Āpōtoro Takiwā Kereama Pene came from Tāmaki Makaurau to teach us about Tahu Pōtiki Wiremu Rātana and the Māramatanga. Āpōtoro Rehita Daniel Nehemia along with Te Whaea o te Katoa Reo members came as did the Heketari and Reo members from Rātana Pā.

We spent the whole weekend thoroughly enjoying ourselves, listening to the stories, history and prophesies of the Māngai in a two way processes of questions, answers and periodically some fierce debates. We also had the pleasure of listening to our reo members playing our favourite marches and absolutely loved singing our little hearts out to our Waiata Whakamoemiti! Awesome! Ōtautahi Māori Women’s Welfare League took care of our sustenance to the max, we thoroughly enjoyed all that wonderful kai that has led us to wanting more of the same, and then some!

To that end, we have leg-roped Āpōtoro Takiwā Kereama and whanaunga from Te Ōmeka Pā in Matamata to set up more wānanga for this year.

Here are the dates:

• May 12-14
  Pōwhiri 5pm – Te Tuahiwi Marae, 219 Tuahiwi Road Tuahiwi
• June 16-18
  Pōwhiri 5pm – Te Rehua Marae, 79 Springfield Road, Christchurch
• July 7-9
  Pōwhiri 5pm – Te Tuahiwi Marae, 219 Tuahiwi Road Tuahiwi
• August 11-13
  Pōwhiri 5pm – Te Tuahiwi Marae 219 Tuahiwi Rd Tuahiwi
• September 15-17
  TBC – Te Rehua Marae, 79 Springfield Road, Christchurch.

There are enough spaces for 21 students. All Pou (Āpōtoro Rehita, Āpōtoro Wairua, Ākonga, Āwhina, Rōpū Raupō, Kātipa, Te Reo, and Koea) will have first option. Thereafter, mōrehu and anyone else interested in learning or re-learning about our hāhi and māramatanga are encouraged to enrol. There are no study fees but two forms of identification are required. Adult learning only, there are100 study hours in five weekend wānanga. Piki te ora, piki te kaha me te māramatanga ki a tātou katoa. Aroha H Reriti-Crofts CBE JP Tiamana, Te Komiti Takiwā o Te Wai Waipounamu – whiti atu ki Wharekauri. aroharc@xtra.co.nz

During the wānaka, I was captivated by the source of knowledge that our tribe holds within our tangata whenua. Trying to soak up every word that was spoken as I wrote quotes and phrases down, glancing at the new resources I was given and enjoying the new “lateral whakapapa connections” I was making with all the other wānaka participants/whānau.

One of the many things that really stuck out for me was that “to know where you are going, you must first know where you have come from”. Hence this particular wānaka was about our history as Ngāi Tahu and the Settlement which is only one chapter of Ngāi Tahu but granted, a very important chapter of the tribe. And that each generation has its own cause, so what will be ours? For myself, I believe that we need to be “cultivating our culture”. And as I am not a te reo speaker, my task is to learn, speak and show more of my culture so that I may teach my tamariki. “To feed the mind, you must also feed the body”. So chur to the whānau at Tuahiwi for the mean feeds during the weekend – I am still talking about them too! I could talk more about this humbling experience I was lucky to be involved in but Te Pānui Rūnaka probably will not want to publish my novel. Just know that I have come back inspired about my hapū and iwi and inspired by the possibilities and prospects that the future holds for us all.
Nā Rachael Forsyth.

Manawa Tītī 2017 at Tuahiwi Marae.

Condolences to all who have lost loved ones lately.

As usual the marae has been very busy. Our daughter/sister Ngawini arrived home from Australia last week which was very good. On the Saturday we played cards. Ngawini, me, Tuk and Joan and what a night that was. ‘Enough said.’

Hi to Mereana, glad you are home from hospital and doing okay. Happy Birthday to Michelle for 5 June. Must be getting old now. Catching up to me — who said that.

All is well at the marae. Lawns are getting mowed as is the cemetery. Our Koral has been off work sick and hope all is well. We really miss you luv. It’s not the same not hearing those twinkle-toe steps walking around.

At present we are having our footpaths fixed where they were cracked. Also opposite the cemetery. Johno always wanted footpaths right through Tuahiwi ‘might get them yet bro’ — we hope.

If I have forgotten anything I’ll let you know later, must do my scratchies now and away for my beauty sleep.

So till next time,
Luv you all.
K.K.K.

Bob Cox hereby calls a meeting under the Māori Reservations Regulations to replace past Trustees of Section 205 Kaiapoi Native Reserve 873 (Rakiwakaputa) Cemetery Reserve.

