Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata
Another year is whizzing past and there have been a few changes in the bay as we start preparing for spring – a busy time for all. Hoping everyone is safe and well wherever they may be. Before moving on to Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata business, we would also like to extend our heartfelt aroha to all of our whanauka who have lost loved ones over the past month. Our thoughts go out to you all. Nō reira koutou o te huka wairua haere atu rā, moe mai rā i kā peka o tō tātou nei ūkaipō. Mā te Atua koutou katoa e manaaki e tiaki. Āpiti hono tātai hono rātou ki a rātou ka moe, āpiti hono tātai hono tātou te huka ora ka noho, pai mārire.
Rā whānau
Whānau from throughout the country travelled to celebrate the 59th anniversary of Uncle Hori Brigg’s 21st at Rāpaki on the 7 September, including Ngarita and Te Ari Briggs. It was wonderful to see them both, even if only for a brief visit. The day was full of wonderful memories and many new ones were made. Rā whānau also to Aunty Maata and Joshua Wilson who also shared their birthday celebrations with the man of the hour.
Ihaia Briggs and cousins.
Aoraki Bound planting day
The 2013 planting season finished with 2,600 locally-sourced and propagated native trees safely in the ground. This completes the planting programme for Kahukunu Stream, which is now completely fenced and riparian planted. This was achieved by various groups who generously gave their time, energy and expertise to make it a reality. The opportunity to host our joint venture mussel farm partners Sanford in July meant that they spent the afternoon planting trees. They were told that they have the responsibility to visit and talk to their trees.
Environment Canterbury also supplied an energetic crew of experienced planters in August. They continued on from where they left off last season. All were amazed with how healthy the plants were considering the drought conditions of last summer. The locals, knowing the magic of their tūrangawaewae, merely smiled politely.
The highlight was hosting the Aoraki Bound graduates and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu on Saturday 14 September. Their presence added to an already spectacular day. To have so many of our young achievers planting was a pleasure. Deon Ruru and Riki Lewis added a whānau presence that has been long overdue but truly welcomed. Acknowledgement must go to fellow planters, Environment Canterbury CEO, Bill Bayfield and his lovely wife Maggie. Their being a part of the kaupapa gives creditability to the growing relationship between regional government and tangata whenua.
An excellent crowd turned out for the Koukourārata plant out.
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Road Show
September has been a busy month and the tribal roadshow rolled into Kirikiriroa (Hamilton) where whānau had a chance to come together to discuss tribal issues, moemoeā, wawata and just have a general catch up. Among them was our very own Tūrahui Payne (son of Matiu and Dione Payne) and Gaylene Hamiona from (the Anglem whānau), who had the pleasure of Tā Mark Solomon’s company.
Tā Mark Solomon with Gaylene Hamiona and Tūrāhui Payne.
Kakanui a reality
Look up from the marae at Koukourārata and you will see the newly gazetted 86.2-hectare conservation, wāhi tapu and Māori Reserve. After many years of work the reserve is now a reality and is the first of its kind. It’s important to note that nothing worthwhile is completed without the goodwill and co-operation of many committed people. Formed from a combination of whānau land and land from the local farmer, the reserve is not only unique from a conservation perspective but that of Ngāti Huikai and far earlier occupation periods.
Representing various whānau within Kakanui are the trustees Fern Whitau and Nola Tipa (Moeraki), Te Ariki Wineera (Ngāti Toa), Peter Ramsden (Huikai), Rik Menzies (Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust) and Tim Coop (Coop whānau). This is a first with tangata whenua and Banks Peninsula Conservation Trust and also a New Zealand first with the World Wildlife Fund and Māori. It now remains to survey and predator-fence this most significant area and simply let Papatūānuku do what she does best. Nā Peter Te Rangihiroa Ramsden.
Kakanui Reserve is now a reality.
Marae Bookings
Now that word is out the marae is back up and operating bookings are taking off again. To save disappointment please book early. To book the marae, please contact the rūnanga office on 365 3281 or email [email protected]
Te Pānui Rūnaka
Many thanks to our roving reporters Peter Ramsden, Matiu Payne and Josephine Briggs for their story contributions. If you have stories for Te Pānui Rūnaka, please send them to the rūnaka office (contact details can be found at the back of this edition). Don’t be shy, without your stories we can’t submit a column, so we look forward to hearing from you.