Chantal Tumahai, Terita Mason, El-Alamein Meihana Whittle, Kaleshea Tauwhare, Marlon Price, Chris Lewis, Kereopa Ria, Irai Weepu, Mikayla Tumahai, Kupe Tauwhare, Tania Tauwhare, James Campbell, Moana Lee, Tamaki Tumahai, Chelsea Meihana, Awatea Tauwhare, Tina Weepu, Maighdlin Hinekoau Jones, Miriama Johnsen, Miriam Downs, Hector Tainui, Ariana Stevens, George Read, Marina Russell, India Lilly Campbell, Polly Mei Campbell. To everyone who has had a birthday this month and their names aren’t above I apologise but we have not been given your names. We hope you all had a wonderful day and wish you all the best.

He pēpi

Congratulations to David Mason and Gemma Trezise on the arrival of their new baby taonga, Tuhuru William Trezise-Mason. Tuhuru was delivered by his pāpā at Greymouth Hospital on 14 August weighing 8lb 9oz and 57cm in length. Goodbye tummy – hello mummy (and pāpā). May your little bundle of joy bring you more happiness.

Wishing you a future filled with love, joy and laughter. Parenthood is one of the best journeys in life, we hope you enjoy the ride. Get ready for mud, big trucks, sling-shots, a never-ending appetite, skinned-knees, and action figures. May your new little one grow strong, healthy and wise. Wishing you all the best. Aunty loves you Tuhuru xoxo.

Tuhuru in the arms of his pāpā, David Mason.

Tuhuru William Trezise-Mason.

Rūnanga business

Rūnanga hui are held every second Sunday of each month 11am-3pm. Enquires to Te Tari o Arahura phone: 03 755 6451 or email: admin@ngatiwaewae.org.nz.

We welcome contributions from whānau for Te Pānui Rūnaka, so please send any news and photos to Nelly.Mason@ngaitahu.iwi.nz or phone: 03 755 6451. Or visit the tari anytime. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa.

Notice of annual general meeting

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae Incorporated – annual general meeting on 30 October 2016 at 11.00am to be held at Arahura Marae, 1 Old Christchurch Road, Hokitika.

Agenda items:

1. Annual report 2016
2. Approval of Audited Accounts year end 30 June 2016
3. Approval of Accountant
4. Approval of Auditor
5. Elections of Executive – 3 executive terms are due to expire. If you are interested please contact Hamiria for eligibility criteria. Outgoing executive are eligible for re-election.

For further information please contact Hamiria at the Rūnanga office, Phone: 03 7556451, email: admin@ngatiwaewae.org.nz.

Note: The monthly general meeting will follow the conclusion of the AGM. All whānau welcome. Nā Chairman, Francois Tumahai.

Our Arahura whare tipuna dawn blessing and opening was held on Friday 21 November. The day started with Arahura whānau assembling at the waharoa around 5.15am. They were led through the waharoa by our tāne kaiwero. Ngāi Tahu whānui and other manuhiri were led by our Ngāi Tahu whānau, who conducted the kaikarakia, Tā Tipene O’Regan, Justin Tipa and Jymal Morgan were supported by Che Wilson. This was followed by a pōwhiri at 10am.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae would like to acknowledge the following individuals and organisations who contributed to the realisation of our moemoeā “Arahura Marae.” Firstly we thank and acknowledge all of the support from our Arahura whānau and Ngāi Tahu whānui.

Sadly some of our kaumātua who worked tirelessly to support the Arahura Marae development project have passed. Our upoko rūnanga, Uncle Hup (Wereta) Tainui, Aunty Babe (Mary) and Uncle Jock Tulloch, Aunty Te Māori Raukawa (Tort) Tainui and Aunty Miriam (Nin) Henderson, Uncle Bob Tuhuru, Marion Kingi and Aunty Jean Doland.