Trustees to be replaced; in succession order are:

1st Trustees (all deceased)

• Hone Paratene
• Wi Nahira
• Aperahama Te Aika
• Pohipi Te Aorahui
• Hohepa Huria
• Natanahira Waruwarutu

2nd Trustees (all deceased)

• Puneke Huria
• Wiremu Rehu
• Kereopa Harawira
• Wiremu Momo
• Hamuera Rupene
• Pita Hohapata

Venue: Tuahiwi Marae
Date: Sunday, 3 July 2016
Time: 10.30am

Ngā mihi,
Bob Cox
Interim Trustee

The Hamuera and Kauriki Reuben Reunion from 18-20 March at Tuahiwi Marae was a huge success. Around 100 whānau members attended – this exceeded our estimated number and we had whānau come from as far as Western Australia and Queensland plus others attended from all over New Zealand. Four of the remaining children of Hamuera and Kauriki attended the reunion and they met whānau they never knew existed.

During the reunion we did all of our own cooking and cleaning, this helped us to form new bonds as a whānau and reconnect with each other. We were able to introduce our tamariki to the marae and we taught them some of the protocols and tikanga.

Ngāi Tahu Whakapapa Unit Manager, Arapata Reuben and Dr Terry Ryan came out to the reunion and everybody was really interested in their knowledge and everything they had to say regarding whakapapa. They also traced our whakapapa back to the North Island and they gave us some history on how we ended up down here in Te Waipounamu. With assistance from the Whakapapa team, we compiled four to five generations of whakapapa for each of the 18 children of Hamuera and Kauriki Reuben. These whakapapa records will ensure our whakapapa files are up-to-date and valid.

The reunion was such a positive experience for all who attended – we are already being asked when we will hold the next one, and our Uncle wants to hold another reunion in the North Island.

We would like to thank the Ngāi Tahu Fund for their support towards our reunion. We have told people that the Ngāi Tahu Fund helped to cover the marae hire fee. The Ngāi Tahu Fund came through for us and we found the funding/application process really easy.

Well enjoy the lovely hot weather we were having before we started to get the rain. Till next time, luv you all. Drive safely, walk slowly, don’t booze, leave it all for me.

K.K.K.

Tent and caravan sites available on marae site.
Please contact Sharon Davey for any information on 03 327 4507.

Please indicate the number of attendees from your whānau, as we need to make arrangements for catering requirements.

Hohepa Huria reunion pre-registration form
Name:
Address:
Phone:
Email:
Number of adults:
$50 per person
Number of children:
14 and under free

Please send registrations to;
S.Davey, 12 Bracebridge Street, Kaiapoi 7630 or
Email: huriareunion2016@gmail.com
Facebook: Join us at ‘Huria Reunion 2016.’
Registration due before 31 August.

Mōrehu selected items that went onto the whiteboard for questioning, discussion and debate such as the history of the eighth day of November in 1918, when the Anahera Pono came to Tahu Pōtiki Wiremu Rātana with messages from Ihoa and to test him, his wife, Urumanao (Te Whaea o te katoa) and his tamariki with many trials and tribulations.

Our day began with whakamoemiti, introduction of Ngā Pou o te Hāhi and Harirū , which was then followed by shared kai.

Topics of discussion for study were: Kaupapa (rules) o te Hāhi, Te Ture Wairua, Te Ture Tangata, Te Whetū Marama (tohu),Te Tokotoru Tapu, Ngā Anahera Pono, Te Māngai, Āpotoro Akonga, Āpotoro Wairua, Āpotoro Rēhita, Āwhina, Rōpū Raupō, Te reo, Kātipa, Te Māramatanga, the official Rātana website, Te Kawenata and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

We had a most enjoyable day with many stories shared by not only mōrehu but also whanaunga who follow other faiths, and we ended our day with shared boil-up of many varieties.

Our next wānanga in the New Year will be a training wānanga for new recruits and revision for Ngā Pou o te Hāhi.

Congratulations to James Seymour from Wharekauri who on 25 January 2016 will receive his certificate at the Rātana Pā, from the Tumuaki o te Hāhi for Āpotoro Rēhita at his Whakawāhi in the Temepara.

Congratulations also to Michael Frances Bennett (Āpotoro Akonga), Iola Bennett (Kātipa) and Reimona Crofts (Kātipa).

Noho ora mai, Aroha H Reriti-Crofts CBE JP, co-chairperson, Tuahiwi Pāriha.

Yes, the All Blacks game, wasn’t it thrilling? I’m sure you must be sick of hearing about the All Blacks, as we know that they are champions – so we’ll leave it at that.

