On Monday 23 January, Te Taumutu Rūnanga kaumātua, Liz Brown and Justin Tipa conducted the turning of the sod at Lemonwood Grove School (Te Uru Tarata).

Tree planting at Lemonwood Grove School.

Rolleston College opening

On Monday 30 January the Rolleston College (Horoeka Haemata) was opened by the Minister of Education, Hekia Parata and Amy Adams, MP for the Selwyn District.  Te Taumutu Rūnanga blessed the buildings and two young students, helped by Liz Brown, did the turning of the sod with karakia delivered by Justin Tipa.

Amy Adams, Liz Brown, Justin Tipa and two students plant a tree at Rolleston College.

Taumutu can certainly vouch for Sharon’s beautiful singing prowess, as we’ve been blessed to have Sharon entertain kaumātua at the marae for our Kaumātua Matariki lunch celebrations for the past two years – we look forward to her entertaining whānau again in the future.

Sharon Russell, Shane Keating, Gina Keating with their trophy at NZ Country Music Entertainer of the Year.

We would also like to acknowledge staff from the office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu who were at Taumutu undertaking clean up jobs as part of the Settlement Day commemorations, some were able to be persuaded to come and assist tamariki with producing their mōkihi – all efforts were greatly appreciated.

Thomas Horton weeding at the urupā.

Te Rūnanga staff ready for mahi.

There were 35 tamariki who worked diligently on producing small replica mōkihi – this required a lot of patience and perseverance. However, the results were awesome, ka mau te wehi! A small crew produced a large mōkihi which we aim to take on the water at our next tamariki day, so don’t forget to join us Taumutu whānau.

Joe Wakefield demonstrating his paddling technique in the completed mōkihi.

Joe Wakefield completing the final touches to the mōkihi.

‘Always at heart’ is a family affair with husband and wife, Gina and Shane Keating, performing alongside Gina’s mother Sharon Russell (Nutira whānau). We first started performing over 20 years ago and have been successful in many competitions throughout New Zealand. We have won several overall titles as solo, duo and group artists and will travel to Rotorua to compete for the title of New Zealand Country Entertainer of the Year.

Gina also competes for that title as a soloist so will perform twice. Music is a legacy that we are passing on with Gina and Shane having four talented young boys who are all following in their parents’ footsteps. Tragedy struck our family in 2009 when Sharon’s son Daniel, brother to Gina, lost his life in a mining accident in Australia at the age of 26. Because of this tragedy we have all been inspired to write songs to help with our grief. Shane was announced the winner of the song-writing section at the Whakatāne awards with a song he wrote for Daniel’s partner about the day he was taken from us. The song is called “Give Me Back the Day Before.” Music and singing together as a family made us stronger as it keeps our memories alive and reminds us that you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Sharon Russell, Shane Keating and Gina Keating, ready to head to Rotorua.

Rachel Robilliard was admitted to the bar at a ceremony in the High Court in Auckland.

In April she graduated from the University of Canterbury with a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environmental Science. During her time at university, Rachel contributed to many voluntary groups. She was tuakana with the Māori Development Team, UC from 2013 to 2015. In this role she mentored first year Māori students and assisted with events.

Rachel was tumuaki of Te Putairiki, the UC Māori Law Students’ Association in 2015, Tumuaki Tuarua in 2014 and Apiha Pānui in 2013; and the 2012 Selwyn delegate to the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs Rangatahi Leadership Programme. She is now assisting with the mahi for this kaupapa.

She was selected to attend the Aspiring Leaders’ Forum in 2012 and was a Ngāi Tahu delegate at the First Nations Futures Institute, Stanford University in 2014.

Rachel was an intern with the Volunteer Army Foundation in 2013-2014. She has been a UC Host Communications and External Relations representative; and has been the recipient of a number of scholarships and awards.

Rachel is working in an environmental law position for Russell McVeagh in Auckland.

Te Taumutu Rūnanga is missing her contribution as our minutes secretary and as an active member of the rūnanga.

Rachel Robilliard – recently admitted to the bar.

Success for young rugby fan

Jayda Siyakurima (Teihoka whānau) is rugby mad. She has just made the Canterbury School girls’ rugby development team and is looking forward to representing her province. Jayda currently plays club rugby for the Southbridge under 13 team, which is combined with Irwell and Dunsandel and the Cathedral College school girls’ team. Jayda has been playing rugby for just on five years and has no intention of giving up. She is passionate about the game and she enjoys playing in all her teams. She hopes to further this in the future, as long as she can continue her education and play rugby at the same time Jayda is looking forward to her first game in August for Canterbury.

Jayda Siyakurima – future rugby star.

Two years ago I travelled to Chengdu, China where I stayed for seven days. This was a project run by the Christchurch Educated team and I was honoured to have been one of the six lucky students selected from the hundreds of nominated students.

I was the only Māori student selected for the China trip and was able to stand and teach 2,000 Chinese students a haka. I have been invited to travel overseas again to the small town of Sendei in Japan from 8-22 July. This town holds our sister school and we hope to forge a stronger relationship with them. The purpose of the trip is to strengthen our education, to expand our culture and to give them a greater understanding of New Zealand and our people. As the only Māori student invited I am proud of my Kāi Tahu heritage and I want to introduce them to many aspects relating to Māori culture, including Kāi Tahu haka and waiata.

I know this trip will be invaluable as I am in my last year at High School. I am looking at a career in the Army but plan to do a commerce degree first to strengthen my academic record.

I recently stood on ANZAC day and delivered two speeches that were very well received and I earned high praise from some distinguished service men. I would love to come to a meeting or speak to some young Kāi Tahu about experiences and how to stand tall as a young Māori man when we are the minority.

