MR875 Rāpaki trustees nominations

MR875 Rāpaki Reserves Trustees wishes to call for nominations for Trustee(s) for the MR875 Rāpaki Reserves as pursuant to the Maori Reservations Regulations.

All nominees must reside within the Waitaha/Canterbury Region and descend from the Hapū of Ngāti Wheke. There will not be a postal ballot, all nominees must be over 18 years of age. All persons eligible to become, or vote for, a trustee are encouraged to apply to be registered as a member with Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated. Members of Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated who have previously been registered are encouraged to ensure that their contact details as held by Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Incorporated are correct.

The written forms and requirements can be obtained from the Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke office no later than 5 August 2016. Also as a reminder, nominations for the MR875 Rāpaki Reserves Trustees are to be received by the office no later than 5 August 2016. Please contact the office for further information and if you have any questions.

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke
37 Rāpaki Drive, Rāpaki
PO Box 107
Lyttelton 8841
Telephone: 03 328 9415
Email: [email protected]

Wharekai

We are currently blessed with great winter weather to allow steady progress on our new wharekai. Bushnell Builders have unfortunately reported that along with progress of the building there is evidence of tampering with equipment. In response to this Bushnell have stepped up security around the premises and ask if we could all be a little more vigilant while work is being carried out on our new wharekai.

Māra kai beds

With the bookings quite low and being well into the winter season, the māra kai beds will still be looked at for planting and will be fully sown within the next few weeks. It is wonderful to see the rewards Uncle Doug is getting with the māra kai garden beds up at the kaumātua flats and the initiative he continues to take to manage the beds on behalf of all kaumātua. The purpose is ideally for our hapū to enjoy the maintenance and provisions we will reap as well as offer support to the marae in catering to our manuhiri.

Wānanga whaikōrero

There was a positive response to our first wānanga held at Rāpaki Marae. The purpose of these wānanga is for our tāne to work together to develop their understanding of tātai kōrero, tikanga and kawa, whaikōrero, waiata and te reo Māori. There are six wānanga remaining which will be held on the first weekend of each month.
We hope that the wāhine will organise wānanga karanga and eventually we can join together at some stage in the future.

Education workshop

Educators, teachers and principals working within our takiwā were invited to attend a workshop in May to discuss the following:

  • Building meaningful relationships with manawhenua
  • History – Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Wheke
  • Marae visits – what will be expected when you bring akonga to Rāpaki Marae
  • Understanding basic tikanga specific to our marae and our hapū, Ngāti Wheke.

We have received positive feedback and we are looking forward to working closely with these kura to develop meaningful relationships for the benefits of our tamariki/mokopuna.

Environment and resource management

The below issues are currently being discussed or in progress;

  • Capital and maintenance dredging
  • Naval point redevelopment
  • Diamond Harbour cemetery
  • Whakaraupō catchment management plan
  • Banks Peninsula Water Zone Committee
  • The National High Risk Surveillance (MHRSS) programme for non-indigenous marine species in New Zealand
  • Dampier Bay.