Kāi Tahu Ki Ōtaki

In this month’s article for Kāi Tahu ki Ōtaki we are profiling one of our special tāua, who is a poutokomanawa for our rōpū here in Ōtaki.

Mary Williams.

Mary Williams.

Mary Clare Bradshaw was born at 11 Ann Street in Bluff on 20 September 1936 to Agnes and Charles Huia Bradshaw. Her grandparents on her Dad’s side were Ellen Bradshaw (nee Harwood) and Charles Huia Bradshaw (from Bluff); and on her Mum’s side, Thomas and Mary O’Neil. Mary has an older sister, Joan, and an older brother, Neil. Mary and her whānau are Kāti Rakiamoa and belong to Te Rau Aroha Marae. She was schooled at St Theresa Primary School in Bluff and then at St Catherine’s College in Invercargill. Mary has fond memories of gatherings at ‘The Māori House,’ where Aunty Ngawara and Uncle Norman Bradshaw would teach action songs and haka.

In 1957, Mary married Henry Williams (Muaupoko) in Bluff and they went on to have four children – Donna, Marianna, Sterling and Clare. As tamariki they all went to ‘Waitaha Hall’ to learn action songs and haka from Aunty Celia and Uncle Bill Ramati. Twenty years ago, Mary and Henry left Bluff to move to Ōtaki, where all of their children lived. However, Mary still thinks of Bluff as her home. As well as her four children, Mary has fifteen grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren with one more on the way. Mary enjoys getting together with the Kāi Tahu ki Ōtaki rōpu and hopes it will continue to grow and prosper. E te Tāua, e Mary, he mihi aroha ki a koe.

Mary and Henry with their children, (from left)  Donna, Mariana, Clare and Sterling.

Mary and Henry with their children, (from left) Donna, Mariana, Clare and Sterling.

Mary at the 2013 Kāi Tahu ki Ōtaki weaving wānanga.

Mary at the 2013 Kāi Tahu ki Ōtaki weaving wānanga.

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Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana

First hui
On a warm Sunday afternoon, a small group of whānau gathered at the Tauranga Boys’ College wharenui for our first catch-up of the year. Huey Rurehe, chair, opened the meeting and we heard from Uncle Joe on various items he has been working through for the whānau. The planning for our trip south in October is going really well and each time we meet we have progressed further. It’s going to be a great trip.

We welcomed Shona Morris as a new member of the whānau – it’s always great to have more whānau come on board. Thanks for making the time to come along Shona and we hope to see a lot more of you.

Brian and Haina’s mokopuna came along with the biggest smiles, masses of enthusiasm and the nicest manners; and they joined in with us “older ones,” in some fun lessons in basic haka led by Huey Rurehe. Our next hui is our annual general meeting, which will be held on Sunday 27 April, at 1pm at Tauranga Boys’ College wharenui. We hope to have a special guest speaker from Ngāi Tahu in Christchurch. At this stage it is in the planning and we can’t confirm yet. If you have been thinking you would like to come along to a hui (we have 5-6 per year), now would be a great time.

If you have any queries, please contact Uncle Joe Briggs on 07 578 5997. We welcome all whānau.

Back, Haina Inia, Shona Morris, Brian Inia.  Front, Haina and Brian’s mokopuna, Marukauhau and Sataviah Howden-Turnball.

Back, Haina Inia, Shona Morris, Brian Inia. Front, Haina and Brian’s mokopuna, Marukauhau and Sataviah Howden-Turnball.

Ngāi Tahu ki Tāmaki Makaurau

A tribute to Charlie Boy
Kāi Tahu whānau ki Tāmaki Makaurau have loved this wonderful little Shetland pony, Charlie Boy for the last eight years. He’s brought joy and pleasure to our tamariki as one of the attractions at our annual Waitangi Day celebrations.

Thank you so much Charlie Boy for the many rides that you gave our children. You had a calm and peaceful nature and you made our children feel so safe. This year the children missed you Charlie Boy – they remembered you and asked where you were because they enjoyed being with you. But sadly Charlie, you were taken during a very heavy storm and you were unable to make it. You will always be fondly remembered and sadly missed. Thanks and farewell Charlie Boy. And Vicky, we give you our love and support, and thanks for all those times you have driven Charlie Boy over to us here in Tāmaki Makaurau.

A well-loved little pony.

A well-loved little pony.

A favourite with the tamariki.

A favourite with the tamariki.