In early July, Ngāi Tahu Whānui ki Tāmaki Makaurau held our annual mōkihi building wānanga at Arataki Visitor Centre near Titirangi in the Waitākere Ranges. Like last year, this was made possible due to the warm invitation of Riki Bennett and Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland Council), who did most of the promotion and administration and provided the venue and facilities. This wānanga was part of the Auckland-wide Matariki celebrations.

We decided that this year we would make “model-size” mōkihi that people could take home afterwards. The dried raupō for building the mōkihi was kindly gifted to us by Riki and tāngata whenua last year. We had around 25 participants including a significant number of Ngāi Tahu and quite a range of ages and ethnicities. Several young tamariki also built their own model waka and we were impressed at how they stayed enthusiastic and engaged with the kaupapa throughout the day. We were also treated to a visit from a gentleman from Arowhenua with a beautifully crafted model mōkihi from his tūpuna that was close to 100-years-old.

The day began with a karakia by our kaumātua and kaiako Papa Bones (Rissetto), followed by welcoming mihimihi from Riki Bennett and Jonathan Sargisson. Papa Bones gave a kōrero about the Ngāi Tahu history of mōkihi before teaching began and everyone started making their model waka.

On a personal note, I would like to add that it was special to have the experience of making a mōkihi with my Mum Vicki Sargisson (Ngāi Tūāhuriri) for the first time.

Papa Bones brought his usual enthusiasm, knowledge and skill to the wānanga, as well as to harvesting harakeke for binding ngā waka, and bringing extra resources on his trailer too. Thank you Papa for your inspiration, mana and leadership. Mereana Robinson-Silbery, Elizabeth Robinson Morris, Christine Silbery and Sheena Marie Morris were also an integral part of upholding our mana and manaakitanga as Ngāi Tahu, by doing an amazing job in the wharekai preparing and presenting an outstanding kai hākari which we enjoyed after our mōkihi building. Ngā mihi aroha ki a koutou ko ngā ringawera.

Riki Bennett once again took some outstanding photos, a selection of which you see here. Vanda Karolczak helped organise the venue and administration and practical aspects of the venue. She has a special interest, knowledge and experience in traditional waka voyaging and navigation and has done a lot to support Ngāi Tahu events. Ka nui te mihi ki a Riki Bennett kōrua ko Vanda i tō kōrua tautoko, i tō kōrua mahi hoki mō tēnei kaupapa. Thank you Riki and Vanda for all your support and for hosting us again.

Kei te mihi nunui ki te tāngata whenua nei. We feel blessed to have the support of Rewi Spraggon of tāngata whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki for kaupapa like this that we hold in their rohe. Nō reira, ngā mihi nunui, ngā mihi nō te ngākau ki a koutou i tō koutou manaakitanga. Ki Te Kaunihera o Tāmaki Makaurau, he mihi nui hoki ki a koutou i tō koutou manaakitanga ki a mātou o Ngāi Tahu whānui, ā, ki a tātou katoa i huihui ki Arataki.

Ngā mihi nui hoki ki Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu i tā rātou pūtea tautoko mō tēnei kaupapa. We are very grateful also to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and the Ngāi Tahu Fund for providing funding towards this event. Indeed to everyone who contributed in some form or other towards making this event a success, our heart-felt thanks go out to you for helping us come together as one to keep alive our traditional cultural practices, to feel proud of our Ngāi Tahu heritage and identity and share it with others. Ngā mihi nō te ngākau ki a koutou katoa. Nā, Jonathan Sargisson.

Ngāi Tahu Whānui and others learning to make mōkihi.

Ngāi Tahu Whānui and others learning to make mōkihi.

Papa Bones and tamariki constructing mōkihi.

Papa Bones and tamariki constructing mōkihi.

Papa Bones Rissetto (left) and Andrew Guy holding the model mōkihi, the model is close to 100 years old.

Papa Bones Rissetto (left) and Andrew Guy holding the model mōkihi, the model is close to 100 years old.

Tamariki holding raupō for mōkihi.

Tamariki holding raupō for mōkihi.