I would like to thank the Taumutu Rūnanga for their continued support, and I hope to give a little back in the future.

Tahu Russell, deputy head boy off to Japan.

Adrian Tukaki and Craig Pauling, along with Wairewa teammate Iaean Cranwell, and their crew Aoraki Matatū, competed in the Master 40 Men grade, bringing home one world championship title and two silver medals in their three team events, while Adrian also picked up a bronze medal in the Masters V1 (single) 500m race.

Their gold medal was won in the V12 (12 person) 500 metre event, by teaming up with South Auckland based crew Pineula and beating the reigning world champion Tahitian team by a nose. Their two silver medals were won in the V6 500m and 1000m races, just behind the champion Heelani team from Tahiti.

In doing so, Aoraki Matatū, from local club Te Waka Pounamu, confirmed their top national ranking and contributed to an outstanding result for the Aotearoa team, who topped the medal table for the first time, and also became the first country to ever beat the favourites Tahiti – winning a stunning 30 gold, 27 silver and 22 bronze medals across 77 events.

Another Ngāi Te Ruahikihiki paddler, Kiliona Tamati-Tupa’i (nō Ōtākou, te whānau Tamati-Elliffe/Ellison) also became a world champion, winning gold in the Junior 16 Men V12 500m event, and a silver in the J16 V6 500m event with his team from Waitakere in Auckland. Kiliona is a rising star and has a great future in the sport by winning his first world gold at the tender age of 13. Look out for more from this one.

Reflecting on the world champs, Craig Pauling says the trip was an outstanding achievement and extremely satisfying. “It was an amazing week and an absolutely outstanding ride for our team. We have come a long way over the last 15 plus years and it is great to now be able to call ourselves world champions. We are so thankful for all the support we have received from our whānau, as well as our hapū and iwi” says Craig.

Our team with our gold medals, Left to right: Adrian Tukaki, Iaean Cranwell, Ross Gilray, Todd Jago, Jack Wormald and Craig Pauling.

Action shot of our third turn – Craig at the back, Adrian is two seats in front and Iaean is in the left of the shot.

The Day Is Upon Us – D Day
“As the sun struggles to rise, as we do from our beds this cold morning, we stand here shoulder to shoulder, facing what memories lay ahead, silence falls upon us and soon breaks as the final post plays.

Because today is not only the 25 of April 2016, it’s a day we remember, ANZAC Day, a day brave families – not by choice, let their loved ones see the world they were promised, they set out for a war the world was never ready for. They left their warm beds, beautiful homes and loving families. For some, they had just started to fight for their country and the future we now call today. As we breathe in the cold air, they were treated to warm weather, far from the normal New Zealand. As we marched up the street, they marched upon the beaches of foreign sands and soil. They laid the pathway we take using the bullets they fired, the lives they took and the many lives they gave in the battles they fought.

At times like these, as young boys and girls, we are always told to remember but never told what. We never questioned, tilted our heads or screwed our noses. We bowed our heads when others did, we crossed our hands like others did and tried our hardest to remember.

But came up with nothing. As we grow older like the kids of the soldiers who fought and their grandkids and so on…we soon learn what it all means. We remember the name Gallipoli, what soldiers are and what sacrifices they made. Approximately 8,000 sacrifices were made during Gallipoli, amongst those 2,800 were dead. Battle of Messines approximately 3,700 more sacrifices, 700 were dead.

These brave men signed up for the good of their country, to protect brothers and sisters without knowing their names and they added to great success but with a great sacrifice, they created a bond through blood and saw what no man nor women should see and with that, a brotherhood was sealed.

These are the ordinary heroes who to most will remain faceless, a name to a plaque, another place in the family tree. But they are much more than that. Have any of you sat down with the men before you – fathers, grandfathers, great-uncles and asked them of the stories they know of the men who served, did you not ask as a kid with a beaming smile, “Grandad, did you fight in the war?”

And without a second passing, Grandad froze, fists tightened as he re-gathered the thoughts of war. As he looked down to you, did you look close enough into his eyes, glassy and welling with tears. In that moment, it was like an old drive-in movie theatre through his eyes. I could see men storming trenches, see dirt jump from the earth like it was alive from every shot fired and explosives going off. Men running through the trenches, rifles on their backs and blood and dirt on their faces. Then my granddad opened his mouth bringing me back to reality.

He points to a picture, greyed and worn, it showed a man in uniform, clean shaven, sparkling eyes and young. He tells me that he was a soldier, a great man, friend and brother. He fought when we asked for soldiers because like many of us, he wanted to see the world but never knew he would not see his home again.

This man was Tahu Nutira, Lance Corporal, 28th Māori Battalion, 806927. A man who I proudly share the name with. He was my great-uncle from Little River. For those who don’t know, that’s the little town halfway to Akaroa. He lied about his age just so he could serve. Date of death 3 March 1945, aged only 21. He is buried in the Faenza Commonwealth Cemetery in Italy. He is my blood, my namesake and my ANZAC hero.

No longer the picture above the fireplace, not only a man staring back at a young kid eating cheerios. He is a warrior, who carved his legend into the land of Aotearoa. Now at nightfall, the crowds will go home back to their families. Continuing with life with no change.

Some of us bow our heads once more, we breathe a little heavier, we stand a little taller and we battle with our emotions because today is our proudest day to be a kiwi and we will remember them…We will remember them.”
Nā Tahu Russell.

Left to right: Sharon Russell (Mum), Tahu Russell, Lieutenant Commander Karl Knowles (Australian Navy).