Ka tangihia tonutia ngā mate huhua o te wā. E ngā mate huri noa i te motu, haere atu rā ki te kāinga wairua, ki ngā mātua tīpuna. Waiho atu mātou ki konei, matapōrehu ai, tangi mōteatea ai. Okioki mai rā. Ki a tātou te urupā kanohi o rātou mā ki a tātou, nāia te mihi kau atu i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.
At the end of August a small contingent attended the eighth koroneihana celebrations of Kīngi Tuheitia Paki at Tūrangawaewae Marae, Ngāruawāhia. During our time there, we caught up with the Ngāi Tahu ki Waikato taurahere group for a waiata practice, before we were welcomed on to Tūrangawaewae Marae. It was also an opportunity to give the whānau an update on tribal activities of the past 12 months.
Following the koroneihana, we traveled to Tāneatua to attend and support the Tūhoe Crown Settlement Day ceremony. Minister, Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations, Chris Finlayson traveled to Tāneatua to give a formal apology to Tūhoe for the historical wrong doings. The Tūhoe people were there in force welcoming the Crown and other iwi to their headquarters, Te Uru Taumatua. It was a very special day enjoyed by all. Now, with the settlement done and the apology given, I look forward to seeing Tūhoe advancing their people and their aspirations.
In the last week of August, we hosted three significant hui in Christchurch. The first, Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs Forum, was held at Show Place. This is a forum for the nine iwi of the South Island.
The following day the Iwi Chairs Forum opened at Tuahiwi Marae and the Inaugural Iwi Communications Practitioners’ Forum was held at the Wigram office.
The agendas for the Te Waka a Māui Iwi Chairs and the national Iwi Chairs forums were jam-packed with papers. There were some robust discussions and some very good presentations. Both hui were well received. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ngāi Tūāhuriri for their manaaki and support during our hui at Tuahiwi Marae.
In unison with the Iwi Chairs Forum, we hosted the Inaugural Iwi Communications Practitioners’ Forum. The purpose of this hui was to set up a network of iwi practitioners, to engage with other iwi and share ideas in the communications area. This was a very successful hui and the participants are excited about what and how the forum can support them.
In September we will be having the last four Ngāi Tahu Road Shows in Whangarei, Dunedin, Bluff and Hokitika. Whānau please check out the website, www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz, for dates and venues. We are encouraging whānau to come along to hear the kōrero and give feedback. If you are unable to attend any of these hui, please email your pātai to [email protected], tweet @Ngaitahu or make a post on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TeRunangaoNgaiTahu