Our congratulations go to Amber Bridgman who has been invited to show her work on the Global Indigenous Runway (GIR) at the Melbourne Fashion Festival on 18 March. GIR features Australian Aboriginal, NZ Māori, Native American, First Nations and Pasifika designers. Amber’s Melbourne collection is titled ‘Te Ao Mārama/Into the World of Light’ with designs incorporating feathers, piupiu and screen-printed images. Check out her Kahuwai Facebook page.

Our aroha goes out to whānau who have lost a loved one recently. In particular, the passing of Komene Cassidy’s sister.

It is also a year since Marty Taiaroa drowned and many of us joined Janece, Teone and Michelle for his unveiling.

Top left: Edward, Teone Michelle and Janece and her whānau listen as Tia Taiaroa leads out with full support from Les and Erena performing the Tahu Pōtiki haka. Top right: Teone acknowledges Spud Robson, fisherman from Jacksons Bay who found Marty.
Bottom left: Unveiled, the headstone of Teone Te Matenga Taiaroa. Bottom right: Whānau and friends at the unveiling.

Ōtākou website

Feel free to browse through our website. Any whānau wishing to book the marae for functions can now do so online at www.otakourunaka.co.nz.

Ōtākou members news

Ōtākou office welcomes your whānau or personal news for including in Te Pānui Rūnaka. Please send your news items, such as, achievements in sports, education or anything else of community interest, pēpi hou, memorials, kupu hou and photos to office@tro.org.nz Your photos must have captions and names of people in the photo. Thank you.

The wānanga featured archaelogist Dilys Jones, Hoturoa Kerr kaihautū of the Haunui, Mayor Dave Cull representing tauiwi, the settler families and Tā Tipene O’Regan. Fire and Ice Waka Ama Club and Brendon Flack were on the harbour with their waka. Simon Kaan led an art workshop and an interactive display in the church featured a timeline of the arrival of Polynesian tūpuna then sealers and whalers and eventually the settler ships.

Ewan Duff and Doug Ditford demonstrated the craftmanship of mōkihi and craft activities for tamariki were led by Sarah McDougal. In the basement were stalls including Amber Bridgman with her fashion label Kahuwai and on the mezzanine floor was traditional mirimiri massage by Te Aomihia Rangihuna. The Wharf Street Band was great and the kai court well utlised.

Our Ngāi Tahu treaty day would not have been so successful were it not for all the kaimahi who volunteered their time and skills, including Claire Aiken and Moana House; caterer Bede Beaument and Cathy; Department of Conservation Coastal Otago staff, University students and more – over 40 people were briefed on our programme and health and safety requirements. Also, we would like to thank hapū and iwi for their part in this commemoration, Dave Williams for kōura; the amazing team from Ngāi Tahu under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer, Arihia Bennett who supplied funding, fish and beef, Ngāi Tahu Comms for all the video and sound work – thank you all! To everyone we thank you for your interest, commitment and hard work. There is still Te Hereka Waka merchandise including shirts, bags, caps and hats for sale at whānau rates so be in.

The new Police District Commander Paul Basham was welcomed onto the marae on 28 February. It was heartening to hear the commander attempt so much of his speech in te reo Māori and we anticipate a strengthening of calibre and depth of leadership for Otago/Southland.

Archaeological update

Local enthusiasts led by archaeologists Shar Briden (independent) and Rachel Wesley of Ōtākou have retrieved further historical finds at Papanui Inlet. The Papanui waka was recovered in October 2014 and many other artefacts have been found since 2007. Coastal erosion continues to reveal more relics. There are protections in this area to reduce vehicles and fossicking.

Summer Pops Tour

Our thanks go to the award-winning classic Māori show band, the Modern Māori Quartet for providing tickets for kaumātua to attend their Summer Pops show in the Dunedin. Together with the NZ Symphony Orchestra the MMQ sang their way through their ‘garage party’ demonstrating their wit and amazing harmonies. A great night, thank you Modern Māori Quartet.

Rā whānau2
Wishing you a very happy birthday – Ngā mihi rā i tō rā whānau.

Ngā mate

Me ngā whakaaro, inoi aroha atu - with loving thoughts and prayers to those who have lost a love one at this time.

Treaty commemorations
By the time this February pānui goes to print, Waitangi Day will be all done and dusted. Tracey Potiki worked tirelessly to create a great programme with the steering komiti and office staff especially administrator, Nic Hedley. Also Pete Asher – groundsman, Toni Evans – cleaner, kaimahi teams, whānau members and Department of Conservation Coastal Otago office working bees have done a great job to prepare for the big day.

Ōtākou hīkoi
Nau mai, haere mai, tauti mai. Ōtākou Rūnaka are seeking registrations of interest from hapū members who are able to commit to the Taranaki hīkoi from 1-12 November this year. Please contact us via email: event@tro.org.nz to confirm your interest.Whānau will need to be self-supporting and fundraise for own expenses.

The charter bus or buses willleave from Ōtākou Marae and will travel stopping at key sites along the way.
Whānau will be asked to commit time to learning waiata for the hīkoi.

For all enquiries or to express your interest in being a part of the hīkoi, please phone the office: 03 478 0352 or email Tracey at events@tro.org.nz

Next Ōtākou pānui news items, i.e. births, deaths, achievements, history items are welcome by 1 March.

Ka mihi aroha ki a koutou e te whānau o Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, from Ōtākou Rūnaka.

Methodist pūtea grant

Applications for the Methodist Pūtea Grant are nowopen to the seven Papatipu Rūnaka, south of the Waitaki and close 31 March. The grant provides financial assistance for Kāi Tahu members engaged in theology and/or wairua related studies; and financial assistance for the upkeep of church buildings attached to Kāi Tahu marae and/or rūnaka.

Last year the two successful applicants were Purākaunui Block Inc, Motoitoi Documentary, Nicola Taylor – $3,500; and Waikouaiti Sec 2, Blk XII Trustees, Brenda Van Strik – $1,000

We look forward to receiving this year’s applications. Application forms are available from our office 03 478 0352 or office@tro.org.nz

The volunteer monitoring team, under the direction of archaeologists Shar Briden, Brian Allingham, and Rachel Wesley are making fairly regular trips over the summer to continue monitoring this dynamic wāhi tūpuna. 

Preparing for a day’s mahi over the Christmas break. (F Carolyn Campbell, Edward Ellison, Brain Allingham, Daniel Tipa, Phil Latham).

Koreana Wesley-Evans carefully works around an artefact on a December excavation. From left, Brian Allingham, Carolyn Campbell, Koreana Wesley-Evans, Rachel Wesley, Kate Dempsey.