Ngā mate

We would like to acknowledge the passing of three whānau connected to the hapū; Andy Hamilton, Te Whe Phillips and Judith Wilson (née Rakena) passed away through the month of May. We send prayers of peace and strength to their families through this time.

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke office

We will remain on the south side of the marae for a few more weeks. We are still expecting the main service providers (Chorus) to prepare the selected new office space with the appropriate cables before the Ngāi Tahu BIS Team can come in and make the relevant connections to the network. In the meantime, we are also utilising the resources of Lyttelton Library for administration services. It has been exhausting on our resources and time for the last two months and will be another month before we are happily settled into the new office premises.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Nā mate

I would just like to acknowledge the recent passing of Elaine Couch and wish Uncle Doug and all his family peaceful wishes through this time.

The update on the marae is as follows:

Wharekai
Bushnell Builders have been working productively on the wharekai. The final poroporoaki prior to demolition was held on Monday 18 April and was attended by a handful of whānau. Please watch this space for some photographs collected in next month’s Te Pānui Rūnaka.

The previous taonga room within the marae is still hosting office space for both the general manager and the office manager until the space is available for the Ngāi Tahu business services team in conjunction with Delta (phone company) have the office space wired for use. This is possibly going to be the end of May or mid June 2016.

We are currently taking public marae bookings for day-hui only, noho bookings will be by the end of August. However, it is case by case depending on the construction going on with the wharekai.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Doug and Elaine Couch, who recently celebrated their 60th Diamond Anniversary.

Office hours

The office will be closed from 24 December until 11 January 2016. From all the staff at Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, we wish you and yours, a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Kia ora whānau and welcome to another month of Te Pānui Rūnaka. I would like provide you all with an update on what has been happening within our hapū by identifying the current portfolios that exist. This will then mean that I can report a little on each kaupapa as the months go by.

Secondary school kapa haka

Drilled choreography, expressive faces and passionate voices were witnessed by anxious onlookers as secondary schools from around Canterbury competed to represent the Waitaha region at next year’s National Kapa haka Secondary Schools Competitions. Toi Huarewa (Whānau Tahi combined) placed first, Linwood College were second and Papanui High School combined third. It was heart-warming to see mokopuna who whakapapa to Rāpaki in the lines competing. It was also a proud moment for Tāua Reihana Parata to see her mokopuna, Waiariki Paraone up on-stage after he was named kaitataki tane 2015.

Te Poho o Tamatea funding

Te Poho o Tamatea has met and administered its September funding round. The next submissions will be held in March 2016.

Acknowledgements to guests

As the office manager and general daily operations person of the marae, I would like to give thanks and appreciation to all those who come on to the marae and respect the venue, its buildings and all the policies that come with it – along with the practice of good kawa and tikanga.

It has been absolutely warming especially to see that my ‘Auahi Kore/No Smoking’ rules have been respected. Manuhiri have been absolutely wonderful adhering to the practice and signs here at the marae. Also, anyone who has ever considered the Quitcard Programme all material and support can be provided, just ask us the office.

We have received positive feedback from all schools, and their children and teachers alike are enjoying the programmes being offered to them on arrival. Also, it’s great seeing the healthy kai display, which promotes healthy options at pōwhiri – with little or no sugar options and no added salt to the kai provided. Nā Cushla Dwyer.

Member contributions

If members have an item of interest they wish to share with the whānau of Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke please contact: Cushla Dwyer, Rāpaki office manager at Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc, 37 Rāpaki Drive, PO Box 107, Lyttelton, Whakaraupō Banks Peninsula. Call: 03 3289415, or 021748747; or email: Rā[email protected]

Couch whānau in Vancouver

Three branches of the Couch whānau were represented at a recent whānau barbeque in Vancouver. Rosalie (Rosie) Plaskett, daughter of Bill Couch, and her daughter had returned from a cruise to Alaska. Rewi Couch (moko of Tog Couch) with his wife Marilyn were in town to help their daughter Nepeya settle in at her course at Vancouver Film School. Donald, son of Arthur Couch, and wife Dorothy are in Vancouver for the northern summer. Donald’s son Peter and wife Leanne along with their children, Evan, Maren and Oliver hosted the barbeque. Also present were Donald’s daughter, Katherine, her husband, Ian and their children, Kalan, Kara and Kirianne. [Read more…]

Vacant position

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke has a vacancy for an administration manager. This is a full-time position based at Rāpaki Marae, commencing in July. The successful applicant will be responsible for the office and administration of Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc affairs and will report to the general manager. A job description will be made available on request. If interested, please contact Kopa Lee, general manager on 021 917 305.

