The Ngāi Tahu Fund was established to vitalise, strengthen and grow Ngāi Tahutanga.

Areas we support:

The Fund focuses on supporting cultural projects around:

• Whakapapa – kinship
• Tikanga – protocols and customs
• Te reo – language
• Mahi toi – creative expression
• Whenua – landscape, place and locality
• Mahinga kai – customary food gathering, species protection and restoration
• Ngā uara – values and beliefs
• Ā kāinga, ā hapū, ā iwi – community engagement and participation; and
• Mana tangata – self-determination and self-confidence.

How much we fund:

• He kaupapa iti – small projects for individuals (up to $5,000)
• He kaupapa nui – medium projects for legal entities only (up to $30,000)
• He kaupapa nui rawa – (over $30,000) – a written expression of interest should accompany all large/transformational applications, please contact the Fund’s team in advance if you intend to submit a large project. *Only available for legal entities.

The full criteria for accessing the Fund is contained in the application form, which can be downloaded from our website: www.ngaitahufund.com

The Fund’s team are available to meet with you to work through the application process, or feel free to contact our Fund’s Advisor, Morgan Lee on 0800 KAI TAHU (0800 524 8248) or email: funds@ngaitahu.iwi.nz

Kāi Tahu ki Otago Ltd/ trading as Tūmai Ora Whānau Services has long had a mantra that motivates and mobilises their whānau to believe in themselves and make the change they need to see in their lives. That mantra is ‘in growing kai, we are also growing whānau’. Their recent project for transformation is called Ruia. It is an initiative developed to engage whānau in Ōāmaru and raise the profile and activity at Te Whare Koa Marae.

The intent of Ruia is to grow relationships by producing healthy kai and healthy whānau within their community. Of course words are not enough on their own. The hard work has gone in to not just establishing a māra kai at Te Whare Koa Marae but also to put the work into consultation to ensure the benefits are available to all.

The original vision for Ruia was whānau building, maintaining and supplying kai for their own. They have a vision to help whānau to reconnect back to the marae, give back to others in the community who have given their time to the marae and to provide whānau with healthy kai at a low cost. Whānau will work together to build and maintain gardens and crops, to supply kai for their own tables as well as those in need.

A key part of the initiative is to utilise knowledge of planting and the maramataka within the Māori community of Ōāmaru.

Tuia Te Tai Poutini

Over on the West Coast there has been an amazing initiative which hones in on the strengths of rangatahi through the use of principles encapsulated within wānanga and mātauranga Māori. The focus of the wānanga has been leadership development and strengthening bonds to people and place which anchor rangatahi through testing times. Taking the time for rangatahi to identify the toka tū moana in their lives is so important.

Tuia Te Tai Poutini provides spaces where rangatahi can have meaningful connection around them especially those closest to them – their peers and whānau in particular. They provide leadership wānanga, whānau evenings and whānau workshops.

One of the things that has been particularly exciting as a result of this initiative is the immediate lead into sharing youth priorities across the West Coast. In November, discussions took place about relevant research and data regarding West Coast young people, and group work regarding challenges, opportunities, ideas and solutions. Five people had been invited from each of the Buller, Grey and Westland District Council areas, including an elected member, a council staff member, and youth sector representatives (including young people).

Te Pūtahitanga: Left to Right: Gina-Lee Duncan (Te Pūtahitanga Contracts Advisor-Te Tai Poutini / Te Tauihu); Ngawahine Thompson – Greymouth High School Head girl Eleanor Sutton; WestREAP Hokitika; Maia Campbell Hokitika High School Head girl; Tihou Messenger Weepu; Georgia Rose Wilkinson.

Oranga Pāmu was the initiative of Renata Hakiwai, who dedicated himself to engaging with the community of Te Whenua Hou and leading the committee as Chair, to establish its role in the community. Renata has been key to the success of Oranga Pāmu and has left it in a good position, as an integral part of the Te Whenua Hou community. Oranga Pāmu would like to thank Renata for the time, skill and effort he put into the community of Te Whenua Hou.

This year has kicked-off to a great start for Oranga Pāmu, with weekly te reo lessons for the tamariki already underway, with a good turnout of tamariki eager to learn te reo in a fun environment. Oranga Pāmu is holding a wānanga at the newly acquired Eyre Lodge on Saturday 11 March to establish the groups structure for the future. An outdoor movie night for the community is also being held in March at Eyre Lodge, and further community inspired events are in the pipeline.

He kaupapa whakaora reo te kaupapa ‘Tātou ki te Whutupōro’. Nā Kotahi Mano Kāika i whakatū. Ko te kaupapa matua, kia noho tahi kā whānau reo Māori ki te mātakitaki whutupōro, ki te hono atu ki whānau kē i ruka i te whakaaro o te reo Māori hai reo whānau. Nāia kā mihi ki kā whānau i eke ki tēnei waka. Nō te Rāhoroi mātou ko kā whānau reo Māori i haere ai ki te whutupōro. I tūtuki mātou ki Te Huka Mātauraka. I peita konohi, i kai parehe, i whakarite rauemi mātou mō te pakaka o te tau. Ahakoa i eke panuku te kapa Crusaders, i eke takaroa ko te reo Māori.

