Aoraki Bound experience

As a young boy growing up in a small town in heartland mid-Canterbury, I always knew I was Kāi Tahu, and that my grandfather’s family had grown up around Moeraki. I was told that a Dutch whaler had arrived several generations back, he married a ‘princess’ from down south and that’s how the Waterreus name made it to New Zealand. Unfortunately 40 years ago in mid-Canterbury it wasn’t cool to identify as being Māori, and there were limited opportunities to engage with Māori culture, to learn about tikaka or how to speak te reo. So my identity was limited to the Pākehā side of my family, and apart from a few small meetings with other Waterreus family members, my upbringing was rather devoid of my Māori heritage. I felt this hole as I grew up, and the older I got the more I wanted to know in order to fill in those gaps.

Years ago I saw Aoraki Bound advertised, and I knew at that moment that I had to do it in order to find myself. Aoraki Bound was an amazing journey crammed full of reflections, self-awareness, cultural learnings, stories about days of old, Kāi Tahu tikaka, the Atua, myths and legends, feeling a new whānau bonding and a growing pride in discovering who I am, and where I’m from. The defining moment for me however came after the last day of Aoraki Bound, when with the support and help of Alice Dimond from TRoNT I came home to Moeraki. My partner and I arrived at the rūnaka to meet Jenny Brooks and Mary-Anne Tipa. Jenny had produced information and documents relating to my whakapapa and we all sat and discussed how I fitted in to Moeraki. David Higgins soon arrived and explained how we were related, before taking us in the car to all the areas of significance, telling rich stories of a lifetime growing up on the whenua and moana. David was able to point out relatives final resting places, and I got to see the grave of my great-great grandmother at Hamden.

The high point of my visit to Moeraki though, was finally feeling like my Pepeha now has validity. I can call Moeraki my marae, I can now identify with my hapū, thanks to David’s knowledge of whakapapa I have clarity around my waka, and I have a clearer view of who I am. I would like to say a huge thank you to Kāi Tahu for Aoraki Bound, to Alice Dimond for arranging our visit to Moeraki and to Mary-Anne, Jenny and David for their knowledge, care and attention while we were there. Ko Aaron Waterreus ahau, Aoraki Matatū.

Aaron Waterreus.

Aaron Waterreus.

A group of Moeraki whānau gathered for the opening of the new Kāti Huirapa whare, Te Hapa o Niu Tireni on Saturday 12 November, despite the drizzling rain and cold conditions.

Tiana Mihaere, Justin Tipa and Hana O’Regan

Tiana Mihaere, Justin Tipa and Hana O’Regan

Karen Coutts, our Moeraki Te Rūnanga Representative.

Karen Coutts, our Moeraki Te Rūnanga Representative.

Tiana Mihaere and Koa Whitau Kean.

Tiana Mihaere and Koa Whitau Kean.

Contact

Te Rūnanga o Moeraki office hours are:
Monday-Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Ph: 03 439 4816 or 03 439 4864
Marae: 03 439 4411
Website: www.moerakirunanga.co.nz
Jennifer Brookes – Office Coordinator
[email protected]

Mary-Anne Tipa – Kaihautū (General Manager)
[email protected]

Audio conferences spread knowledge

Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative Karen Coutts holds pre-TRoNT audio conferences on the Wednesday prior to TRoNT meetings. The dates for each of the upcoming audio conferences for the rest of the year are: Wednesday 14 September at 7.30pm and Wednesday 16 November at 7.30pm.

An email reminder is sent out a week prior to the audio conference, if you would like to receive this reminder, please ring the office and have your details added to the list. All whānau are welcome to just listen or have your say. Karen gives a brief summary of what is to be discussed and you can get a copy of the papers from the office. If you would prefer communication in another way please let the office know that you would like Karen to contact you.

Karen and Stacey are keen for feedback to find out what you want to know about TRoNT matters, and get your views on what is happening.

Congratulations

Every year the New Zealand Institute of Sport holds a week-long tournament in Wellington where the three campuses compete against each other in a variety of sports – with the aim of taking home the trophy. Gregory Hey (mokopuna of kaumātua Pam Hey) won a medal in 2015 with the NZIS Football team and this year was also successful in winning the medal for Golf. Congratulations Gregory.

