land estate that

commercial proposals were put forward, including

Wakatū owns across Nelson, which includes

a hotel to service the tourist industry, but Kerensa

commercial and residential developments as well

says the drive for development has given way to a

as its orchards and vineyards. After the Crown,

wish for protection and care of this special area.

Wakatū is one of the largest land owners in the

‘It’s important that our whānau have a place they

Nelson region. ‘Our intention at Mārahau is to

can go, and be on the land and water, and exercise

create a place where we can ensure that sense of

their customary practices. Many have lost that

direct connection to the whenua – this in turn

opportunity, because they’ve moved away from their

makes sure we maintain a sense of identity for

customary area and whenua. It’s really important

the whānau of Wakatū. A place where they can

that they have a place they can come and be

come and relax, but also gain a deeper insight and

together as whānau, especially for those who now

understanding of the way our ancestors lived on

live outside of Nelson.’

the land.’ ‘When it came back to us,’ says Wakatū CEO

Some people in the community assume the land is public property, because there is very little

Kerensa Johnston, ‘probably for the first 20 years

development on the land. ‘From time to time, we get

of our existence, there were lots of discussions

complaints from people who believe they have the

about that land; about how it might be developed,

right to roam over the land and beach area, which is

what might be appropriate.’ Over the years, various

privately owned by Wakatū,’ says Kerensa.

Tui Henry, Gwen Gordon, Jessica Sanderson, Naomi Āporo, Parana Taylor and Kerensa Johnston at Mārahau.

KOE KOE Ā

At present, along part of the road boundary, a single rope undulates through occasional posts, making the grounds look for all the world like a public park. So, a big part of Renee and Matt’s job is to explain that the land is private property and that there are good reasons why some areas of the beach are restricted. ‘We explain to people that the area is culturally sensitive, and that there have been kōiwi tangata exposed on the beach. Most people respect that, and they understand why in particular we don’t allow any vehicles or boats along the foreshore as they can cause damage and interfere with the planting programmes underway,’ explains Renee. The Mārahau boundary extends well out onto the tidal flats, so the kaitiaki spend their summers correcting common misperceptions about the Queen’s Chain. ‘People are always insisting that the beach belongs to everybody,’ says Renee, ‘but there are many areas of New Zealand’s foreshore that are in private ownership, including our land at Mārahau.’ But the shape of that foreshore and beach area is changing. A line of dying grass marks the intrusion of the latest king tide, each higher than the last, which is eroding the whenua. Much has been lost: the caretakers’ house was moved inland in 1992. Renee points to where it once stood, on what is now shellbanks under an incoming tide. Across the road, behind the line of water taxi and sea kayak outfits, machines are levelling the land, ready for up to 65 new houses. The subdivision is a Special Housing Area; affordable homes being built under Housing Accords signed between the government and the Tasman and Nelson councils in 2017. Mostly, the machines are digging up sand, and Wakatū has negotiated a win/win that might offer a solution to sea-level rise. Renee points out the heaped spoil from the subdivision that will become, she hopes, a new dune system. The plan is to heap the sand along the shoreline, sufficiently inland to give dune plantings time to establish and bind the defences before the tides reach them. ‘It’ll take time,’ says Rōpata, ‘and initially, we’ll still lose more land, but it’s a more natural thing to do. We’ll try to restore the ecology if we can. We need to create a different gradient Top: Planting at Mārahau by, from left to right: Colleen Carew, Nick Rangi, Helen Carew and Grace Walker. Above: a tarata (lemonwood) ready for planting. Photos: Naomi Āporo.

on the shoreline, so that when the tide comes in, the energy disperses naturally upslope. One of our

M Ā R AH AU

Drone photo of Marahau: Andrew Boyes, GNS Science.

Owners, Tuaiwa Rickard, is a coastal scientist, and

runs on gas and solar rather than mains electricity.

she’s been leading a project to look at how best to

At peak times, like Christmas, Wakatū suspends

proceed, and we have a hydrologist looking at water

the usual booking system and runs a lottery system

movement in the bay. Our response will be a mix of

instead due to the demand for the bach. ‘You put

customary knowledge, scientific expertise and our

your family name into the ballot system and Wakatū

own resources. I think it sits well with our values

randomly selects who can use the bach over the

base,’ he says.

busy Christmas and New Year period. The rest of

Plantings have already started elsewhere along

the time, you can book the bach via the website.’

the road, to create a more tangible boundary. And Renee wants future campers to enjoy a little more privacy, and shelter from that afternoon sea breeze, with ‘little glades of native species. We want to fence

STAYING AT MĀRAHAU

it as well, just to give a bit more privacy. People

Information about how Wakatū whānau can

generally don’t camp in the back paddocks, because

apply to stay at Mārahau is on the Wakatū

the whole world can see in when they’re walking

website at www.wakatu.org/whanau#marahau

past. If we can create a bit of privacy there, I think our families might use that area more.’ Those who do make the trip to camp must be

Applications to camp over the Christmas break must be received by 10 December each year.

willing to deal with facilities you might call basic:

Haumoana is available exclusively to

the toilet block is a converted shipping container

shareholders of Wakatū. To check availability

delivering to septic tanks. There’s no power, no

and to book go to www.holidaynelson.co.nz and

cooking facilities, and no showers. ‘You can always

search for Haumoana.

bring a caravan, but there’s nowhere to plug it in,

Requests to book Haumoana over the Christmas

that can be tough for some people, but it’s also one

break are automatically put into the ballot, and

of the beautiful things about Mārahau too – it is

the successful applicants are informed in early

definitely back to nature and living on the land.’

December.

Haumoana, the holiday bach, sleeps ten, and it

KOE KOE Ā

Tūpuna being good Pono ancestors Tūpuna pono, being good ancestors, is the vision at the heart of the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy, convened by Wakatū Incorporation alongside iwi, local government, central government, businesses and communities of Te Tauihu. Miriana Stephens, Wakatū Director and Programme Director for the strategy, reflects on the journey so far and shares her thoughts on the future of this exciting kaupapa.

since early 2018. At our annual Wakatū board planning meeting in Mōhua in 2018, we decided it was time to have a conversation with iwi, hapū, councils and the business community across Te Tauihu to look at a new approach to regional development, and to seek out innovative ways to engage with communities, while aligning with Te Pae Tawhiti, the 500-year intergenerational vision of Wakatū. We saw the strategy as being about leadership,

waka eke noa – we are in this waka

purpose, and ensuring we lay a better foundation

together. It is this fundamental belief that

through facilitating longer-term planning,

led our whānau to take on the challenge of bringing

connecting decision-making across the region and

together stakeholders across our rohe to develop

unlocking the potential in the communities for the

the Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy.

benefit of our people, our land and our future, from

The development of the strategy has been underway

Waikawa to Mōhua.

T E TAU I H U I N T E RG E N E R AT IONAL S T R AT E GY

Participants at the Te Tauihu Youth Summit.

region, including our Te Tauihu Talks series. Held

We are the people of Te Tauihu. Together, we care for the health and wellbeing of our people and our places. We will leave our taonga in a better state than when it was placed in our care, for our children and the generations to come.

in different locations across the region, this series

VISION STATEMENT FROM DRAFT STRATEGY

The formal process began in 2019 when the government announced its support for the kaupapa through the Provincial Growth Fund. A leadership group was formed, a programme of work for stage one was agreed and community engagement began. We ran over 25 community events across the

facilitated important discussions on topics such as sustainability, resilience, healthy communities, ambition and courageous leadership. While these events were well attended, we were also able to offer a live-stream option through social media

wine region. We also lead the way in the ocean

for others to participate in the conversation. It was

economy. We have high-value engineering and

encouraging to see many of our community who are

design in areas such as horticulture and viticulture,

not currently living in Te Tauihu being still able to

aviation, marine, forestry and wood processing. We

participate. These talks are available on our website

undertake a range of research, development and

at https://tetauihu.nz/talks as ongoing useful,

innovation, including hosting New Zealand’s largest

informative resources.

independent science and research centre, the

Te Tauihu is a special region in which to live and

Cawthron Institute. We also have the highest per

work, while the region attracts many visitors from

capita employment in these fields. We have much

around Aotearoa and the world. There are three

to celebrate, and we have a range of organisations

national parks, we have the scenic Marlborough

already working hard to both grow and protect our

Sounds, and over one-fifth of New Zealand’s

collective assets. Our environmental management

coastline, and we are New Zealand’s leading

is, broadly speaking, very good.

KOE KOE Ā

However, we are facing some strong challenges. While our natural resources have helped fuel our

feedback from communities across Te Tauihu, along

high-quality primary industries, this has placed

with input from our technical advisors formed the

stress on our environment, including water

draft strategy, released at the end of 2019.

quality and biodiversity. We also recognise the

One of the highlights of the journey so far has

importance of moving to a low-emissions society

been hearing from our young people who have

and economy. We have reduced productivity

shared with us their vision for Te Tauihu. While

and a high dependence on low-value jobs and

our young people are concerned about many of the

industries, compared to the New Zealand average.

same issues as those in our wider community, it was

This has contributed to an underlying inequality

particularly encouraging to hear such honest and

of outcomes across health, education and

compassionate dialogue, and their passion for the

incomes across our region. As in other regions,

importance of identity. Identity that must reflect

housing affordability is a key challenge, as is tired

culture, te reo Māori, history, kindness to humanity

infrastructure in some parts of our region that is

and the natural world.

not keeping up with changing demands. These are challenging issues. Early on in

In addition to the strategy itself, another positive result has been the seeds planted across Te Tauihu

the process, we brought in nationally and

through connection, conversation and the sharing

internationally recognised experts as a technical

of data and knowledge among communities. While

advisory group to focus and help us make sense of

it’s impossible to track or measure the impact of

the information being gathered, and to help form

these new relationships, it’s been hugely affirming

the overall strategy for the region. We recognise

to hear so many positive stories of connection and

that we don’t have all the answers and we are

collaboration emerging through our engagement

willing to seek advice and use best practice, locally

process.

