Here Te Pana Young (née Huria)

26/3/1927 – 24/5/2016
“Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu”
Aunty Biddy was precious to her whānau, our whānau strength and link to the past.

On the morning of 24 May our Aunty Biddy slipped away to join her tūpuna, siblings and husband leaving behind her children Larry, Adrianne, Dianne, their husbands and many mokopuna.

Aunty Biddy grew up in Port Levy and Woodend and often shared many childhood tales with us all. One of my favorites is her telling us about catching the ferry back to Port Levy to stay with Aunty Lil for the school holidays. Aunty Biddy has touched the lives of many and was always ready with the home baking and a cup of tea in her fine china when we all visited.

Our stories of Aunty are endless, however I believe this poem explains what an impact Aunty has had on her whānau and many friends. The whānau would like to express their thanks to all the support received over this time.

The Fallen Limb

A limb has fallen from the family tree.
I keep hearing a voice that says,
“Grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, and the song.
The good life I lived while I was strong.
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you.
Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest.
Remembering all, how I truly was blessed.
Continue traditions, no matter how small.
Go on with your life, don’t worry about falls
I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin.
Until the day comes we’re together again.”

Moe mai, moe mai rā Aunty Biddy
Aroha nui Aunty Biddy’s whānau.

Congratulations

Peter Te Rangihiroa Ramsden
Peter Te Rangihiroa Ramsden was a finalist in this year’s 2016 Green Ribbon Awards, in the Kaitiaki Leadership Category.

This category recognises outstanding kaitiaki leadership and demonstrated commitment to empowering iwi/hapū/whānau to take action to restore or sustain the mauri of te taiao.

Charles Crofts
Former Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere, Charles Crofts has become an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for Services to Māori.

Charles is a former Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere who played a pivotal role between 1993 and 1996 in seeing through the most critical stages of the Deed of Settlement.

Charles was then an integral member of the team of principals mandated by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, to manage the negotiation process and was personally charged with maintaining tribal cohesion during negotiations.

Pānui contributions

I’m sure there are stories out there that whānau would like to share. Please email these along with photos (ensuring that you provide names of those in the pictures) to: Koukourā[email protected]. Just a reminder that if you are going to submit photos, they should be high resolution (300DPI) or bigger, which means the file size will be about 100 KB or bigger.

Well whānau, we are one step closer to commencing the build of the new whare wānanga.

The building consent has been approved and Cadigan Construction Limited has laid the new foundation for the generator and gas bottles. With this in mind, the marae will not be available for hire until further notice.

Tūtehuarewa Marae is on the map. In late October-early November, we had signage erected just past the church as you come off the Purau-Port Levy hill.

Koukourārata distribution list

I recently sent an email to whānau for whom we have an email address so I can start a Koukourārata distribution list.

If there is anything of interest going on in the bay, I plan to use this form of communication (as well as Facebook), to let everyone know. If you would like me to add you to this list, please drop me a line at: Koukourā[email protected]

Contributions

I would also like whānau to let me know if they have any goods news stories they would like to be added to the rūnaka magazine. Please email news and pictures to Koukourā[email protected]

Contact details

Overtime, I intend to update contact details for our rūnanga members, so can you all please take the time to email me on Koukourā[email protected] with this information. Here are my contact details: 03 365 2381;71 Corsair Drive Wigram 8042; PO Box 3187 Christchurch 8140; or email [email protected] Aroha nui ki a koutou, Marion.

Thank you

A big thank you to Doug Timothy and Ricki Lewis for clearing the rubbish from the paddock adjacent to the creek, along with starting the big job of burning the huge piles of wood from the downed and cut trees. [Read more…]

Connection to land vital for Whānau Ora

Over 70 people gathered at Tūtehuarewa Marae at Koukourārata (Port Levy), Banks Peninsula on Saturday for the launch of a new venture Te Wānanga Taiao o Koukourārata that will support Koukourārata whānau to develop land enterprises through a market garden concept.