Tātou ki te Whutupōro is a KMK initiative that brings whānau together to learn some rugby reo and strengthen our networks with other whānau who have a passion and interest in learning and using te reo Māori as an intergenerational language. We would like to mihi to all the whānau who attended the rugby event. On Saturday many Māori language speaking whānau attended the rugby game. We met at the Māori Centre at the University of Otago Campus. We prepared by painting our faces, we ate pizza and we made resources for the battle of the year. Although the Crusaders won on the night, the real winner was te reo Māori.

Whānau members getting ready for the big game.

Kura Reo ki Te Waipounamu

18-22 Paenga whāwhā
Ōtākou Marae, 45 Tamatea Road, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin
He rumaki reo Māori tēnei wānaka. Ko te whāika ia kia whai wā kā ākoka ki te whakapakari reo, kia hōhonu ake, kia rerehua ake, kia Māori ake. Ko kā kaiako, ko tērā huka e matatau ana ki tō tātou reo, e kaikākau ana ki tō tātou reo, ā, e whakapeto koi ana ki te whakahaumanu ai te reo Māori hai reo tuku iho.

Ko kā kaiako o tēnei wānaka: Professor Timoti Karetu, Dr Rangi Matamua, Leon Blake, Nichole Gully, Hana O’Regan, Scotty and Stacey Morrison, Tatere MacLeod, Henare Te Aika.

This is an immersion course for those at an intermediate to advanced level of proficiency. Kura Reo aspires to grow the depth, quality and fluency of its participants Māori language abilities. Teachers for this course are national exponents of te reo Māori who have a passion for its revitalisation.

Mēnā he pātai, he kōrero anō āu, tēnā, whakapā mai ki a Victoria Campbell Victoria.Campbell@ngaitahu.iwi.nz For more information, please visit www.kmk.maori.nz/event-registration

Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai te reo.

Haere rā

E hia kē mai kā tau ko noho a Paulette Tamati-Elliffe hai manukura mō te kāhui KMK. Mei kore ake ia hai kaikōkiri mō tō tātou nei reo me ōhona tikaka. Ka haere tonu te mahi a KMK ki te whai i te kaupapa i kaikākautia nei e ia, arā ko te orakatonutaka o tō tātou nei reo Kāi Tahu. Kāore e kore māhana anō te mānuka e kawe kia ora tonu ai tō tātou nei Kāi Tahutaka.

It is with a heavy heart that the KMK team bid farewell to Paulette Tamati-Elliffe. Paulette has passionately lead the KMK team for many years and has left a legacy to be proud of. Paulette will be working in a senior advisory role for the Ministry of Education working with whānau across the Otago and Southland areas. We wish Paulette all the best for this new role and know that Paulette will always be part of the KMK kaupapa.
E kore e mimiti tēnei puna aroha ki a ia.

Paulette Tamati Ellife.

Nau mai

KMK Programme Leader
E kā whānau whānui tēnā koutou. Nāia a Irakehu e mihi kau ana ki a koutou. Ko Victoria Campbell tōhoku ikoa, ko Tori tōhoku ikoa poto. I have been working for Kotahi Mano Kāika for the past four years and it is an honour to rise to the challenge of Programme Leader. My experience and passion for teaching and learning motivates me to ensure te reo me ōhona tikaka is accessible mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.

I proudly advocate for te reo to be heard, spoken and used daily so that it will continue to be he reo tuku iho. As a second language learner I am familiar with the ups and downs of learning te reo, however my love for our language and culture ensures that I continually engage in learning experiences and initiatives. Being raised in Ōtepoti I appreciate the experiences and opportunities I have through exposure among our Kāi Tahu and Māori community. Kotahi Mano Kāika is one way that I can express my commitment to our language and ensure that other whānau have the same experiences and opportunities. I particularly enjoy working with our whānau across the takiwā strengthening our Kāi Tahutaka. I look forward to the year ahead and I am excited about the prospects for us all. Ko te reo kia tika, ko te reo kia rere, ko te reo kia Māori.

Victoria Campbell.

KMK Researcher/Support

Ko Tahu ki te toka, ko Rarawa ki te raki
E rere nei kā mihi a te tai o Mahaanui, a te tai o Arai te Uru ki a koutou katoa e kā huāka o te iwi whānui. Ko Tāwini White ahau. I was brought up in Christchurch before moving to Rāwene, Hokianga in 2002. I attended high school at Northland College before returning to to Ōtepoti to study at the University of Otago. I have completed a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts with Honours and Master of Arts in Māori Studies. My BA Honours focused on language acquisition and maintenance. My MA focused on the relationship between reo-ā-iwi and identity.