Kiwa Kahukura-Denton opens the Te Tauihu Youth Summit.

and globally, to solve the issues we are facing. The

T E TAU I H U I N T E RG E N E R AT IONAL S T R AT E GY

Florence van Dyke, Te Puoho Kātene & Julie Fry discuss ambition at the Te Tauihu Talks held at Te Āwhina Marae.

Our people and our children cannot be what they cannot see. We need to tell stories to connect with them and enable their dreams to come through. If we achieve our ambitions and succeed for our people to see, they can aspire to the same lofty goals and in doing so we can all rise together. TE PUOHO KĀTENE

The Intergenerational Strategy is providing a blueprint for communities and agencies across Te Tauihu to work together to develop a healthy,

have already, and helps identify areas where we have gaps that need to be filled. The next stage of work will continue our

prosperous and safe future for all whānau of

community engagement and collaboration while

Te Tauihu.

working together to deliver on these identified

Another outcome of the strategy has been the

priorities:

development of our wellbeing framework, Oranga Te Tauihu. Wellbeing of both people and place is at the heart of the overall strategy, and the framework,

• Improved climate change and regenerative agriculture outcomes

thought to be the first of its kind in the country,

• Strengthening our regional economy

establishes intergenerational wellbeing outcomes,

• Regional identity (our stories, te reo Māori and

goals and indicators. To help us understand how

culture)

we’re currently tracking across the region and

• Working together to improve social equity

to measure future improvements, the framework

• Smart housing solutions

outlines what wellbeing indicators and measures we

• Leadership forum for ongoing collaboration

KOE KOE Ā

The journey to develop the draft strategy has

I have been in awe of the level of passion, talent and willingness to engage that has been shared across the region. From Wairau to Mōhua, people have come on board, and the intergenerational perspective that we live and breathe at Wakatū has resonated. MIRIANA STEPHENS

been difficult at times. It is a new way of working together. We have all learnt along the way, and we acknowledge that we can always do better, but we are proud of our achievement in bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders to have a conversation about the future of Te Tauihu and work to solve some of our most pressing challenges. This mahi requires us to live by ‘tūpuna pono’, and our commitment to be good ancestors will be ongoing. It’s been incredibly rewarding and inspiring to meet with people across Te Tauihu and celebrate what we do well, recognise what we could be doing better and address the ongoing challenges that exist within our communities such as inequality, housing and climate change. I have been in awe of the level of passion, talent and willingness to engage that has been shared across the region. From Wairau to Mōhua, people have come on board, and the intergenerational perspective that we live and breathe at Wakatū has resonated. While the strategy will be a valuable asset for our communities and local agencies, and it has the potential to guide us in the work we do, it also has a role in advocating and strengthening our position with central government. It’s important that our local people have a say in how government pūtea is spent in our communities. We are encouraged by the Provincial Growth Fund’s willingness to invest in this process. Engaging in this level of colloboration is never easy. I am proud of our whānau, of the team for their tireless work on this mahi, and of our regional leaders for investing their resources and energy into this kaupapa. The progress has affirmed our

Rangatahi discuss the big issues of the day at the Youth Summit.

collective passion for Te Tauihu and our desire to do better by doing better things. The Te Tauihu Intergenerational Strategy is strengthening the connections between our

It is exciting to see that the draft strategy is

decision makers and communities. It has incubated

beginning to be recognised nationally. This is

a new wave of leadership to tackle the big issues

an innovative model and a first for the country:

we face and sparked new conversations about

a strategy being led by a Māori organisation, with

what is possible. We have heard from people who

a long-term vision, supported by local businesses,

are not often heard, through these processes.

connecting strongly with community, and putting

And we have demonstrated that our region can

wellbeing at its centre. Wakatū is leading the way for

lead the way, illustrating what can be done through

the benefit of the whole region.

collective action.

T E TAU I H U I N T E RG E N E R AT IONAL S T R AT E GY

Above: Audience at the Nelson community hui. Right: Bill Gilbertson and Nelson City Councillor Rachel Sanson at the Nelson community hui.

As a community-led process, it is the intention that the strategy will be owned by the communities of Te Tauihu rather than any one stakeholder. Itâ€™s up to all of us to deliver on these priorities and enhance this beautiful place we call home. The next phase of work is for the leadership group to work through the feedback from the communities on the draft strategy. Then the final

The natural world has a voice, we just need to listen. When we see that, we will start to do things differently and that is the change that is required. ANEIKA YOUNG

version of the strategy will be delivered and we will embark on stage two of our mahi. We look forward to taking action and to the challenges ahead.

KOE KOE Ā

Maihi Barber (Ngāpuhi) welcomes manuhiri at a pōwhiri at Te Āwhina marae.

rancis Tīpene, one of the funeral directors on the New Zealand television series ‘The Casketeers’ was in a recent interview on

Radio New Zealand to discuss his new book, Life as a Casketeer. He said that most Māori families in Aotearoa, in fact perhaps as many as 99 per cent, prefer an open casket for the tangihanga of their loved ones. This came as a surprise to interviewer Kim Hill, who had led into this conversation by sharing her own fact, that perhaps as few as 5 per cent of

Stepping into te ao Māori KER EN SA JOHN STON

families choose an open casket when organising the funeral of a family member. That statistic was given,

At Waitangi this year, there was an acknowledgement

as so many statistics are in the New Zealand media,

of this, with politicians and commentators saying

as though it holds true for all New Zealanders – as if

that for too long Māori have had to step into the

the majority sets the bar for the rest of us.

Pākehā world. We’ve had no choice about this

As I listened to the interview and nodded in agreement at what Francis and his wife Kaiora

on every aspect of our lives. We understand the

talked about – everything from the importance of

rules of engagement, the values and principles that

tikanga in the tangihanga process to the value of

underpin te ao Pākehā because it has been part of

including children in our rituals and the grieving

us for so long. The call at Waitangi this year was

process – it struck me that those of us who live and

that it is time for Pākehā to learn about te ao Māori,

work in the Māori world tend to take this knowledge

the Māori world.

for granted. Yet, many Pākehā in our country have

because of the pervasive impact of colonisation

When I was growing up in the 1980s and

little, if any, knowledge about our tikanga, our

1990s, most of the Pākehā I came across, outside

beliefs and practices; in essence, they have no idea

of my immediate family, had no interest in or

who we are or why we do the things we do.

understanding of te ao Māori. If something was

S T E P P I NG I N TO T E AO M ĀOR I

happening in te ao Māori, if they thought about

In the last 10 years, there has been a growing

it at all, it happened on the periphery; it had no

understanding that the wellbeing of our country

relevance to their daily lives. Growing up in the

depends on the strength of our relationships with

heart of Ngāti Awa and Tuhoe country, I was caught

each other. When these are strong, we can better

off guard when a Pākehā friend, born and raised

manage other relationships as others come here in

in Whakatāne, asked me for the name of the local

the future.

iwi. It seemed a basic fact to me but it had passed

At the heart of this relationship is Te Tiriti

her by completely. What saved me that year, my

o Waitangi, debated over and signed by over

last year at secondary school, was a traditional,

500 rangatira on behalf of their hapū. It is the

Pākehā history teacher. A man ahead of his time,

authoritative text according to international law

he refused to teach Elizabethan history to students

and, in particular, the rule of contra preferendum,

in Aotearoa. Instead, he prescribed texts such

which holds that a treaty must be interpreted in

as Claudia Orange’s The Treaty of Waitangi and

favour of the indigenous signatories.

made us watch films about issues such as the 1981 Springbok Tour. And yet, times are changing, and they are changing for the better. More tourists and immigrants coming to

It’s our responsibility as New Zealanders, regardless of our cultural background and identity, to engage with Te Tiriti in order to understand its significance and the role it plays in underpinning our constitutional foundations. Those foundations

Aotearoa learn te reo Māori, spend time on our

are not nearly strong enough yet. This is largely

marae and in our communities and make active

because the Crown has still failed to grapple with

attempts to learn and be part of Māori life.

genuine Tiriti-driven reform of our legal, political

Although many Pākehā I have met have never

and economic structures in a way that places Māori

been to the marae in their hometown or have

and Pākehā power sharing and decision making at

only a cursory knowledge of the iwi and hapū in

the heart of that reform.

their region, more Pākehā are appreciating that

All over the Western world, communities are

their identity as New Zealanders, their sense of

struggling with the current political and economic

humour, kindness, generosity and practicality

order. It has led to the climate crisis, poor

owes something to their relationship with Māori.

physical and mental health, poverty, and growing

That those same characteristics and values are

economic inequality and instability, particularly

deeply embedded in te ao Māori.

for indigenous communities. Here in Aotearoa we

We share a similar but, in some important respects, different relationship to our whenua

have an answer: a political and economic system founded on principles such as rangatiratanga,

and water, for example, including our fiercely held belief that it must be looked after for generations of mokopuna to come. In many ways, Māori and Pākehā are different sides of the same coin. Pākehā identity derives from the recognition of Māori identity, which in turn requires a recognition of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the constitutional blueprint it established, which enables Māori and Pākehā to live peacefully here in partnership. If you are a Pākehā, describing yourself as ‘Pākehā’ instead of a ‘Kiwi’ or worse, a ‘European’ is a political and wholly positive act because it affirms the existence and authority of Māori as the indigenous people of our country and the importance of Te Tiriti and the bicultural relationship.