The close relationship between whānau and whenua (the land) provides the foundation for the new model of whānau health and the South Island Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Wai Pounamu are showing their support by investing $237,000 in the first stage of the initiative. [Read more…]

Rere a waimihi a Koukourārata ki a koutou katoa. A very busy start to the year, which looks like it is not going to let up; With a new strategic direction we have comings and goings and buildings going up and coming down. A very exciting time for all.

Ngā mate

Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata would like to extend our heartfelt aroha to all of our whanauka who have lost loved ones over the past month. 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.

Tūrou Hawaiki

As the rūnanga moves in a new strategic direction, we say farewell to our kaihautū, Maatakiwi Wakefield. She joined our rūnanga in 2005 following the disestablishment of the then Ngāi Tahu Development Corporation. We have been fortunate to benefit from her many skills and talents over the past 10 years; her contribution has been valued. Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata wishes her well with her future endeavours.

Contributions

Many thanks to our roving reporter, Jasmine Hesp for her 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 newsletter).Without your stories we can’t submit a column, so we look forward to hearing from you.

Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata

I hope this warm weather is a sign that we’re in for a nice long ‘hot’ summer, especially given the dismal one we had last year. But Haki Hukapapa and his whānau are still making themselves known so best not be breaking out the summer clothes just yet.

Before moving on, Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata would also like to extend our heartfelt aroha to all of our whānauka, who have lost loved ones over the past few months. In particular our heartfelt aroha goes to the Teihoka, Wallace-Swindells, Tau and Briggs whānau.

Nō reira takina te kupu tuatahi ki te Aitaka-a-Matariki, koutou i whakakopa kopiopio i te karaka a Tahu Kūmea, a Tahu Whakairo ki te tauawhi a tāua mā, a pōua mā kua riro ki tua o paemahara. Ka pōhara katoa te iwi i ō koutou weheka. Pūkatokato tou ana tō iwi, anō te marama kua karo, kua ara anō, auē he marama ka roku i te pae. He maimai aroha ki a koutou, tēnei te puna wai a kamo, tēnei te puna aroha e kore e mimiti. Nā reira, mā te Ruka Rawa koutou e manaaki, e tiaki, rātou ki a rātou ka moe, tātou kā waihotaka a rātou ka noho, nāia te waimihi a Koukourārata e rere atu nei. [Read more…]

Ngā mate

Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata would like to extend our heartfelt aroha to all of our whānauka who have lost loved ones over the past months. 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.

Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata

Another month is done and dusted and here we are at the business end of the year. Where does the time go? It’s been a very full year with many comings and goings in the bay. [Read more…]

Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata
Warm summer breezes (mixed with a few gnarly nor’easters) are starting to make themselves at home in the bay, heralding the slide into the holiday season. Waka ama training has begun and whānau members who are interested should contact the office. It’s a busy time for all as those lawns just keep growing.

Before moving on Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata news, we would also like to extend our heartfelt aroha to all of our whānauka who have lost loved ones over the past month. Our thoughts go to you all. Nō reira koutou 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. [Read more…]

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. [Read more…]

Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata

Another busy month and with spring starting, there are lawns to mow and gardens to weed. We have to admit it’s been a fairly pleasant winter, as winters go, so here’s hoping we’re in for a nice long, hot summer.

Before moving on, Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata 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 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. [Read more…]

Nei te rau tāwhiri o Koukourārata

Another year is whizzing by and there are a few changes in the bay, as we start preparing for spring… busy times for all. Hoping everyone is safe and well wherever they may be.

Before moving on Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata 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 all of you.

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. [Read more…]

He pēpi – Jordan Te Maihengia Datema White

“Nau mai e taku mokopuna ki te wheiao, ki te ao mārama. I whānau mai a Jordan Te Maihengia Datema White i te 16 o ngā rā o Haratua, 2012, hei mokopuna tuatahi mō Mere Skerrett, nā Rochelle Jamieson rāua ko Te Haimona White. [Read more…]