Gregory Hey with his winners medals.

Gregory Hey with his winners medals.

Rā whānau

Kace Katerama Palmer Kean recently celebrated his seventh birthday at Moeraki.

Kace Katerama Palmer Kean.

Kace Katerama Palmer Kean.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all celebrating birthdays this month.

Visitors to the office

There have been a lot of visitors through the office. Four different whānau called in to research their whakapapa and visit their marae for the first time. This was a good opportunity to register them with Moeraki.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating a birthday this month.

Kiani Tipa mokopuna of Judy and Darkie Tipa celebrated a birthday on 4 February. Happy birthday my moko from Tāua and Koro (Maria and Sam) Love you xx. Thanks Maria. Also, happy seventh birthday to Kace Palmer Kean.

Kiani (centre) with his brother, Kaya and sister, Jury.

Kiani (centre) with his brother, Kaya and sister, Jury.

Darkie Tipa.

Darkie Tipa.

Kace.

Kace.

Marriage celebrations

On Saturday 14 November, Darien Clarke (mokopuna of Sonny and Taina Clarke (née Tipa) and Liam McGrath were married at Highden Manor Estate in Awahuri.

It was an absolutely beautiful day and the lovely couple were surrounded by their whānau and friends.

The newlyweds on their special day.

The newlyweds on their special day.

Also being celebrated this year was Sonny and Taina’s 60th wedding anniversary.

The couple were married on 22 December 1955.

Their whānau and friends wish them well for many more years, and their mokopuna Darien and Liam many happy years of married life together.

Sonny and Taina with their mokopuna, Shay Tahana.

Sonny and Taina with their mokopuna, Shay Tahana.

Wānanga notice

Ka rewa te kohu i a Poutaiki
Tau ana te āio o Uenuku
Ki te Wairutuatai
Taku āhuru mōwai e

Tātai whetū ki te rangi mau tonu, mau tonu
Tātai tangata ki te whenua ngaro noa, ngaro noa
E tangi ana te ngākau ki a rātau, nā rātau mā tēnei huanui i para

Mei kore ake rātau kua kore tātau i tēnei rā
Tauārai o te pō ki a rātau, tītoko o te ao mārama ki a tātau

Kei ngā uri o ngā hapū o Moeraki
Nāia te reo karanga o te kāinga ki a kautau
Kia auraki mai kia hoki mai ki te poho o Uenuku, wānanga ai i ngā take whakahirahira o te wā

The mist lifts from above Poutaiki
As calmness descends,
Upon Te Wairutuatai
Our sheltered haven

The starry hosts of heaven abide there for ever, immutable
The hosts of men upon this earth pass away into oblivion
The heart yearns for those for those who have paved the way for us

Without them we today would not exist
As the curtain closes for one generation it opens for another

To all descendants of the hapū of Moeraki
Hear the call to return home to participate is discussions chartering the future
For successive generations.

Tēnā koutou e te whānau o Moeraki. At a recent rūnanga meeting, whānau discussed the history of our rūnanga and how it has evolved over its 20 year history. An in-depth discussion was held considering future possibilities, with a decision to wānanga whānau aspirations for the future of Te Rūnanga o Moeraki.

All whānau who whakapapa to Te Rūnanga o Moeraki are cordially invited to attend a wānanga beginning at 1pm Saturday 5 March, concluding at 1pm Sunday, 6 March at Moeraki Marae.

moeraki wanaga flow chart

Office hours

The rūnaka office will be closed from midday Tuesday 22 December and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2016 at 8am. Kā mihi o te Kirihimete. Kā mihi o Te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating a birthday this month.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating their special day this month.

Job vacancy

Hoani Samuel is seeking a kaiāwhina for Te Pārekereke o te Kī. The Otago University Childcare Association (OUCA) are looking for a reliever to help especially with te reo at the OUCA bilingual centre.

Ka tangi te tītī
Ka tangi te kākā
Ka tangi hoki ko au
Tīhei mauri ora
Kia ora koutou Ngāi Tahu whānau.

He pānui tēnei mō te rapu i te kaiāwhina mō Te Pārekereke o te Kī, te whare kōhungahunga hou i te (taha o te) whare wānanga o Ōtākou.

