Kia ora whānau, as we experience polar extremities of weather we are reminded of how fickle Tokerau can be. The gardeners amongst us are rushing to get their last minute jobs done before winter bites. We spare a thought for whānau whose mahi necessitates the need to work in the elements.
Over the past month, the executive have been busy attending various hui and hearings as well as attending to the core business of the rūnaka. Some whānau members have been involved in bird transfers and have facilitated workshops at hui. At the same time various whānau members enjoyed Easter at Rarotoka and others made use of the rūnaka holiday home in Te Anau.
The month ahead promises to be a busy one with a couple of significant events planned, more information next month.
If you have enjoyed a birthday in the last month or have new additions to your whānau, congratulations and here is wishing you all good health and prosperity for the year ahead.
We are always looking for volunteers to help out with our various projects and commitments. There are many diverse roles that we need help with, including; representation on boards or appointment panels, helping with bird transfers, assisting at the marae and working in the nursery or the wetlands etc. If you are keen to play a more active role within the rūnaka please contact us here at the office to discuss the options.
Early childhood wānaka
Strengthening Early Learning Opportunities (SELO) is a small contract that Ngāi Tahu has with the Ministry of Education (2014-2015).
Although Waihōpai Rūnaka won the contract for the Murihiku Early childhood Centres, it made sense that centres in the rohe of Ōraka-Aparima Rūnaka were invited and hosted at Takutai o te Tītī Marae. Rangimaria Suddaby, Henare Manawatu, Ellen Pe’a, Muriel Johnstone, Cherie Anderson and Judy McDowall (from Aparima) were invited to present various aspect of their expertise at the wānaka.
There were also participants from the Southland Play Centre, Ōhai Play Centre, Te Puawai ki Murihiku Whānau Rōpū, Wallacetown Play Centre, Riverton Kindergarten, and the Ōtautau Play Centre.
Participants strum their ukulele and learn during Judy McDowall’s facilitation.
Ukulele were used as a way to learn during the wānaka.
Museum visit
Rangimaria Suddaby and her hoa tāne, Heydon recently visited the Te Ana Rock Art Centre in Timaru.
It was a wonderful experience seeing, interacting and having a kōrero with the kaimahi from the museum – Amanda Symonds being one. The Pouākai was frightening, but fun. I loved the digital animation with Aoraki and his brothers too. Heydon made a ‘rubbing’ of a Rock Art figure. Anne Wakefield made that comment too, after she and some friends or colleagues visited the centre. Well done goes to our Ngāi Tahu Rock Art Trust.
Wharerau
Rangimaria pullinng down the wharerau.
The rauemi to make the wharerau were gathered from Te Kōawa Tūroa o Takitimu (Manuka brush and stakes) as part of an activity for manuhiri who visited Takutai o te Tītī Marae recently. The rōpū from Northfield Mount Herman (USA) made their wharerau on the front porch.
A few weeks later the Te Anau kura tuatahi made their wharerau out near Tīmata (the nursery). There was a lot of kōrero, laughter and learning going on at each making.
A big mihi goes to Glen Suddaby who helped his mother.
Hākinakina day
For Te Wharekura o Arowhenua hākinakina day, Matua Gary Davis (Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka) dressed for the occasion to support ‘his’ whare at Te Whatawhata sports day.
The high school have four rōpū, Te Whatawhata, Takitimu, Hananui and Te Taurapa. Great outfit Matua Gary – not sure about the wings though.
Matua Gary in his awesome outfit.
Contact details
We are always looking at ways of improving our communication with whānau. To help us with this could you please ensure that you keep all your contact details up-to-date. If you have recently started using email or changed your, Internet provider please let us know your details so we can add/amend them on our distribution list.
Contributions
We welcome contributions form whānau for Te Pānui Rūnaka. If you wish to contribute please send your news and stories to us at [email protected] or phone 03 234 8192. Did you know we are now on Facebook? To contact us via our page please follow this link http://www.facebook.com/OrakaAparimaRunakaPanui.