Pōwhiri at Te Āwhina Marae.

KOE KOE Ā

manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga, and a tikanga-led

context of the prison reform and Māori land reform

approach to the management and oversight of our

underway, this is probably fair. But, there is a long

communities, whenua, water and other taonga.

list of matters that are indicators of a poor Treaty

At the celebrations at Waitangi this year, Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party,

At the time of writing, a resolution for the

reminded us that ‘Te Tiriti is the founding

whānau at Ihumātao seems close. Yet, the problems

document for New Zealand’, a statement which

with Oranga Tamariki reflect the deep institutional

places a Māori understanding of Te Tiriti front and

racism that still exists to a greater or lesser extent

centre. In stark contrast, the leader of the National

across all government institutions in New Zealand.

Party, Simon Bridges, reiterated that, according to

A real change to organisational culture across

the National Party view of the world, ‘. . . there may

government entities is needed to address this deep

be a time when the Waitangi Tribunal becomes

and age-old problem, and the ministers and senior

redundant’; and with respect to Māori claims to

officials across their organisations must lead this.

rangatiratanga over taonga such as water, ‘we are

For Māori throughout the country, issues such

not going to have a situation where Māori or iwi

as poverty, the health of our waterways, the use and

own the water’. So, in other words, notions of

allocation of water, inequity in health treatment

co-governance, genuine partnership models and

and outcomes, inadequate or lack of housing and

shared sovereignty as envisioned by Te Tiriti will

unacceptable outcomes in education (all of which

not be entertained by them.

speaks to institutional racism) are front of mind

In the conversations that followed on Waitangi

and will be important concerns in this election.

Day 2020, we were reminded that 2019 began with

These are issues which are symptoms of the bigger

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promising a year

problem – that is, the need to engage with Te Tiriti

of delivery – presumably for Māori as well as all

and ensure that our constitutional foundations

New Zealanders. Minister Kelvin Davis reinforced

fully reflect its meaning. From there we can start to

this in his Waitangi kōrero: ‘This government

build a political and economic system which better

takes seriously its obligation to Māori . . . and [it] is

reflects the values, principles and practices of te ao

working in a real Treaty-based way.’ Really? In the

Māori and te ao Pākehā.

Wero by Kopohau Matiu-Wherepapa at Te Āwhina Marae.

relationship, which need to be addressed.

L I T IG AT ION U P DAT E

Next steps: litigation update

February 2017, the Supreme Court of New

Crown-held land in the Nelson area until our

Zealand delivered a ground-breaking

proceedings are resolved. The attorney-general has,

decision in the case of Proprietors of Wakatū &

so far, refused to make this declaration. As a result,

Others v Attorney-General, determining that the

we will be in the Wellington High Court in April

Crown owes a fiduciary duty to our families, the

2020, arguing that the attorney-general should

Māori customary owners of the Nelson Tenths’

exercise his powers to prevent any further land loss

lands and occupation lands in Whakatū, Tasman

in our region so that there is enough Crown land

and Mōhua, to reserve and protect 15,100 acres of

left to enable the Crown to meet its obligations as

Tenths’ land, as well as our papakāinga, cultivation

the trustee to the owners of the Nelson Tenths’.

and wāhi tapu lands. Over the past three years, our team has been

In other words, we want to ensure that there is land left in our rohe, so the Crown can return that

busy working with the Crown to resolve these

land which ought to have been included in the trust

proceedings. The proceedings are led by our

to the owners of the Tenths’.

kaumātua, Rore Stafford, on behalf of all of the

This will resolve the Crown’s breach of trust

owners of the Tenths’ Reserves. The owners include

against the owners of the Tenths’, which led to a

those families who make up the shareholders

significant shortfall with respect to the amount of

of Wakatū today and descend from the original

land that was reserved for the owners – well short

owners of the Nelson Tenths’ identified by the

of the 15,100 acres guaranteed by the Crown grant

Native Land Court in 1892, as well as all other

in 1845.

descendants of the original Māori land owners as identified by the Court. A great deal of research has now been completed to identify the land for return. At the same time, we have taken further legal proceedings against the Crown to stop it from selling any more land in the Nelson region before it has resolved these

HIGH COURT HEARING

proceedings. The Crown has tried to sell or alienate

Please come along to the High Court hearing in

several blocks of land in Nelson during these last

April to learn more about the case. All Wakatū

three years, and as a result, we have filed caveats

whānau are very welcome to attend. The details

against land held by the Crown to stop any further

for the court hearing are:

land losses. We do not believe, in principle, that the Crown is the rightful owner of this land. It is land that should have been part of the Tenths’ Trust – and on that basis it is Trust property, which belongs to our whānau, the beneficiaries of the Trust, rather than the Crown. Following the Supreme Court decision in 2017, the Crown is not free to deal with the land it holds within the Nelson region as it sees fit. We have also asked the attorney-general to make a declaration preventing the sale of any further

Monday 20 April–Thursday 23 April, 10 a.m., Wellington High Court, 2 Molesworth Street, Wellington. Nau mai, haere mai. All are welcome to attend. The case is led by our kaumātua, Rore Stafford, with the working committee and legal team in support. Please contact Kerensa Johnston, Wakatū CEO, hono@wakatu.org if you have any questions or would like further information.

KOE KOE Ā

OUR TŪPUNA LEGACY

Tāmati Pirimona Marino Ngāti Tama, Ngāti Rārua, Te Āti Awa, Kaitangata

Gottfried Lindauer: Tāmati Pirimona Marino [oil on canvas] Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. gift of Mr H E Partridge, 1915 (1915/2/37) http://www.lindaueronline.co.nz/maori-portraits/ tamati-pirimona-marino.

WORDS : X

small urupā on the side of a hill near the settlement of Aorere (Collingwood) is the final resting place of rangatira

Tāmati Pirimona Marino, chief for an extended whānau community at Aorere. Leader, humanitarian, trader, entrepreneur, mariner and politician, Tāmati Pirimona Marino lived in a time of great change in Aotearoa. He had considerable mana and influence and was held in high regard in both te ao Māori and in early colonial society. Tāmati Pirimona Marino was important to us in terms of his leadership, and in many ways he is a role model for us. Along with his father and two brothers, Tāmati Marino is named as one of the orginal owners of the Nelson Tenths’.

Lindauer exhibition promotion, Nationalgalerie, Berlin

OU R T Ū P U NA L E G ACY

[Coates, Isaac], 1808-1878 :Erino, Massacre Bay. [1843?]. part of Coates, Isaac, 1808-1878. Coates, Isaac, 1808-1878 :Erino, Massacre Bay. [1843?].. Ref: A-114-052. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23035550.

He led the Kaitangata people at Aorere. As a

akin to a kawe mate, the ritual where the whānau

kinship group, Kaitangata trace their name from a

of someone who has died takes an image of that

pā site, Kaitangata, at what today is known as Ngāti

person to another place that has a significant

Mutunga, in northern Taranaki.

connection to them. Taking the portraits of such

A number of images of Tāmati Marino exist,

an illustrious group of tūpuna to Lindauer’s home

depicting him at different stages of his life. His

town was emotional and meaningful, Rōpata recalls.

portait was posthumously painted by celebrated

Tāmati Pirimona Marino led a busy life. He co-

colonial artist Gottfried Lindauer and this portrait

owned a large schooner, the Erena, named after his

is now part of the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o

first wife, Erena Te Kehu. The Erena was the first

Tāmaki Lindauer Collection. In this portrait he is

Māori-owned vessel officially registered in Nelson,

wearing a valuable cloak of woven muka (flax fibre)

and Marino used it to trade and ship goods and

and kurī (dog skin). It’s a striking portrait of our

carry passengers around Te Tauihu and across to

tūpuna.

the North Island. As a trader and entrepreneur in

In 2014, Rōpata Taylor, General Manager Manaaki, was part of a group from Aotearoa who accompanied a selection of Lindauer portraits,

the mid-1800s, he travelled up and down the Abel Tasman National Park coastline. He was also a civil rights activist. In 1847,

including the one of Tāmati Pirimona Marino, to

Tāmati Marino took the first legal case of a civil

a series of exhibition sites in Europe. One of the

nature between a Māori and a European when

locations was Západočeská galerie (Gallery of West

he took his European business partner, Samuel

Bohemia) in Pilsen, Lindauer’s birthplace. From

Strong, to court for what was basically a breach

a cultural perspective, the exhibition series was

of contract. Strong was paying Māori workers less

KOE KOE Ā

Grave of Tāmati Pirimona Marino at Aorere urupā.

money than the European workers doing the same

such as Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy. In

work. The court found for Marino, awarding him

these records, he is known by a number of different

£27. Such a demonstration of equity, equality,

names, including Te Pua, Te Pua Ringahuri, Takina,

human rights and race relations is very important

Te Wetu, Tāmati Freeman, Thomas Freeman, Arino,

and shows qualities of leadership that still

Erino, Irino and Rino.

resonate today. As a humanitarian, he provided support, food and refuge for people living in destitution during

Tāmati Marino and the impact and influence he

the gold fever in Mōhua in the late 1850s, actively

had on the history of Te Tauihu. Today, Tāmati

petitioning the government to support basic human

Marino is represented in carvings at both Whakatū

rights for those living in poverty. The gold rush also

and Onetāhua marae. The Wakatū subdivision

sparked an intense interest in land, and Tāmati

of Waimeha has Marino Street, and the Marino

Marino was active in trying to protect the land

mountain range, which includes Mt Owen, are other

interests of Māori.

ways he is remembered.