We thank the following people and groups for their koha: Nolene Tainui, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua, Te Mairiki Ellison Taiaroa Trust, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, Māwhera Incorporation, Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnanga, Ngāi Tahu Seafood, Ngāi Tahu Farming, Makaawhio Rūnanga and Ngāi Tahu Property. A number of whānau gave koha for the pounamu tiles that are to be installed in 2015.

We are grateful for the support of the following funders: Ngāi Tahu Fund, Lotteries Marae Heritage, Solid Energy, Bathurst Resources, Meridian Energy, Oceana Gold, Te Puni Kōkiri, Seafields Resources, Development West Coast, Westland District Council, Work and Income NZ, Arahura Holding Ltd, Kāti Waewae Charitable Trust and Community Employment Group.

We acknowledge the following organisations that were part of the construction: MAP Architecture, ABA Consulting, Mike Muir Builders and sub-contractors, Jeff Evans Plumbing, Hokitika Electrical, Art Fetiche, Electronet, Jeff Parker, West Roads, Southern Hospitality, Metro Flooring, Commlite, Sound Workshops, Department of Conservation and the office of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

We would like to acknowledge the following groups: The Māori Wardens, the Police and the Department of Conservation.

We send a special thank you to the following people who dedicated blood, sweat and tears to the project: Francois and Lisa Tumahai, Ned and Ursula Tauwhare and to our rūnanga executive past and present – Kori Hutana, Ben Hutana, Karen Coakley, Violet Bradley, Hohepa Mason, Jason Tuhuru, David Mason, Rick Barber and Pierre Tumahai.

Thanks to our staff past and present: Hamiria Hutana, Danealla Mason, Chantal Tumahai, Daryl Tainui, Caroline Parker, Leann (Missy) Campbell, Des Hetherington, Anthony Coakley, Julie Nicole, Aaron Shannon, Wendy Bedford, Amanda Downs and Ben Te Aika.

Thanks to our weavers: Rititia Read, Tangi Weepu, Susie Gibb, Anita and Richard Gibb-Barlow, Miriam Downs, Leonie Tainui, Nadia Tainui, Kelly Mason, Bunty Mason, Bella Russell, Aroha Timothy, Matthew Sollis; also a special thank you to Ranui Ngarimu.

We also thank all of the weavers who came to support us from other Papatipu Rūnanga and iwi. Over time there have been numerous people who have supported this project and we apologise if we have missed any names.

Thanks to our carvers: Mahana Coulston, Caleb Robinson, Jamie Whittle, James York (whare tipuna), Turi Gibb (waharoa), Riki Manual (kōruru),
Lewis Gardiner (tekoteko), Ian-Wayne Grant and Tony Thompson. And a big thank you to our lead carver, Fayne Robinson.

Thanks to our tutors: Jerry Pu (kaiwero) and Teena Henderson (kaikaranga), Te Rua Mason, Miriama White, David Brennan and Horiana Tootell (waiata) and Pita and Maraea Peawini (kapa haka).

Te Pao a Tahu, especially Henare and Corban Te Aika, Te Kura Tuatahi o Hokitika Kapa Haka Rōpū and Te Kura Tuarua o Hokitika Kapa Haka Rōpū, we thank you all for your commitment and support. Tino Ātaahua te kapa haka koutou mā. A big thank you to Tā Tipene O’Regan for your advice and support. To Jymal Morgan and the KMK team we thank you.

To our whānau a special acknowledgement and thank you to: Leann (Missy) Campbell, Diana and Wayne Coulston, Daniel Tainui, Trish Barlow and Gary Lang, Andre and Nigel Mehrtens, Jake Meihana, Tihou Messenger-Weepu, Shane Lang and Annabelle Lee, Sam Tauwhare, Dane Tumahai, Lewis Robinson and Tana Luke, Patrick Tootell and Dotty Morrison. Cazna and Lee Luke, Bronwyn Thompson, Trudy Thompson and Rhonda Thompson.

