E te iwi, naia te mihi kau atu ki a koutou i runga i ngā tini āhuatanga o te wā. Mauri ora ki a tātou.
In the past 12 months whānau members living outside our takiwā, have set up new taurahere groups in Te Ika a Māui and in Queensland, Australia.
A taurahere group is an opportunity for Ngāi Tahu whānau who live outside our takiwā, to get together and learn more about their Ngāi Tahutanga (Ngāi Tahu culture), promote whakawhanaungatanga and engage in Ngāi Tahu matters. Currently we have 12 established taurahere groups from as far north as Te Taitokerau to the top of the South Island in Wairau.
Over the last three months we have been able to set up three new groups in Whakatāne, Gisborne and Piripane (Brisbane, Australia).
In early July, a hui was held with whānau living in the wider Whakatāne area. More than 50 whānau members attended and many, especially those who have strong whakapapa connections to the Mataatua tribes, were keen to learn more about their Ngāi Tahu side and engage more in Ngāi Tahu activities.
At the end of July we had the opportunity to engage and meet with whānau living in Queensland. Information about our iwi initiatives and projects were presented as well as the road show information that has been delivered around the motu. The hui was held at the Beenleigh Events Centre, 200 whānau members attended. It was awesome to see relatives who I haven’t seen for many years and meeting new people who have longed to be involved in Ngāi Tahu matters and activities. The hui was well received and a working group was formed to organise future hui and wānanga for the Ngāi Tahu ki Piripane taurahere group.
Closer to home we have continued to run the road shows, with one held in Gisborne. There was a great turn out, with up to 50 whānau members wanting to know what Ngāi Tahu has been up to in the past 12 months. The road show doubled as an opportunity to set up another taurahere group. On the night a small committee was established to organise hui and wānanga for our whānau living in Gisborne.
Whakapapa and Ngāi Tahutanga wānanga has been the main focus for our taurahere groups. With the support of the Ngāi Tahu Fund and also from the office, taurahere hui and wānanga have been successful in engaging our whānau, living outside the takiwā, in Ngāi Tahu activities and initiatives.
I would like take this opportunity to encourage all our whānau living outside the takiwā to participate in taurahere hui and wānanga. You will be surprised by how many relatives you have that live in the same town or area as you and how much you will learn about your Ngāi Tahutanga.
Noho ora mai rā i ngā manaakitanga.