In 1847 his reputation for integrity and fair

Marino died in 1877, aged around 80 years. With

dealing saw him achieve another important

no direct living descendants, his interests came to

milestone when he was appointed as one of the first

three first cousins of Ngāti Tama and Ngāti Rārua

Native Assessors to settle disputes between Māori

descent. Those whānau are part of Wakatū today.

and settlers. He continued this role into the 1860s,

Their direct ancestors were his first cousins and

helping diffuse issues in Buller, on the West Coast.

were living in Te Tauihu at the time of his death,

Because of his mana and influence, he is

Hilary and John Mitchell’s volumes Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka also include many stories about

and were among the first wave of people on the

mentioned frequently in the diaries and records

Heke. Those vital whakapapa connections are woven

of colonial settlers, explorers and administrators,

through the generations of Wakatū today.

T R A DE TA L K S

TRADE TALKS

from the 21 APEC member economies, it is a fascinating rōpū. I gave three presentations: on the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and our multilateral trading system, the role of indigenous business in our economies, and mega-trend effects on food and agribusiness. I was proud to include Kono in my presentations and to be able to talk about what makes us special. So what did I get out of the meeting? 1. The Asia-Pacific business community is worried about the stability of the trading system: that we are focused on strengthening the WTO and pressing on with regional economic integration. Business and communities do best with open, predictable, dynamic markets, not protectionism and volatility.

Craig Heraghty and Rachel Taulelei at ABAC 2020, Sydney, Australia.

2. Sustainability and especially climate change is a huge focus and there were challenging discussions on energy, food, and environmental, social, and governance business practices.

Business wants to be part of the solution, not the end of 2019, Prime Minister Jacinda

seen as the problem. Businesspeople have a

Arden announced the appointment of Kono

real role to play here. I also asked the necessary

CEO Rachel Taulelei to the Asia Pacific Economic

question, are we being good ancestors?

Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council (ABAC). The main mandate of this council is to

3. Shared prosperity and inclusion are more

advise leaders and other APEC officials on issues of

than just abstract concepts – there was a lot of

interest to business.

discussion about how to empower women and

Exporting and trade are a big focus for Kono, as

encourage small and medium-sized enterprises.

well as for the New Zealand economy as a whole.

It will still be a journey to get indigenous issues

APEC is a significant trade and economic forum.

where they belong, front and centre, but the week

It represents 21 economies around the Asia-Pacific

was a positive start. Reducing barriers, building

region, including Chile, China, Papua New Guinea

capacity, unlocking digital potential and

and Philippines; it represents 71 per cent of New

changing mindsets will all make a difference.

Zealand’s two-way trade, 80 per cent of our direct investment, and 8 of our top 10 markets. New

4. There is a strong sense of purpose from around

Zealand has free-trade agreements with 18 out of 20

the region on the key role that the business

of the APEC economies.

community can play in helping shape a

Rachel Taulelei reflects on the insights she has gained from her first ABAC meeting. As appointees on ABAC, we represent the

prosperous, inclusive and sustainable AsiaPacific over the coming decade. We are committed to improving equity and inclusion

interests of the New Zealand business community.

for the wellbeing of all. World events such as

The aim is to raise the profile of issues important to

the coronavirus epidemic show us how quickly

the Asia-Pacific region, but specifically to Aotearoa.

international trade can be disrupted, and how

In early February, I co-chaired the first ABAC

reliant we are on the flow of goods, both into

meeting of the year in Sydney. With representatives

and out of the country.

KOE KOE Ā

KAIMAHI KŌRERO

Riki Kotua NGĀTI KOATA

Riki Kotua and Leanne White-Havercamp at Wakatū kaimahi wānanga.

K A I M A H I KŌR E RO

have always wanted to work at Wakatū and I feel extremely lucky to be working for the

organisation as legal counsel. My whānau are Owners of Wakatū and our links to Wakatū are through Ngāti Koata and in particular our tūpuna, Renata Te Ohiohi. My great-uncle Kahu Kotua helped establish Wakatū and was the inaugural chair. Our whānau is immensely proud of Uncle Kahu and his achievements, and I think he would be happy to know that we are keeping the connection

With the various strands of litigation stemming from the Wakatū Supreme Court decision, it feels a real privilege to be involved in such important work and I feel very lucky to be among and learn from such talented and amazing colleagues. RIKI KOTUA

alive. Uncle Kahu and his wife Aunty Morrie were the first people that my parents took me to see after I was born. Unfortunately, Uncle Kahu passed away when I was two, so I don’t have any direct memories of him. I know my father was particularly close to Uncle Kahu, who helped raise him and his siblings after my grandfather passed away quite young. I was

and issues. I also worked in the corporate and

very lucky to recently sit with Sir Tīpene O’Regan

commercial team, and the banking and finance

as he recounted his impressions of Uncle Kahu

team at Bell Gully. These roles provided me with

and how they had worked together to establish the

broad legal experience working for a range of clients

various Māori incorporations.

both in Aotearoa and overseas. I worked in-house

My nana was really proud when I told her I had

at GlaxoSmithKline and Intel Corporation in

a job at Wakatū. I remember we weren’t sure she

London, working predominately on large mergers

was going to make it to my mihi whakatau, as she

and acquisitions and banking-related matters.

was living on the other side of the Takaka Hill at

Working at Intel provided interesting insights into

the time, but she wasn’t missing it. It was priceless

technological developments around the world, such

to see her fly around the corner of the carpark to

as investment in 5G and driverless transport.

Wakatū House, tooting her horn to announce her

My role as legal counsel at Wakatū is extremely

arrival. At 88 years old, there she was with a big

varied as I work across the Wakatū and Kono

smile, and dressed immaculately. This memory will

businesses on a range of different matters. This

always be very special to me, given that she passed

includes marine farm, employment, confidentiality

away later that year. It was also lovely to have my

and kiwifruit and apples supply agreements. I

partner Mel and my whānau attend.

look after intellectual property matters and other

I wanted to be a lawyer from a young age.

projects as required, for example, with the Auora

I studied law at Otago University and was

team on the Indigenous Organisms project. This

particularly interested in Māori land law and the

has meant a lot of learning and quickly getting

rights of indigenous peoples. I wrote my honours

up to speed with areas of law I am less familiar

dissertation on the removal of Māori rights under

with, which has been a bit daunting, but also really

the then-Labour Government’s Foreshore and

fulfilling. It was humbling and rewarding to recently

Seabed Bill, in response to the Court of Appeal’s

gather all of the great work that Kono does into

(now Supreme Court’s) Ngāti Apa decision.

the applications for the New Zealand International

Interestingly, I had originally planned to write my

Business Awards 2019. We were finalists in five

dissertation on the Crown’s fiduciary duty to Māori,

categories and winner of the awards for Inspiring

but someone else had written on that topic the

Preference for New Zealand and He kai kei aku

previous year.

ringa for Māori Excellence in Export.

I began my legal career in the Māori legal

With the various strands of litigation stemming

services team at Kensington Swan in Wellington,

from the Wakatū Supreme Court decision, it feels a

working on a range of Treaty of Waitangi claims

real privilege to be involved in such important work

KOE KOE Ā

Since reaching out to Wakatū, I have truly felt the whanaungatanga and manaakitanga, which is a testament to how the Incorporation ‘walks the talk’. RIKI KOTUA

Archie Harris, district officer of the Māori Trustee’s Christchurch office, handing over the deeds of Māori reserved lands to Kahu Kotua, Wakatū Inc’s inaugural chair, 17 December, 1977. Nelson Provincial Museum, Geoffrey C Wood Collection: GCW3.4115_fr20.

and I feel very lucky to be among and learn from

try and make it over to Wharariki beach in Mōhua

such talented and amazing colleagues.

or Whangarae in Marlborough where our whānau

I feel more passionate and invested working for Wakatū than other places in which I’ve worked. It is

in sport, but I ruptured my Achilles tendon playing

special to know that you are also working for your

basketball a few months after starting at Wakatū

whānau and community, but at Wakatū I also feel

(which seems to be a bit of a rite of passage at

like I have been reconnected to my wider whānau

Wakatū and Kono).

and Māori culture. I was born in Nelson and went

When we moved back to Nelson, Mel and I had

to college here, but I spent my childhood growing

big plans to run the Abel Tasman, Heaphy and other

up in Australia, so there was a disconnection from

tracks, however, due to my injury, we have taken

my culture. It is great to have the opportunities

up mountain biking instead and now spend a lot

at Wakatū to learn te reo Māori and reconnect

of time in the mountain bike parks and on tracks

to my culture, people and place, such as the staff

in the region. We recently biked part of the Queen

wānanga, and to listen and learn from kaumātua,

Charlotte Track, which was stunningly beautiful.

including Uncle Rore Stafford. Since reaching out

We also enjoy our food, so when we’re not

to Wakatū, I have truly felt the whanaungatanga

cooking a big feed at home we like to try what’s on

and manaakitanga, which is a testament to how the

offer at the restaurants and cafés around Whakatū.

Incorporation ‘walks the talk’.

I am also interested in politics and social justice

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with

have land. I’ve always been very active and involved

issues and as much as possible try to keep up to

whānau and friends and being in the sun and

date on current events in Aotearoa and around

outdoors around Te Tauihu. Whenever possible we

the world.