To our kaumātua: Hilda and Hector Tainui, Maika Mason, Papakura Tainui, Matariki Tumahai, Gay and Tahana Tauwhare, Ina and Jerry Pu, Martha and Reuben Sargeant, June and Paul Tuhuru, Teresa and Barry Rooney, Hemi and Karen Mason, Barbara Vaea, Bill Russell, Muri Tuhuru, Iris and Gordon Weaver, Nora McQuarrie, Bill Henderson, John Tauwhare, Alan Tainui and Eli and Te Whe Weepu, thank you all.

To the Arahura whānau, Ngāi Tahu whānui and community groups/individuals who supported our opening we thank you. We apologise if we have missed any names.

To Vicki Ratana and the whānau at Mokowhiti Ltd – our marvellous events management team – we would not have made it through the final months without your amazing dedication and support.

A special thank you to our rūnanga chair and marae development project manager, Francois Tumahai – kā mihi aroha ki a koe.

Kaikarakia: Tā Tipene O’Regan, Tahu Potiki, Justin Tipa, Jymal Morgan, Te Mairiki Williams; Tāua Papakura Tainui Puhi, Leigh Grace Tainui; kaikaranga: Horiana Tootell, Diana Coulston, Leann (Missy) Campbell, Hamiria Hutana and Teena Henderson; Kaiwero: Jerry Pu, Hector Tainui (Snr), Hector Tainui (Jnr), Katene Campbell, Teoti Campbell, Caleb Robinson, James Ellers, Matthew Sollis, Anthony Barlow, Te Ahu Russell, Chantal Tumahai, Te Amo Pu, Maia Campbell, Brooke Parker and Zoe Wallace; kaiwhaikōrero: Ned Tauwhare, Te Rua Mason, Rino Tirakatene, Richard Wallace and Tā Tipene O’Regan.

Nei rā hoki kā roimata takiwai o te hapū nei mō kā tini mate kua hika mai, kua hika atu. Ki a koutou kua hīkoi atu ki te taha o kā mātua tīpuna ki tua o te ārai, haere, haere, haere atu rā. Moe mai koutou i te rakimārie. Rātou ki ā rātou, tātou anō ki a tātou. Tēnā anō tātou katoa.

December will be another busy month for us. We had our Hākari Kaumātua (dinner) on 6 December and the following weekend we hosted our annual Makaawhio Xmas pool party.

Our office will be closing from Friday 19 December to Monday 12 January 2015.
Please note 10 January in your diaries and come and join us at the Kūmara Races.

Not much has changed weather-wise here on Te Tai o Poutini. Our reputation for rain has been more than fulfilled over the past month. Water tanks are full, our awa have been up and Tama-nui-te-rā has been paying us fleeting visits.

Weather aside, it has been an exciting month here on Te Tai o Poutini and especially for our whanauka hapū of Poutini Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Waewae, who after a 150 year wait, opened their stunning new marae in November.

We were honoured to share with our Poutini whanauka, the pride and joy that comes with finally realising such a long held dream; and to be invited on to the paepae to welcome te iti me te rahi to Arahura.

Tūhuru is a work of art and an awesome expression of the whakapapa and history of Te Tai o Poutini and our Poutini Kāi Tahu connections. We were stunned by the very generous tribute to our Kāti Māhaki tīpuna, with the inclusion of an entire (southern) wall devoted to our South Westland ancestors, with the adornments and ambience of the whare. We are so pleased for our whanauka.

It was therefore our honour as Māhaki to live up to our name and manaaki Ngāti Waewae on their special day. We helped kaimahi feed the multitudes and we presented the hau kāika with our koha of three giant canvases of historic photos of the old Arahura Rūnanga Hall, Tairea.

Nō reira, nei rā te mihi aroha ki a koutou o Ngāti Waewae. Tū mai rā te whare tipuna, tū mai rā Tūhuru e.

Māhaki team prepping plates for service.

Feeding the multitudes.

Presenting the Makaawhio koha.

Ngā kaikōrero, from left, Te Rua Mason, Rino Tirikatene, Richard Wallace (Makaawhio), Tā Tipene O’Regan, Ned Tauwhare and Ely Weepu.

Te iti me te rahi.