Taiaha wānanga changing lives

Over 70 young men gathered at Tuahiwi Marae recently for a taiaha wānanga run by Tū Toka Tū Ariki Trust.
A regular participant, Adrian Boardman (Ngāi Tahu – Irakehu), says the wānanga are the best thing youth and fathers can do.

“Being a good father is the most important job you can have. I’m a role model and I want to be the best I can be for my sons,” says Adrian.

He first attended the taiaha wānanga in October 2012 and the weekend at Tuahiwi was his fourth.
“They’ve completely changed my life. I was pretty much brought up the Pākehā way and I’ve been trying to find my Māori roots for some time. I saw my sons picking up Māori culture at school and that motivated me to begin my own journey.”
Adrian, 39, returned to his whenua – Okain’s Bay on Banks Peninsula – with his family after the earthquakes. He had been studying classical guitar in Wellington for five years and he was keen to return home to make connections with his whakapapa. The wānanga have been uplifting and inspiring and have given him new life skills to apply to his everyday life.

The programme is coordinated by Te Mairiki Williams and has been delivering mau rākau wānanga for a number of years. It aims to make a difference to men’s lives by introducing them to traditional practices that build pride and self-confidence in a cultural setting.

Te Mairiki (Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Te Āti Haunui a Pāpārangi, Ngāti Hauiti ki Rāta, Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha), is a strong advocate for bettering the lives of rangatahi and Māori men generally. He says a lot of Māori men face problems today and need help to achieve wellbeing, especially in a wider whānau context.

“Men need a better understanding of their role, their responsibility and their accountability as fathers, uncles, sons and brothers. A lot of our men have moved away from traditional practices and many have been caught up in smoking, drugs, alcohol or violence. Many are dying far too young.

“We promote a return to traditional practices and that includes ensuring the body and the mind are free of toxins. We foster a drug-free, smoke-free, alcohol-free, violence-free environment and we encourage our participants to follow our motto: “Ko koe ko au, ko au ko koe – I am you and you are me.”

Adrian Boardman says his sons, Nicholas, 12 and James, 8 have also benefitted greatly from the wānanga.
“They thrive on it and it’s given them a great sense of belonging,” he says.
“They’re the first step in a long journey for me and I’d thoroughly recommend them. They’re about much more than learning taiaha; it’s about learning tikanga and being driven to improve your life in every way – physically, mentally and spiritually. I come away from the wānanga feeling very focused and inspired.”

Adrian was awarded the Hori Brennan Scholarship at the Tuahiwi wānanga, to attend a 10-day wānanga on Mokoia Island, near Rotorua in the new year.

The next Canterbury taiaha wānanga will be held at Taumutu Marae on Labour Weekend in late October. Another will be held during the annual Show Day weekend. Please contact Te Mairiki Williams (021) 117 6223 or Hone Stevens (027) 487 2118 if you are interested.

Te Mairiki Williams says the aim now is working towards participating in the Te Matatini welcome pōwhiri in 2015.
“We’ve been approached about taking a lead role in the Te Matatini pōwhiri and we embrace that. It’s a great goal to have.”

These wānanga are the best thing a father can attend.

These wānanga are the best thing a father can attend.

Promoting the return of traditional practices.

Promoting the return of traditional practices.

Youth thrive at the taiaha wānanga.

Youth thrive at the taiaha wānanga.