Ka kimihia tētahi kaiāwhina e te whare kōhungahunga, ko Te Pārekereke o te Kī. Ko te mahi whakahirahira o te tūranga, ko te kōrero Māori hei āwhinatia ngā mokopuna, hei taukotoria hoki ngā kaiako. Ahakoa he tohu, he tohu kore rānei, ko te reo Māori me te ngākaunui ki ngā mokopuna ngā tino kaupapa.

Whakapā mai i mua ake i te 25 o Mahuru o 2015. Waea mai ki a Ripeka Tokona 03 4714411, īmera mai rānei ki [email protected] ki [email protected]

Me hoatu koa tēnei pānui ki ō koutou whānau. Kia ora rā. Nāku noa, Te Pārekereke o te Kī.

Rā whānau

Happy Birthday to all celebrating birthdays this month.

Uncle Darkie’s hui

These photos were taken after a recent hui at Moeraki Marae.

The weekend was productive, the food delicious, and the whanaukataka appeared to be enjoyed by all.

Uncle Darkie shared some more of his wonderful stories with us and this was one of the highlights of the weekend. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating a birthday this month.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating their special day this month.

Westpac Charity Ride

Kara Jane Roderick-Wandless, who is the mokopuna of Irirangi Walscott and Mohi Whitau is one of 60 cyclists who will take part in the 250km Westpac Charity Ride from Queenstown to Invercargill on 8 May to raise $55,000 for Southland.

The national event will raise money for the Westpac Rescue Helicopter services. This photo was taken when Team Roderick-Wandless completed the Routeburn Track in March. Kia kaha our stunning wahine. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those who are celebrating their special day this month.

Te Rūnanga o Moeraki Incorporated

This is a notice of a special general meeting. Te Rūnanga o Moeraki Incorporated wishes to provide its members with notice for the special general meeting of the rūnanga at Moeraki Marae, Cnr Tenby Street and Te Karita Road, Moeraki, on Sunday, 12 April at 10am.

The special general meeting is called by the rūnanga executive to consider and approve amendments to the rūnanga constitution. For more information please contact the rūnanga: Cnr Tenby Street, RD 2, Moeraki; phone: 03 349 4816; or email: [email protected].

Rā whānau

Happy Birthday to all celebrating this month, and a happy 6th birthday to Kace Katerama Palmer Kean, who enjoys helping his Pōua keep our 13 sites beautiful and tidy.

New kaihautū

Te Rūnanga o Moeraki warmly welcomes Mary-Anne Tipa to the position of kaihautū (general manager) for the rūnanga office. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating their special day this month.

Office hours

The rūnanga office will close on Friday 19 December at 1.30pm and will reopen on Monday 19 January at 8.30am. Ngā mihi mō te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating their special day this month.

A happy birthday message to Ross Kean, who began his volunteer work in Moeraki in the early 1970s,while  assisting with the care of our tāua, Meri Peti Gregory- Whitau. The multi-talented, patient, humorous, Irish gentleman learnt how to lay hāngī, bagged gravel for fund raising, assisted at tangi and where ever he was needed. Ross was also  a past representative for Ōāmaru Māori Rugby and both our care-taker and an honorary member of the rūnanga, who ensures all 13 sites are pristine. [Read more…]

Rā whānau

Happy Birthday to all those celebrating birthdays this month.

Congratulations

We would like to extend a proud mihi to our tama, Te Rautawhiri Mahaki Mamaru-O’Regan for winning second place at the He Huatau Auaha – National Creative Writing Competition.

The competition is run by Te Ipukarea at AUT University, in Tāmaki, Te Rautawhiri and another school mate from Te Kura o Roimata – Woolston Primary, (who won her age group category), were flown up to receive their awards and prizes in August. [Read more…]

Who are we?

Kia ora whānau, this photo belonged to my tāua. Her mother was Jane Lovett Gregory a descendant of Pura and also Elizabeth Edwards.

The two wāhine shown here are thought to be her Rakiura cousins. I would like to identify them if possible.

Kei te mihi, Koa Whitau-Kean, Moeraki.

Can anyone identify these two wāhine?

Can anyone identify these two wāhine?