On Sunday 18 November, we had a Hāhi Rātana hui, whakamoemiti then lunch, followed by a hui meeting and dinner.

Everyone was asked to bring a boil-up for dinner. Wow, the pots that arrived, what a feast! We had pork bones, mutton birds, salt cuttings, all kinds of meats, cabbage, pūhā, watercress, vegies, and there were lots left over, so Kimmy plated kai for everyone to take home.

Aroha Hohipera Reriti-Crofts will give you all the gossip on that hui. It was so wonderful – it was all about the Hāhi Rātana. There were things that I didn’t know, but Aroha and the Āpotoro explained everything.

Of course, if you go to church you will learn eh? I would always forget there was church (liar).

Well people we have got some more glassware, so keep your hands off. What I mean is use them, just don’t take them ok?

Our gardens are looking good, so is our urupā, but the graves themselves want cleaning (I should talk). Never mind boys, I’ll be cleaning you before Christmas.
Also, I think those who have the rusty railing need a shine up too. No, I’m not growling, I’m only moaning.

We are still busy at the marae, plenty to do, plenty of hui, meetings and stuff to repair.

On 14 November, ‘Snappy Sam’ celebrated his birthday – 70 years young, ‘Sam Hoeta’. What a wonderful day, we talked, ate, drank, sang, laughed. Meeting all his wonderful sisters from up north and nieces and of course our wonderful Tuki and her daughters – they were so lovely. And, our wonderful caterers – ‘The three Queens’, and of course, our Benj, Mel, Mathias and Barry. All of the speeches were wonderful. Even Rex spoke wonderfully, oh and what do you know, he was the sober driver for his brother, Edward. I also noticed he was drinking beer, but, mostly cups of tea. “Wasn’t that lovely” – I bet he gave it hell when he got back to Ted’s in Rangiora.

The weather hasn’t been very nice but who cares, stay home it’s warmer.

I’m looking forward to going home to my own house for Christmas, as I have not been there since the Christchurch earthquakes, but whānau are getting it done pronto. I’m sure family are sick of me living out of a suitcase in their houses (no they’re not). So if you want to come and have Christmas with me, just come along it would be lovely. Otherwise, if you don’t come along, all have a lovely Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’ll have the bottle of brandy ready if you decide to call in and the wine.

So till next time, happy cheers everyone and lots of aroha. Luv you all, K.K.K.

My sympathies go to all who have lost loved ones – keep your chins up and smile – I know the feeling.

Now, down to business, what business? No, I’m not going to moan about dishes – that’s a thing of the past. But look, our rōpū from our marae Women’s Welfare League went up to Whangarei for our national conference. The rōpū included our Joan, Clare and others, so let’s hope they had a jolly good time. Also, on the same plane was my moko Kara and her partner. They were going to Whangarei for a birthday party – it’s a long way from home just to get drunk.

Also, I hear along the grapevine Ngawini and her moko and moko-moko arrived back home again, hi Ngā.

It’s been busy at the marae and there have been hui, hui, hui. But it is very good, keeps the oldies going and there’s always plenty of wonderful kai.

Now, let’s get to some other news. Who else can I talk about? Yes – Rex Anglem – he has got pansies growing around the marae and they are lovely. Also, Craig Gallagher – he’s been doing some mahi around the motu. They are such busy little people. Then there’s Denise, she wants to talk but I say, “I’ve got things to do, have you got anything to do?” Even that Koral – I haven’t got an idle moment (says me), it is all in fun.

I think the missing dishes have gone for good. Never mind, we will buy some more. It’s nearly Christmas time so load up your pockets for the children’s toys.

Jasmine, John and Tiaki have cooked us a really good roast meal. We had Tania Hodge and her group in at the marae. Tomorrow we have another group in and the three queens will cater for them. By the time all of the hui have passed, I’ll be all hui-out.

On 25 October, my moko presented me with another moko-moko. So now Michelle has four moko, all boys, but Daniel-James (Tutu) is getting married soon so I hope we may get a little girl but he told me he will have a family when he is a millionaire, so that will be never.

Now to the All Blacks – what do you all think about our Joe Moody playing for the All Blacks? As you know he is the son of Mary Jane and Tony Moody. In other words he is Noeline and Tasman Pitama’s moko and of course one of the Tuahiwi boys. We have also got another All Black from Tuahiwi School – Andrew Mehrtens. I’m not bragging, but isn’t that lovely? Go the All Blacks.

I’ve had my say now so I’m out in the rain going home to do my scratchies. Until next time everyone…and by next time I mean that I will be writing about the All Blacks winning the Rugby World Cup again. So till then, luv you all.