KAITUNU KAI

Blair Taylor NGĀTI RĀRUA, TE ĀTIAWA, NGĀTI TAMA, NGĀTI KOATA

you have been on a Wakatū wānanga in the past few years, chances are your kai was prepared

by Blair Taylor. At a Wakatū hākari, not only would he have been in the kitchen, but Blair has designed and made wooden signs for the tables as well. When he is not organising the kai and logistics for wānanga, Blair’s role at Wakatū is working with the tūpuna archive. While the two roles may seem quite different, Blair sees the similarities. ‘Both involve creativity, problem solving and manaakitanga. Our value of hihiritanga, doing things better, doing better things, is another value that resonates with me – I’m always looking at how something is made or done and whether I can improve on it. ‘I feel blessed to work for Wakatū as it connects me to my wider whānau. It is such a privilege to help people find their connections, too. Being part of Wakatū, I can see the legacy that we are building for the next generations. That includes my son Parana, who already is thinking about what his involvement in Wakatū may be in the future.’ Blair says he feels lucky he’s worked in a variety

At work and at home, Blair says he’s immersed in te ao Māori, but his grandmother on his mother’s side was French. ‘I love to celebrate and recognise

of different roles across Wakatū, including three

this side of my heritage. I haven’t travelled to France

vintages at the winery. And back when Wakatū

yet but when I do, I’m looking forward to trying the

had a tourism and kayak business, he was a kayak

classic apple tarte tatin, from its original region

guide, which is when he really started to get into his

of the Loire Valley. Until then I’m happy to share

cooking. ‘I believe that cooking is a way to share and

my version of the French upside-down apple tart.

celebrate culture and heritage,’ he explains.

It’s great any time of the year, but particularly in

‘What we serve at our hākari is always evolving and is influenced by other cultures. For example,

autumn. Serve it with freshly whipped cream and French vanilla ice cream.’

alongside traditional kai like kōura and tītī, we now have raw fish, marinated Pacific-style with coconut

On the next page Blair shares his tarte tatin

milk and lime.’

recipe with us.

KOE KOE Ä€

TOH U TOH U TAO K AI

TOHU TOHU TAO K A I

Apple tarte tatin S ERV ES : FOU R TO F I VE P REPARAT ION TI M E: 10 MI NUTES COOKING T IME: A ROUND 20 MI NUTES

Ingredients puff pastry, rolled flat (you can use store-bought pastry or make your own) 1.5 kg apples 3 tbsp water half a cup of sugar

200 mls cream 2 vanilla pods de-seeded (set aside) 3 tsp icing sugar French vanilla ice cream, for serving

3 tbsp unsalted butter Method Using a 23 cm flat-sided cake pan as a template, cut

This will take around 5–7 minutes. Add the

a circle out of the puff pastry. Poke holes all over the

butter, stirring constantly until the colour is a

pastry with a fork to provide ventilation. Set aside.

creamy light brown.

Peel and quarter the apples. Remove the cores. Preheat oven to 190°C. In a large saucepan over medium heat,

Add the apples, stirring until they are coated in a thick layer of caramel. Cook for about 15–20 minutes, moving the apples around constantly

heat the water and sugar, cooking it until light

so that they bathe in the caramel. Remove from

amber in colour, and stirring to melt any lumps.

the heat when the caramel has reduced and little remains in the bottom of the pan. Be careful not to burn the caramel, and check it does not taste bitter. Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles on the bottom of the cake pan. Press the apples tightly against each other, then pour any remaining caramel over the top. Lay the circle of pastry on top. Tuck the pastry down the sides of the dish. Bake for 45–50 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and firm. Cool for about 1 hour, then invert onto a plate. Add vanilla and sugar to the cream and beat until thick. Slice and serve with vanilla ice cream. Garnish with the vanilla pods. Bon appétit. Blair’s tip: Set aside your vanilla pods and put them in your sugar bowl to make an infusion of vanilla sugar.

KOE KOE Ā

Joanie Wilson, her husband Josh, daughter Bella (14), son Elias (11), her mum Joan Carew along with Joan’s brother Keepa (not pictured) and their dog Nugget, live in Bishopdale, Whakatū. Joanie’s whakakapa connection to Wakatū is through Renata Ohiohi, Ngāti Koata. Joanie is a strategic adviser Māori at the Ministry of Education and is chair of the Ngāti Koata Trust. She has been on the Wakatū outdoor wānanga ahi kaa as well as the whakapapa wānanga, Te Rākau Pakiaka. Her daughter Bella has participated in taiohi wānanga.

TŌ MĀTOU WHARE WILSON WHĀNAU

e’ve been in this house just over a year. We chose this spot because of

the amazing views out to the ngahere and

keeps us busy. We’ve got a big, steep

the moana. It was always part of the plan

section, which makes for an interesting

having Mum and Keepa live with us here,

challenge.

so we designed the house with them in

What is most rewarding is that our kids

mind – in fact, Mum’s room is the biggest

see us sowing the seeds of hard work and

in the house! Our lives are busy, so having

they, too, have contributed to both the

a modern home with space for everyone

hard work and our success.

and everything makes life easier. The

Mehemea ka moemoeā ahau, ko ahau

contemporary design has encouraged me

anake, mehemea ka moemoeā tātou,

to keep it simple – I’ve decluttered twice

ka taea tātou.

since we’ve been here. Three of my sisters

If I dream, it is just for me; if we all

live in Whakatū so this house is perfect for

dream, we can do it together; great things

hosting whānau get-togethers. Whānau is

are possible.

everything to me.

And while the house might make things easier for us, the garden and landscaping

TŌ M ĀTOU W H A R E

KOE KOE Ā

FIVE MINUTES WITH...

Joe Hanita NGĀTI KOATA

Te Amonuku, our associate director and manager programme, is an important part of our succession planning for the future of Wakatū. Each year we bring on board new associate directors and managers for a two-year programme where they gain experience in the governance and management of Wakatū. Associate directors spend the first year on one of the Whenua, Kono, Auora or Manaaki boards, and the second year on the Wakatū Board. Previous associate directors include current board members Miriana Stephens, Johnny McGregor and Jeremy Banks, as well as Wakatū CEO Kerensa Johnston and Kono CEO Rachel Taulelei. We spent five minutes with Joe Hanita, our latest associate director, and asked him some quick-fire questions.

What is your connection to Wakatū?

Where else have you lived and worked?

My parents are John Hanita and Brigette Witinitara.

As my career has developed, I have also moved

I am the eldest of five boys, and I have two older

around the North Island. My first accounting role

whāngai sisters. My connection to Wakatū is

was based in Ōtorohanga. I then moved into the

through my dad, and his great-grandfather,

health and education sector, including a stint as

Hakaraia Hēmi. I was born in Masterton, Wairarapa.

director–finance for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa in

My dad was a pig and dairy farmer, and during

Te Awamutu. My role as Māori sector lead/associate

my childhood we moved around provincial North

director for KPMG took me to Tāmaki Makaurau.

Island because of his work. What qualifications do you have?' Where do you live now and what do you do?

I’ve got a Bachelor of Business from Wintec,

I live in Inglewood with my partner, James, and

Hamilton. I’m an internationally qualified

I commute to work in New Plymouth, under the

chartered accountant and a member of the

watchful presence of Taranaki Mounga. For the

Institute of Directors.

last two and half years, I have had the privilege of being the chief financial officer for Parininihi ki

What do you do outside of mahi?

Waitotara Incorporation (PKW). We have around

Three main things keep me busy:

10,000 shareholders. I oversee the PKW Group

Whānau, making sure we stay in contact, finding

financial affairs, as well as strategy and developing

time to create new memories, and reminding me to

and implementing our long-term outcomes. I also

stay grounded. Travel, experiencing new adventures,

have oversight across our various investments such

taking time to rest and reflect, and being in the

as forestry, horticulture, rural and commercial

moment. Governance roles, ensuring that I share

property, dairy and drystock farming, kōura, and

what I know with others, so we can all learn, grow

tourism. Similar to Wakatū, PKW is in growth

and prosper together.

mode, seeking out means to diversify and optimise

our business portfolio, along with building key

Why did you apply to be an associate director?

relationships and partnerships. Our vision is He

My reasons for applying can be summed up in the

tangata, he whenua, he oranga: sustaining and

opening of my application for the role:

growing our people through prosperity.

Ko wai au? I am the legacy of my tūpuna.

J OE H A N I TA

He aha taku mahi? To remember, learn, grow,

of working hard and thinking about and caring for

embrace and share my gifts.

others. This has been a major influence in my belief

He aha ai? So our legacy will endure from

in servant leadership.

generation to generation. Who has been an influential person in your life? What does being an associate director mean for

This is a really hard question as many whānau,

you personally?

friends and employers have influenced my

It is about honouring the gift from my nana,

journey. But anyone who has the persistence and

Joyce Hanita (née Falleni). It’s also about making

determination to overcome barriers, has willingness

a commitment to reconnect with our whakapapa

to share and teach others, who dares to dream and

in Te Tauihu. During my childhood, I never really

makes it a reality, has my respect.

heard my nana share or speak about her Māori whakapapa. It wasn’t until after my father’s passing

What are you hoping for during your time as

in 2000 that I learnt about my great-grandmother,

associate director?

Kiti Hēmi. My nana requested the transfer of her

In closing my application, I wrote: My financial

interests to my generation and it was through that

skillset is my foundation, but as I grow, so does

succession process that we became aware of her

my ability to think strategically and, long term,

stories, our whakapapa and the disconnection from

empower the potential of people, champion the

the whenua.

change of heart and mind and ultimately live my deep sense of purpose: to remember those

Any whakataukī you live by or that are important

who gave us our current opportunities; to make

to you?

a contribution using my gifts and to prepare and

Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka; the

guide those who are yet to come, so they may

kūmara does not say how sweet it is.

continue the legacy.

