Te Matatini 2015

Members of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki recently travelled to Ōtautahi to attend the wonderful event that was Te Matatini.

A quick stop at Arowhenua Marae on the way to Te Matatini. From Left, Upoko David Ellison, Waiariki Parata-Taiapa, Lisa Te Raki, Giselle Laven and Ranui Ryan.

A quick stop at Arowhenua Marae on the way to Te Matatini. From Left, Upoko David Ellison, Waiariki Parata-Taiapa, Lisa Te Raki, Giselle Laven and Ranui Ryan.

Checking out the awesome market stalls. From left, Ranui Ryan, Ngareka Bensemann, Waiariki Parata-Taiapa and Lisa Te Raki.

Checking out the awesome market stalls. From left, Ranui Ryan, Ngareka Bensemann, Waiariki Parata-Taiapa and Lisa Te Raki.

Merchandise

We have a large number of Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka tees and aprons for sale at the office. Both items are good quality cotton (black) with our embroidered logo. Tees are just $25 and aprons $30 and hard wearing. We can send them to you in the post for next to nothing. If you are looking for a gift for a whānau member, let me know. Nā Justine.

Seeking new members

We are on the lookout for new members to join the kōmiti kaupapa taiao group and to give meaningful commentary on a large number of environmental kaupapa. The kōmiti meets every six weeks although you can still contribute if you live out of Dunedin/Karitāne by receiving information and giving feedback via email. If you are interested in RMA resource consent applications, DoC, archaeology, taonga, university scientific research in the takiwā, gas and oil etc then please get in touch with Justine Marshall (co-ordinator) at the rūnaka office.

Biodiversity project

Last December, the rūnaka submitted an application to the Wai Māori Fund for money to measure biodiversity on the Waikouaiti River, here in East Otago. Our application for a freshwater mātaitai reserve on the river provides the legislative means to manage freshwater fish species but not the habitats that support the fish.

We have identified a gap in the knowledge needed to be able to restore those habitats and have been working with the University of Otago to see how we can close that gap.
Just when we thought we had missed out, we received an email saying we had been awarded $50,000. This money will allow us to employ two researchers to work for 12 months on the river (10 hours a week each) to see where the areas of priority are for restoration. At the end we will have produced an online environmental monitoring guidebook for conservation groups and researchers, as well as other hapū. The ultimate goal being to maintain the mana of the Waikouaiti River and thus the mana of the whānau.

A community presentation will be held in early April at the marae. Keep an eye out in the pānui section of our website www.puketeraki.co.nz for confirmed details.

Updating addresses

Later on in the year we will be holding our triennial elections. On that note it’s really important that we have your up-to-date postal address if you want to be eligible to vote in the elections and make a difference.

If you have moved in the last 24 months and have forgotten to update it at the rūnaka office please email Justine at [email protected]. You would be surprised how much mail bounces back.