Congratulations

Waiariki Paraone was selected as the head boy for Linwood College 2015 at the school prize giving last year.

A rousing chant from his proud peers and family made the announcement all the more significant. Waiariki is excited about his leadership role and looks forward to leading Linwood College during his final year at secondary school. Tau kē Waiariki. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

In August, the whānau of Huia Dunn gathered in Masterton to celebrate her 90th birthday.

Huia is the daughter of Riria (Doodie), granddaughter of Pita Paipeta (Rāpaki) and Mereana Tarawhata (Arowhenua) and great-granddaughter of Teera and Teoti Paipeta of Rāpaki.

It was a great occasion and a good excuse for whānau to come together. The whakapapa was available for all to see and everyone was very interested. Our thanks go to the late Pam Petherbridge, who had shared the original whakapapa with us – it is in the shape of a big wheel. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

During August and September, several Parata whānau members celebrated their birthdays. The birthdays began in New Zealand with Reihana Paraone on 9 August, followed three days later by Rangimarie Parata Takurua, who celebrated her 50th birthday on 12 August. While in Greece, Waiariki celebrated his seventeenth birthday with a pool party at the Ionion Star Hotel, Lefkada, on August 20. [Read more…]

Congratulations

Warmest congratulations to Wiremu Clive Stone, who graduated from Waikato University in April, with a Bachelor of Business Analysis (Accounting). Wiremu is the son of Clive and Petina Stone and mokopuna of the late Priscilla and David Stone.

Wiremu started work in February as an accountant with Deloittes in Auckland, after spending the summer working for Treasury in Wellington.

He completed Aoraki Bound in 2008 and was a Matakahi Cadet in 2011. Wiremu also received a Ngāi Tahu scholarship and wishes to acknowledge all the tautoko and encouragement he received from his whānau, hapū and iwi during his studies. His whānau are very proud of him and wish him all the best in his future endeavours. [Read more…]

Congratulations – Martial arts success

Nik Randle of the Manihera and Paipeta whānau was awarded an advanced honour at a recent national Zen Do Kai martial arts (ZDK) event hosted in Rotorua. The event celebrated 30 years of involvement in Rotorua.

At the end of proceedings on Saturday 1 June, Nik was promoted to 6th degree advanced master (with the honorary title of ‘Koyoshi’), by the Zen Do Kai martial arts organisation co-founder, Soke Bob Jones (a 9th degree professor) of Australia.

Nik obtained his Black Belt in Zen Do Kai in the mid-1980s and has over 30 years’ experience in multiple martial arts disciplines. With the promotion complete, Nik is now one of the highest ranked masters in Aotearoa. Nik says the Zen Do Kai martial arts organisation had provided betterment for a wide range of people from a diverse array of cultures since its arrival in Aotearoa during the early 1980s. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to those who celebrated March birthdays: Peter Couch, Christine Korako, Manaia Rehu, Catherine Couch, Meikiwa Princess, Joseph Tyro, Herena Stone, Ripeka Paraone, Reia Martyers, Michael Johnson, Cushla Dwyer, Hana Rakena, Steve Rangirananga, Andrea Read, Aston Rakena and Reuben Couch.

Wānaka Ora

Wānaka/Wānanga for our purposes, refers to a forum or educational seminar that we, as whānau of Te Hapū Ngāti Wheke, have an opportunity to participate in, and to learn what and why particular tikanga and kawa are used at Rāpaki Marae during formal ceremonies such as pōwhiri or tangi. The word ‘Ora’ reiterates what we strive to achieve as a result of having wānaka for example: that cultural practices at Rāpaki are alive, well, safe, and known by as many whānau members as possible. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to those who celebrated a birthday in February: Tahu Rakena, Lynne Veale, Ngahuia Anderson, Areta Waipapa, Marilyn Shirt, Riki Pitama, Ron Dell, David Banks, Dorothy Couch, Puawai Wallace-Swindells, Luana Houghton, Rewi Couch, John Couch and Robert Skeaping (Rāpaki caretaker).