My parents and grandparents showed me the value

KOE KOE Ā

Hoea hoea ki te tahatūi Paddling together to the distant horizon JOHANNAH KĀTENE-BURGE NGĀTI TAMA, NGĀTI RARUA

J OH A N NA H K ĀT E N E - B U RG E

Hoea hoea ki te tahatūi

paddle together, drawing courage and strength from

Kia kotahi ai te hāpai ō te hoe

the core values of Te Pae Tawhiti: identity, integrity

Hoea hoea ki te pae tawhiti

and innovation.

Hei oranga tonutanga mō ngā uri

‘I was invited to attend the Manaaki board hui

Te tuakiri me te pono

on the last day of my internship, and it felt right

Te hihiritanga ko ngā pou

to share my waiata then. I’m a confident singer,

O tō mātou nei waka,

but I did have a few nerves. It’s definitely harder

ko Te Tauihu e hoea rā. Hō!

to perform in front of your own!’ But she says the reaction was positive, and she’s begun to teach the

Imagining herself 500 years into the future was

waiata to Te Hunga Panuku so it can become part of

the inspiration for a new waiata composed by

the Wakatū waiata tautoko repertoire.

Johannah Kātene-Burge, a Wakatū scholarship

It was a busy year in 2019 for Johannah. She

recipient, Te Hunga Panuku member and 2019

was appointed as an associate trustee on the Ngāti

Wakatū intern.

Tama board, an initiative to grow and develop skills

in governance and iwi leadership. Johannah was ohannah is currently doing a Bachelor of

also selected for an 11-day business trip to Vietnam

Management Studies Honours, majoring in

with SEA-CAPE Te Hononga-a-Kiwa, a scheme

human resource management and strategic

aimed at improving Māori business capability

management, at Waikato University. Johannah says, ‘The Wakatū internship gave me the opportunity to spend time in different

and engagement in different regions, including Southeast Asia. Johannah is a member of the invitation-only

departments, including Kono marketing, Manaaki

‘Golden Keys Honorable Society’ – an international

whānau engagement, the Owners’ Liaison office and

academic society for the top 15 per cent of tertiary

Human Resources.’ She feels that the wide variety

students – and she now co-chairs the Waikato

of tasks she undertook helped her to articulate

chapter. Johannah was also recognised as the 2019

what she would like to specialise in with her degree

top Māori academic of the Business Management

and what her future career will look like. She

faculty at the University of Waikato.

particularly appreciated the hands-on time spent

‘I’ve always been driven to excellence at whatever

with the HR team, conducting reference checks,

I set out to achieve – not for my own sake but in

contract reviews and inductions.

light of being a positive role model for others, and

A highlight was the annual kaimahi wānanga,

especially for my whānau. In my life I have often

where she facilitated the cultural development

known what I didn’t want to be. There are people

sessions. Johannah took the group through the

who I have looked up to, who have inspired me and

pōwhiri process. ‘For some kaimahi it was their first

made me determined, and if I can inspire even one

time on a marae, so I’m glad that I was able to be a

other person to achieve more than they think they

part of their journey,’ she says. ‘Over the wānanga, I

can, I’ll be pretty stoked.’

saw each individual grow in confidence in their own

The internship programme has further

understanding of tikanga and find their connection

strengthened Johannah’s connection to Wakatū

with the Wakatū story.’

and galvanised her intention to give back to the

Wakatū CEO Kerensa Johnston asked Johannah

Wakatū whānau who have supported her study. ‘I’m

to write a letter as if she were writing from 500

certain that I will work for Wakatū, but when and in

years in the future. ‘It was a real challenge thinking

what capacity isn’t so clear yet. I’m concentrating

about what life might be like, and the status of

on finishing my degree, and then going out into the

the earth in 500 years’ time,’ Johanna explains.

world to write my own story. In time, I will bring

For inspiration, Johannah reflected upon Te Pae

back what I have found to benefit the whānau of

Tawhiti, the 500-year intergenerational plan. ‘My

Wakatū.’

waiata tries to capture the essence of that plan – to

You can read Johannah’s letter from the

travel steadfastly towards the distant horizon. To

future on the Wakatū website at www.wakatu.org/

achieve wellbeing for our descendants, we must

tupunaletter

KOE KOE Ā

Proposed development on the west bank of the Mahitahi river, Whakatū.

A NEW WHARE FOR WAKATŪ Iain Sheves, Wakatū Group General Manager

Turner library and Countdown supermarket, but

Property and Commercial (Strategy and Risk),

many of the other buildings are dilapidated and

tells us about an exciting concept for the

earthquake prone.

Mahitahi river precinct.

the river and the city centre, and help make the ver the last three years we have been

Mahitahi river precinct an attractive, vibrant

working with a range of partners on

place for people to work and play, shop and stay,

a plan to revitalise our block of Tenths’

while ensuring that environmental issues and

land on the west bank of the Mahitahi River. The whānau of Wakatū have long had a

sustainability remain front and centre. The first part of the multi-year and multi-phase

relationship with the river as it is a key customary

project is a new home for Wakatū. Since Wakatū

site for the whānau of Wakatū and traditionally a

House in Montgomery Square opened in 2008, our

source of kai and fresh water.

organisation and businesses have expanded. We’ve

We’ve taken a holistic approach to the area to

Our vision is to make a stronger link between

outgrown the current space, with some teams

create the overall plan. The area is an important

now based in different buildings across Nelson.

part of Nelson city. It currently includes the Elma

After considering a number of options, the board

A NEW WHARE

decided on a new building for Wakatū, which means we’ll be able to bring all our teams together. The new building is designed for future expansion if needed and will also kickstart and showcase the redevelopment of the wider precinct for Nelson city.

He kokonga whare e kitea, he kokonga ngākau e kore e kitea The corners of a house can be seen but not the corners of the heart

Many buildings are designed to only last for around 50 years. However, in line with our 500year intergenerational strategy, Te Pae Tawhiti, our new building is designed in a way to still be around and in use in 200–300 years’ time. For us, Whenua Ora and sustainability covers many different aspects, including seismic

that our identity and tikanga is embedded

resilience and resilience to sea-level rise. We’re

throughout the building. We are working with

looking at smart ways where we can minimise

multidisciplinary artist Rangi Kipa on the design

energy use, waste and emissions, not just in the

for the exterior, and the pou whenua at the

construction phase but also over the lifecycle of

entrance of the current Wakatū House will be

the building. For example, the structure, excluding

incorporated into the design of the new office.

the foundations, will be built from locally

The new building for Wakatū is one of three

sourced laminated timber. Using wood as our

planned for the site, with resource consent issued

main material adds seismic resilience as well as

for two of the three. We are actively engaging

considerably reducing the carbon footprint of

with organisations who have interest in leasing

the building.

space within the second building. The timing

We see this as a great opportunity to

of the wider precinct will be driven by market

demonstrate leadership in our region for quality

demand, and will have different zones for retail,

long-term building projects. It is being designed

accommodation, restaurants and office and

so it may go through a number of changes of use

education. It’s going to be a real space for the

during its lifecycle, so it can adapt to changes in

community to enjoy.

terms of how people work and how office spaces are organised. We’re also putting emphasis on different ways

Once we have made the shift over to the river, Wakatū House in Montgomery Square will be managed as part of our commercial property

of getting to work, such as biking, walking and

portfolio and will generate rental income for us.

shared transport, rather than relying on individual

Wakatū House is one of the best office buildings in

cars for the daily commute. We’ll have charging

Nelson – it is high quality and in a great location.

stations for electric vehicles, as well as providing

We’ve already been contacted from organisations

e-scooters or e-bikes for our team to use for

interested in being tenants here.

around-town meetings. We are targeting a Green Star NZ Certified

By autumn this year we expect to begin preliminary site works before starting

Office Built v3 Rating. Green Star is an

construction. As the project progresses, we’ll keep

independent rating system that assesses a

the Wakatū whānau and the community informed

building’s sustainability attributes across a range

about the milestones for the building, and about

of criteria. Our new office space will be a showcase

the precinct as a whole.

for excellence in sustainability. It will hopefully

We are inviting any business or organisation

inspire others in the region looking at commercial

who is interested in being part of the exciting

development to take a long-term view with their

plans for the precinct, either as a partner or

building projects as well as encouraging others to

tenant, to make early contact with us to discuss

lease space within the precinct.

ideas and options. Please email property@wakatu.

Like the current Wakatū House, we’re ensuring

org to find out more.

KOE KOE Ā

Jacqui Forbes interview

Advocating for a world without waste to Papatūānuku – the concept that everything is related and interconnected. Jacqui sees the Para Kore values of whakapapa, māramatanga, kaitiakitanga, rangatiratanga and manaakitanga as being very similar to the values of Wakatū. She’s been professionally involved in the community recycling movement to reduce waste going to landfill for over 15 years, first at Xtreme Zero Waste and then at Para Kore, but her passion for this kaupapa she believes has been deeply embedded since childhood. ‘I grew up in my grandparents’ house, where thrift and reusing were strongly ingrained, so I’ve always had a natural instinct for valuing resources. Reusing and not wasting was tika, it was common sense and the norm growing up. Wasting something intrinsically

I n 2018, the Wakatū board set an ambitious target of zero waste by 2028 for the entire Wakatū Group. Jacqui Forbes (Ngāti Tama) has been supporting Wakatū on its pathway to this goal, in her role as kaihautū matua for Para Kore Marae Incorporated, a Māori zero-waste organisation based in Raglan. Jacqui discusses her longstanding commitment to zero waste, and some of the challenges that Wakatū may face on its journey to a low-waste future and, ultimately, zero waste.

doesn’t feel right to me.’

and tomatoes. Mum and the neighbours were

money, her mum, Marcia Amadio, would get maximum use out of everything – something she’d learnt to do from her own parents. ‘She’d mend sheets and towels and reuse containers and jars. Our main source of food was what we could grow in the garden and most of our kai came from our vege garden and things that would be in season or that we’d preserve, like raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, nectarines, plums, peaches, apples

acqui’s whakapapa to Wakatū is through her

always sharing veges over the fence, and all the kids

father, Michael Uruwhero Carter, who grew

roamed through the properties and ate whatever

up in Taranaki, and her Te Tauihu connection

was in season.’

is through his great grandfather from Ngāti Tama,

The other aspect to why Jacqui is involved in

Tākaka, Mōhua. She says she became more aware

this work is the importance her family places on

of Wakatū and her Te Tauihu whakapapa when her

advocating for social change and people’s rights.

sister Kerensa Johnston started working for Wakatū.

