Congratulations
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura would like to congratulate Manaia Tickell who is the daughter of proud parents Karaitiana and Alice Tickell and mokopuna of Rereao Tickell-Poharama and Michael Tickell.
Manaia was one of 30 recipients who received a 2015 Canterbury District Health Board Māori & Pacific Scholarship. She is in her first year studying toward a Bachelor of Health Science.
Manaia with He Oranga Pounamu CEO, Robyn Wallace.
Takahanga Marae news
Kaikōura Integrated Health Centre blessing
On 15 August, rūnanga members and the Kaikōura community attended the blessing of the Kaikōura Integrated Health Centre.
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura were asked to gift a name for the new facility and it was agreed that the name would be, Te Hā o Te Ora.
Te Hā talks about aroha, the essence of a person, or their whole being. Ora talks about wellbeing, which is the essence of health itself. The name also has added meaning gleaned from the legend of Māui, who is said to have stood with his foot on the peninsula to draw breath (Te Hā) before he fished up the North Island.
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura member, Raewyn Solomon says the gifting of the name is important. The whole site is of cultural significance because it is part of the original pā site of Takahanga.
“In addition to gifting the name, Brett Cowan blessed the Kaikōura health centre, Te Hā o Te Ora to ensure the protection of all who use the facility from now into the future.”
Prior to the first stages of the excavation, talks had begun with our environmental coordinator, Raewyn Solomon, who responded to their resource consent. Michael Trotter (archaeologist) along with Amelia Taylor (cultural monitor) attended the site during the first excavation period a year ago.
The rūnanga will contribute art work for the whānau room as well as a cultural gateway. The hospital and Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura had to upgrade the power supply which worked well with the timing of our new wharekai.
The rūnanga also gave the contractors permission to use our driveway for access to the site.
The new facility will be great for Kaikōura and although the old hospital holds many memories for whānau, we all look forward to the new hospital that will have breath-taking views from the mountains to the sea.
Trengrove Architects Ltd artist impression of the centre.
The original hospital facility.
Rūnanga member, Brett Cowan and project mananger, Tim Fahy.
Brett Cowan leading rūnanga members and members of the Kaikōura community.
Marae bookings
Takahanga has been buzzing over the last month with plenty of bookings. We have had received bookings from Kaikōura High School, the Hurunui District Council, representatives from China hosted by Whale Watch, the Kaikōura Information Centre, members from the University of Florida, the Manawhenua Working Party, Nelson/Marlborough Institute of Technology, the Ahu Whenua Trust, the University of Canterbury, Te Puni Kōkiri and Braugher College.
Thank you to those who have kept our paepae warm. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.
Board field trip
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representatives, Gina Solomon and Amelia Taylor attended the Nelson/Marlborough Conservation board hui which was followed by a field trip to the Abel Tasman National Park.
We took a boat to the park from Kaiteriteri Beach and stayed overnight at the Anchorage Hut, a spacious 34 bunk hut built in 2013.
One of the Department of Conservation (DoC) support staff talked about ‘good nature’ – 24 self-resetting traps that are being used by Project Janszoon and Abel Tasman Birdsong Trust to control rats. Each gas-powered trap will reset itself up to 24 times.
One morning we walked along the golden beach at Anchorage to see where Motueka High School students have planted a range of dune species for dune restoration.
Another boat ride and walk brought us to Onetahuti Bridge. This bridge and boardwalk were completed in late 2013, allowing all-tide access across the Richardson Stream. The bridge has been built to reflect the design of a waka. It’s a wonderful example of working together with mana whenua to incorporate symbolic elements into the park infrastructure.
Minister Nick Smith attended our board meeting in Motueka and Minister Nicky Wagner attended the field trip with the Nelson/Marlborough DoC board.
The board at Anchorage Beach.
The group visiting the Onetahuti Bridge.
Minister Nicky Wagner and a DoC staff member.
Keeping te reo alive
One of our education pou leaders, Rawiri Manawatu has been successfully holding weekly te reo classes at the marae.
We are proud of Rawiri’s achievements and his drive and passion to keep the language alive. He has a strong rōpū of 35 people who have been attending ranging from pēpi to rangatahi and pakeke to kaumātua.
Rawiri has a humble and encouraging approach when teaching, which is reflected in the positive feedback from the participants who have been attending the classes.
Ka mau te wehi Rawiri.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei – For us, and our children after us.
Call for nominations
Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Inc is calling for nominations for directors for Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd (charitable company). Elections will take place at our Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Ltd shareholder annual general meeting on Sunday 11 October at 10.30 am, Takahanga Marae, Kaikōura. All enquiries are to be directed to Gina Solomon, secretary of Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Inc, phone 027 516 1715; or email [email protected]