Kaimahi kōrero: Meretaka Stephens

Photography: Virginia Woolf

KAIMAHI KŌRERO

Meretaka Gemini Stephens

NGĀTI RĀRUA, TE ĀTIAWA

Iwas born and raised in Motueka. My connection to Wakatū is through my grandfather Warren

Pahia Stephens, who passed away when I was young.

I have three siblings – my sister Jackie who works for Auora, the innovation arm of Wakatū, my sister

Sissy, who lives in Perth, and my brother Tama, who has recently moved back home to Motueka.

My siblings and I have a strong bond. We are really close. Wakatū has always been part of my life. My mum,

Una Stephens, would take me and my siblings along to Wakatū events. I was one of those kids who didn’t want to go to the annual general meeting.

Now, I’m one of those people who is unhappy if I can’t make it to the annual general meeting. I have four beautiful children who are part of the next generation of Wakatū, and now I’m taking my own kids along. At any of the Wakatū occasions, my kids are so keen to be there. They meet people and then come up to me and say, ‘Oh mum, this is my cousin. Did you know this is my cousin?’ I laugh and say to them, ‘Yes, they’re all your cousins, this is your whānau!’ My kids are keen to learn more about their whakapapa, our history. My youngest and oldest boys are the spitting image of my grandfather. It’s very cool to see our whānau line come through so strongly in them. Kono took over Hop Federation, a craft brewery in Riuwaka, in August 2020, and I joined the team near the end of that year. I manage the tasting

room shop sales and the online orders. I love being front of house and I feel incredibly proud to represent Wakatū. As soon as people find out that Hop Federation is under new ownership, they ask questions about Wakatū and Kono. They’re interested to know more about who we are as a people. Everyone – locals and tourists alike – appreciate that we are a whānau business and that we’re using local hops. As well as Hop Federation beer, we sell Tohu and Kono wines, and Tutū cider, so it’s been great introducing people to these products as well. I’m also an assistant brewer, and am enjoying the brewing process. There is so much to learn and I’m just trying to soak it up, like a sponge. Simon, the head brewer, showed me around the hop gardens, and it reinforced the connection between the hops, our whenua and the beer we produce. It’s great to work for such a whānau-orientated business. Everyone has been so warm, kind and welcoming. I love getting to know more of my whānau. When whānau from Wakatū come in, they know my face. They are stoked for me. I really want to acknowledge my mum for keeping the connection with Wakatū so strong. She is my rock. She raised four kids on her own, and she instilled strong values in all of us, particularly those of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga. I’m thankful for her strength, her love and her mahi. I manage the tasting room shop sales and the online orders. I love being front of house and I feel incredibly proud to represent Wakatū.

MERETAKA STEPHENS