‘My mum is an activist, has always been politically

The purpose of Para Kore is to educate and

Jacqui says because they didn’t have much

active,’ she explains, ‘a zero-waste, plant-based,

advocate from a Māori worldview for a world

Green Party member.’ Back in the 1980s, Jacqui’s

without waste. The kaupapa is based on whakapapa

mum was involved in local leading protest groups

A DVO C AT I NG FOR A WOR L D W I T HOU T WAS T E

such as HART (Halt All Racist Tours), Treaty

than an indigenous worldview of connectedness

protests, Feilding anti-nuclear and environment

with nature. The life systems of Papatūānuku,

protection, and feminist and gay rights.

her mauri, healthy fresh waste, biodiversity and

Jacqui feels honoured to be able to use her skills

planetary boundaries are disregarded by the current

and experience to contribute to Wakatū, and its

paradigm and, as Jacqui explains, we are being

goal of being good kaitiaki. In 2018 she was part of

pushed towards a drier, hotter, more dangerous

a Wakatū workshop focused on waste; it resulted

climate, with sea levels rising. The need to make

in the goal of zero waste by 2028 being adopted

big changes for the sake of our tamariki mokopuna,

formally by the board as part of the overall Whenua

our whanaunga, other species, and our climate is

Ora strategy. Since then, she’s run workshops for

urgent.

Wakatū at different work sites. Part of this has been

‘I’d encourage people to make both small and

spot waste audits. This exercise helps people see

big changes at home as well as in the workplace.

what they can do to reduce what is being sent to

It’s time for the old ways – for indigenous values of

landfill. ‘It’s a good start to show people where they

recognising we are social and reciprocating, we are

are at now, and to start to think about what changes

interdependent, we are connected to our tūpuna

need to be made,’ says Jacqui.

and our mokopuna. Through our whakapapa, our

An ambitious goal like zero waste takes hard

genealogy, we are deeply embedded in the web of

work because behavioural change may be required

life, related to all living and non-living things that

at an individual level, and at the same time, there

make up the world and planet to which we belong.’

needs to be system-wide organisational changes, for

Jacqui believes that recycling in Aotearoa

example, around supply chains and procurement

is currently a broken system and although the

decisions.

government, industry and community are all

‘A lot of people don’t understand what setting

working really hard to fix it, the system is still

a target for zero waste means in practice,’ Jacqui

broken. Para Kore teaches that recycling is just

explains. ‘Generally, all waste audits reveal that

under landfilling and burning on the waste

between 70–90 per cent of waste currently sent

hierarchy, and it should be avoided as it produces

to landfill could be either composted, recycled or

waste, uses energy and pollutes. Reduce and reuse,

eliminated if different procurement choices were

which eliminate waste in the first place, are the

made. Wakatū is no different and the opportunity

preferred strategies to reach zero waste.

to reduce waste by more than 75 per cent is real and

‘I hope that the Wakatū Whenua Ora strategy

achievable. However, to get there, you need to have

is signalling an internal paradigm shift to truly

honest conversations about current levels of waste

uphold the principle of kaitiakitanga. I think our

generation, along with what needs to change.’

tūpuna would be proud of this mahi,’ says Jacqui.

The zero-waste target is similar to other targets such as zero harm in a health and safety context – the goal has to be zero. ‘In 2028, Wakatū may not be generating zero waste across the organisation, but that doesn’t mean that Wakatū can’t reduce its current annual waste generation by 90 per cent by 2028. Once data is collected, a real target can be set to define what success looks like in 2028 in terms of tonnes of waste generated in that year. A lowwaste future must be achieved before a zero-waste future can be achieved,’ she says. The generation of waste is based on the paradigm of being dominant over nature, on a linear system of take – make – throwaway that places profit,

PARA KORE was established in 2010. It supports more than 435 marae, kōhanga reo, kura kaupapa, Māori organisations and events. Para Kore has a nationwide team of zero-waste educators who have interacted so far with over 300,000 people through wānanga, presentations and events. Para Kore distributes free recycling crates, wheelie bins, bilingual signage, compost bins and even chickens to participating organisations. The Para Kore programme has diverted more than 376 tonnes of waste from landfills. .parakore.maori.nz.

GDP and economic growth at the forefront rather

KOE KOE Ā

Para Kore – Reducing waste at events

Whether it’s the Wakatū annual general meeting, a wine festival or a trade show, Meg Malcolm, Events and Partnerships Manager, is focused on delivering events where plastic and food waste is reduced or eliminated.

‘Whenua Ora, our programme

the tables at our meetings. We

to be good kaitiaki of the

used to provide water in plastic

resources we look after, isn’t

bottles. Now if we are providing

just about what we are doing

water on tables, we use glass jugs

on the orchards and vineyards,

and glasses.’

but it is how we demonstrate that commitment right across

other events and businesses are

the organisation. The goal of

becoming more environmentally

Wakatū being zero waste by 2028

conscious.

is a challenging one in the event

‘We aim to work with

space – but it’s a challenge we’re

suppliers, venues and events that

happy to take on,’ Meg says.

share our zero-waste ethos. It’s

Meg has appreciated advice

great that there are now more

from Jacqui Forbes and Para

environmentally friendly options

Kore, particularly on how to

for a range of products, like

reduce waste at the annual and

compostable plates made from

special general meetings.

potato starch, or bio cups that can

‘Through Jacqui we’ve learnt

Meg Malcolm

be used instead of plastic wine

any rubbish, put it in the right

that it is not just about recycling

glasses. Reducing food waste at

recycling or waste station.

but also looking for ways to

events is another big issue for us.

According to Meg, going for the

refuse, reduce, re-purpose or

Most of our events for Wakatū

sustainable option can take more

reuse. We’re learning that single

whānau involve kai. To help

planning and time, but it’s worth

use items are harmful, in that

reduce food waste, we work hard

it. ‘We know the Wakatū whānau

they are created from natural

to get the quantity of food right,

have high expectations of us, and

resources from Papatūānuku,

and we try and find venues that

it’s our challenge to demonstrate

used once and then thrown away

allow whānau to take away food

our commitment to zero waste

into a toxic landfill. Anything

with them, if there is any leftover

at every opportunity. We learn

that is only used once, we are

food. It’s frustrating that some

something new about reducing

looking to design out, and

venues still don’t allow this.’

waste every time we run an event,

instead use things that can be reused again and again.

If you are coming along to a

and we take that knowledge

Wakatū AGM or SGM, Meg says

into improving the next one.

to help reduce waste, bring your

Sometimes it can seem like small

taken in reducing waste at

own pens, water bottles and

steps, but we know that small

our events is to simplify. We

keep-cups – and, of course, take

changes all add up to make a big

no longer put pens, pads or

them away with you at the end

difference. So it’s still a work in

individually wrapped sweets on

of the event. And, if you generate

progress.’

One of the approaches we’ve

Meg says that it helps that

P OI P OI A T E K Ā K A NO

Poipoia te kākano, kia puawai Nurture the seed and it will blossom

‘We’ve been collecting seeds

has many surprising uses, from

and cuttings from four different

drinking it as a tea to treating

native plant species: kānuka,

burns. One of the most important

mānuka, Marlborough rock

roles kānuka plays is as a nursery

daisy and hebe hulkeana, also

crop, providing shade and shelter

known as New Zealand lilac,

for native seedlings, particularly

which are common in the Wairau

on exposed, dry hillsides.

region’s Flaxbourne ecological

the source of the highly prized

hulkeana, in particular, are quite

mānuka honey. Famous for its

specific and unique to the South

natural medicinal properties,

Marlborough region.

mānuka products have high star-shaped flowers are displayed

at a local nursery and then

for many months from spring,

replanting them back in the

blanketing the hillsides like

vineyard aligns with the Wakatū

summer snow. a hardy, compact shrub that

land, being guardians of the land,

thrives in Marlborough’s hot,

water, airspace, the native plant

dry summers. Growing on

species, and people.

the rocky terraces above the like flowers, with white petals

depending on the species and

and yellow centre, which only

whether they use cuttings or

bloom in winter. While common

seeds. Once the seedlings are

throughout Marlborough, outside

ready, Mondo explains that they’ll

of domestic gardens, this pretty

bring them back into the vineyard

shrub isn’t found anywhere else

and replant them in specific

in the world. New Zealand lilac (heliohebe

which they are aiming to only

hulkeana) is part of the hebe

have native plant species in it.

group of plants known to have

Kānuka is a hardy and useful

to Mondo Kōpua, assistant vineyard manager.

