Ngā mihi o te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa. I hope everyone had a good break and is ready to face the challenges the new year brings.
Ngā mate
To all our whānau, suffering the loss of loved ones at this time Awarua Rūnanga extends all our love and sympathy.
Rā whānau
Happy birthday to all those celebrating their birthdays this month.
Kaumātua Christmas lunch
2 December, rolled around and it was an extremely hot day for the kaumātua lunch at Te Rau Aroha Marae. The wharekai was full with excitement and chatter. The meal was wonderful as was the entertainment by Bluff Schools’ senior kapa haka rōpū and the tamariki from Te Rourou Whakatipuranga Early Childhood Centre.
Some of our tamariki and their kaiako performing at the lunch.
The kapa haka group treating the kaumātua to a performance.
Hinga Clark and Tui Bragg.
Judy Ryan, Margaret Bragg and other kaumātua at the Christmas lunch.
Christmas at Bluff
Debbie Fife put Gail and I on the spot about entering the Christmas tree competition for businesses and organisations when we went into the Bluff Service Centre late last year.
Initially we tackled the project with enthusiasm but as the year came to a close opportunities to put together a tree started to fade and then it was the week of the event.
Gail and I madly rushed around Bluff, Greenpoint, Greenhills and Ōmaui with a truckload of tamariki looking for natural resources to create our tree.
A few hours hard work went into putting together our tree and then dismantling it for reassembling the next morning at the oyster festival site.
The weather gods on 19 December, were kind to the organisers and the day was glorious and the atmosphere and entertainment awesome. Santa’s appearance put a smile on everyone’s faces.
The finished Christmas tree.
Tai Chi classes
Joyce Manahi from Awarua Whānau Services, has resumed Tai Chi classes for the over 55s, on Mondays between 10-11 am in the wharenui at Te Rau Aroha Marae. These sessions are followed by light refreshments. To cover costs a gold coin would be appreciated.
Pānui contributions
If members have an item of interest they wish to share with te whānau o Ngāi Tahu please contact Tina on
03 212 6029 or email: [email protected]
Membership database
We are constantly updating our membership database and have found that many members’ children have had children of their own who require registering. If you are one of these people we encourage you to contact us on 03 212 6029 or email: [email protected] to request registration form/s.
NB: If your enquiries relate to registering with Ngāi Tahu please contact the Whakapapa Unit on 0800 524 8248.
We also encourage those members who have changed residential or email addresses to update their details by contacting the rūnanga on the above number or email address.