Awatere River, it has daisy-

months to grow the plants,

locations, including an area

is underway. Koekoeā talks

Marlborough rock daisy is

sense, it’s about protecting the

It takes between 9 and 24

Marlborough, a special project

antibacterial potency. The white

from these plants, growing them

value of kaitiakitanga. In a broad

in the Awatere Valley,

Mānuka is an iconic tree and

district. The rock daisy and hebe

Collecting seeds and cuttings

On Whenua Awa, our vineyard

Mondo Kōpua (above) and mānuka capsules.

abundance of them growing on the Awatere River bluffs below the vineyard.

medicinal properties. It has

Follow the progress of the seedlings

tree. It’s a special plant that

dainty, pale mauve flowers, and

by signing up for regular updates via

is only found in Aotearoa and

is rare in the wild. There is an

www.kono.co.nz/seedling

KOE KOE Ā

The first intake of Kaupapa Tupuranga (from left to right): Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui, Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea, Reann Hippolite-Elkington, Kapohau Matiu-Wharepapa, Virginia Kalani-Aiolupotea, Tuakana Tuira, Kaleb Hawea, Una Stephens, Hōani Tākao.

Kaupapa Tupuranga

Tupuranga – 1. (noun) growth, a place to grow

Hōani Tākao, Mātanga Whānau Mahi, talent acquisition coordinator for Wakatū, has been working on Kaupapa Tupuranga, a new horticultural programme, since mid-2019. It is part of an overall strategy to increase the number of Wakatū whānau working at all levels of the organisation. Kaupapa Tupuranga has been designed to connect, grow and develop Wakatū whānau on the whenua, by working and learning in a horticultural and agricultural business, through a tikanga and te ao Māori lens, and in a safe and whānau-friendly working environment. As well as undertaking standard horticultural tasks, whānau on the Tupuranga programme are supported to build individual development plans, including goal setting and strength finding. The pilot scheme began in 2019 with a small group based at Kono Horticulture in Motueka. There are plans to extend the programme in 2020. Anyone with a whakapapa connection to Wakatū who is interested in developing their horticultural skills in a tikanga Māori environment can contact Hōani Tākao to find out more: Hoani.Takao@wakatu.org. Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui and Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea are two members of this pilot scheme and they share their experiences of being part of Kaupapa Tupuranga.

K AU PA PA T U P U R A NG A

Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui TE ĀTIAWA, NGĀTI RĀRUA, NGĀTI TAMA, NGĀTI KOATA

moved to Te Tauihu to be part of Kaupapa Tupuranga, and also to reconnect with my Te Tauihu whānau. Before moving down here,

I was living in Taranaki and working in the forestry industry. I heard about the programme through my dad, Anaru Wilkie, and through Rōpata [Taylor]. Hōani got in contact and let me know about the programme – not just what he wanted to achieve with this pilot group, but plans for the future. As well as the work, it’s great to have other opportunities, like learning te reo Māori and having the support to improve my reading skills. I’m really excited about the long-term goal, to develop whānau so they can play a bigger part in the Kono business. It’s about building up, so there are more whānau teams on the orchard. It’s also about giving us the big picture – not just of the orchard, but how all the different aspects of the Kono business fit together. And in the long term, to encourage our entrepreneurial skills and confidence so maybe in the future, more whānau can launch their own businesses.

Tokoahu Wilkie-Te Rahui.

I’m used to being outdoors because of working in forestry, except horticultural work is heaps hotter! It’s been quite a steep learning curve, but it’s

and is intergenerational with Te Pae Tawhiti, our

exciting to think of the opportunity, not only for

500-year plan. I’m not going to be around to see it

me, but the whole whānau.

come to fruition, but generations of my children’s

The programme has the right people in the

children will, so it’s awesome to know that we have

right positions to support us on the right path. I

a goal to work towards, and that future generations

really hope that more whānau come and work for

will continue to prosper here in Te Tauihu.

Kono. And not just from Te Tauihu. Our tūpuna

I’m hoping that what we’re doing here will

made the heke down here, and it would be great if

inspire others around the country as well. So many

other whānau make the journey back so that we can

whānau haven’t yet had the opportunity to walk on

learn more about our whānau and hapū, about the

the lands or be on the marae.

history of the land, and about Wakatū and Kono. It feels like a privilege to be here on the whenua. It’s cool to see that Wakatū is thinking long-term

For myself, I’m ambitious – I’d eventually love to have Karla’s job as pipfruit manager or even Marty’s job as Kono Horticulture manager!

KOE KOE Ā

Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea NGĀTI KOATA

I 44

...things are a lot better when you are learning and working with people who you know and are comfortable with. CUMORAH-LEE AIOLUPOTEA

was born and raised in Nelson. I finished

so it’s been great to find out more about how our

school last year and was looking for a job when

whānau is involved in the business.

I heard about this opportunity. I was keen to

Because this is my first job out of school, it

has been awesome to have the extra support

so I then got introduced to Hōani. I certainly didn’t

and learning opportunities. I love working with

consider horticulture as a career when I was at

other whānau as part of the team. It’s made a big

school but Kaupapa Tupuranga appealed to me.

difference – things are a lot better when you are

I saw it as an opportunity to learn more about

learning and working with people who you know

whenua around Motueka and our whānau history in

and are comfortable with. I wish that I’d had this

this area. I hadn’t had much to do with Kono before,

whānau vibe at school!

K AU PA PA T U P U R A NG A

Opposite page and above left: Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea, top right: Reann Hippolite-Elkington, below right: Tuakana Tuira, Kapohau Matiu-Wharepapa.

Kono Ahumahi scholarship Hōani Tākao is also involved in a scheme to support whānau who want to develop a career in the primary industries, through studying at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT). The Kono Ahumahi scholarship is a partnership between Wakatū Incorporation and NMIT. The scholarship is aimed at those studying or thinking of studying at NMIT for a career in the aquaculture, horticulture, viticulture and food sectors, or supporting industries such as engineering, automotive engineering, and logistics. The scholarship covers two-thirds of the recipient’s annual NMIT fees, for up to a maximum of three years. The successful applicant will also be supported through mentoring. To be eligible, a student must be of Māori descent and planning full-time study at NMIT. Priority will be given to applicants with a whakapapa connection to Wakatū Incorporation. For further information and application forms, contact Hōani Tākao: Hoani.Takao@wakatu.org

KOE KOE Ā

Ihumātao BY D ONNA MCLEOD, T E ĀT I AWA

Our first born

is holding the blue line.

Blessed by mana whenua kaumātua, Kīngitanga,

He tells his cousin, who stands before him,

an eviction notice is served.

he is proud of her and to be safe.

Houses can be built on confiscated

He texts his sister, as she gathers koha,

land, deals have been struck.

to dress warmly and bring him pizza.

Our first born

is their visual might.

upholds our uri.

Our first born

is still holding the blue line

is holding the blue line.

after the important people have left.

He carries maunga, waters, whenua, whānau,

Those left holding space have woken.

grew up knowing

They too form a line.

he was born holding te Tiriti.

Kanohi ki te kanohi.

He stands as Māori.

Our first born

is their pou.

is.

Our first born

is holding the blue line,

is holding the blue line.

standing fifteen hours,

He is a child of Parihaka.

no kaumātua, no karakia.

His blood runs with passive resistance.

We karakia.

He is a child of warriors

We hold him.

and men of God.

Our first born

Our first born.

is our heart.

E tū, Tama.

Our first born is holding the blue line with Māori, with Pasifika full-face challenges of kūpapa, told he isn’t Māori, whakaiti of whakapapa, lectured on the Treaty. They stand as pou. Our first born. Puku stirs.

Donna McLeod belongs to the Wakatū whānau and lives on her papakāinga in Motueka. Donna was at Ihumātao on 2 August 2019, the day her poem was featured as the Friday Poem on the website, The Spinoff. She is a writer and performer of Te Ora Haa and a member of Te Ohu Whakaari. She is published in Headlands: New Stories of Anxiety (VUP, 2018) and Eastbourne: An Anthology (Mākaro Press, 2013). Image: Ihumātao 25 July 2019, Alika Wells, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

WĀTA K A

2020 6 April

Applications open for taiohi (kōtiro) wānanga – our youth wānanga

4 May

Applications open for Te Amonuku – our associate director & manager programme

31 May

Taiohi wānanga applications close

15 June

Te Amonuku applications close

3 August

Applications open for tertiary education scholarship

31 August

Tertiary education scholarship applications close

28 September – 2 October

Taiohi wānanga

27 November

Owners’ tour – mussel boats

28 November

Annual general meeting (AGM), Nelson

10 December

Deadline for summer bookings for camping at Mārahau

2021 28 January – 1 February

Ahi kaa

27 March

Special general meeting (SGM), Wellington

5 April

Applications open for taiohi (tamatane) wānanga – our youth wānanga

3 May

Applications open for Te Amonuku - our associate director & manager programme

31 May

Taiohi wānanga applications close

14 June

Te Amonuku applications close

2 August

Applications open for tertiary education scholarship

31 August

Tertiary education scholarship applications close

4 – 8 October

Taiohi wānanga

3 December

Owners’ bus tour – Motueka, Moutere and Mārahau

4 December

Annual general meeting (AGM), Nelson

10 December

Deadline for summer bookings for camping at Mārahau

Kōtiro taiohi wānanga 2018 47

TÄ€ PA E

Writers: Kerensa Johnston, RĹ?pata Taylor,

All photos Kate MacPherson unless otherwise

Printed by Spectrum Print in Christchurch

Miriana Stephens, Johny O'Donnell,

acknowledged, except for pages 7, 10-15, 20, 23, 38

Printed on a chlorine-free stock made from pulp

Felicity Connell

Cover: Cumorah-Lee Aiolupotea photographed

that is sourced from sustainable tree farms.

Editor: Jude Watson

by Kate Mac Pherson.

Printed using soya based inks.

Design: Floor van Lierop (thisisthem.com)

Koekoeā - the magazine for Wakatū - issue #2 Ngāhuru 2020