I have been a kaimahi for Kotahi Mano Kāika before, supporting events throughout the years with my whānau. My primary role will be supporting the Kotahi Mano Kāika team with research across all areas, in particular reo-ā-iwi resourcing. My mahi will consist of creating a resource embellished with Kāi Tahu reo that will be available for all to access. Kotahi Mano Kāika is close to my heart as I remember being a child within this initiative since its inception and I am so humbled to be a part of this kaupapa. Kāti rā, nāia te reo Huirapa e mihi kau atu ana ki a koutou katoa.

Tāwini White.

Reo o te wā

(language of the season)
Marama: Kahuru kai paeka (March) Kai te haere (April)
Kaupeka: Kahuru (Autumn)

Kīwaha/whakataukī

He momo! Runs in the family!
E mea ana koe! Hard out!
Kei a koe te tikaka. It’s up to you.

Nōku te kori, kia kori mai hoki koe. When I move, you move: Follow my lead.

We’re delighted to advise that those whānau who were Whai Rawa members in 2016 will receive a distribution of $108* before 31 March 2017, and if applicable, any matched savings and Newborn Distribution*. If your newborn pēpi was registered as a Whai Rawa member during 2016, and before their first birthday, this distribution will be paid at the same time; $100* – an even bigger incentive to join them up early.

*Te Rūnanga matched savings and distributions are available to all members under 65 years of age and are subject to RSCT (Retirement Scheme Contribution Tax) deducted at members personal RSCT rate. See the Whai Rawa Product Disclosure Statement for more details at www.whairawa.com

Savings pānui

We want every Whai Rawa member to get the most out of their savings.

There are many different websites designed to help whānau find that extra little bit that they didn’t think they would be able to afford. Websites like ours have calculators and tools to help plan for future goals. For more details see www.whairawa.com

Our latest Whai Rawa team recruit is Hayden Coote (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe). You’ll hear more from Hayden this year as he helps whānau with the barriers to saving, in order to get the most out of their Whai Rawa benefits.

Education withdrawal

Jessica Simpson (Kāti Māmoe, Ngāi Tahu) has travelled the world with the military, worked for the United Nations and now works in the high-power mining industry in Australia.

Jess, 35, lives in Darwin with her partner and is currently working as an Occupational Health and Safety advisor in the mining industry. A paramedic by trade, she worked as a medic in the New Zealand Army straight after high school. The role saw her gain 10 years of experience at home and abroad on peacekeeping and humanitarian aid deployments to East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Afghanistan.

Since leaving the Army she has just completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Emergency Management. Jess was proud to fly back home in December 2016 for an extended Christmas break that included her University graduation. She’s not quite home for good, but with a new qualification under her belt, Jess has more options to explore and widen her career path.

For Jess’ full story, see the Whai Rawa website; whānau stories section.

Jessica Simpson.

What a beautiful weekend we had at the Valley for the Te Rūnanga hui, on the Friday and Saturday and great weather for those who went on the boat trip on Sunday. The weather was absolutely superb the whole time and those who were present seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves at the Valley.

Some rūnaka members and our great office staff had been up prior and ensured the buildings were tidied for all, they even painted one of the rooms which looked great.

Tracey and Teina were well organised cooks and what a great job they had done to keep puku full. The Kāhui Kaumātua that were present Betty, Muriel and Shona were the kitchen hands, prepping the vegetables and setting up the dining room to have it looking inviting for our guests. Riki worked like a little beaver transporting chairs and tables and setting them up for us on Friday.

The Kapa Haka group did us all proud. Their costumes looked wonderful and their repertoire was well received. Truly great and well done. Our Rūnaka group who presented our aspirations for the future was well received and, I’ve been told it was very impressive.

Saturday dawned another beautiful day and when the hui was finished we had a lovely BBQ and salads for dinner. We all left our beautiful Valley very pleased with the weekend. Tumeke. Nā Shona Fordyce.

To all our whānau, suffering the loss of loved ones at this time Awarua Rūnaka extends all our love and sympathy.

Rā whānau

Happy birthday to all those celebrating their birthdays this month.

Annual General Meeting

The Trustees of Te Rūnaka o Awarua would like to extend an invitation to members and invite them to attend the Annual General Meeting at Te Rau Aroha Marae in Bluff, on Saturday 8 April 2017, starting at 1 pm.

Our congratulations go to Amber Bridgman who has been invited to show her work on the Global Indigenous Runway (GIR) at the Melbourne Fashion Festival on 18 March. GIR features Australian Aboriginal, NZ Māori, Native American, First Nations and Pasifika designers. Amber’s Melbourne collection is titled ‘Te Ao Mārama/Into the World of Light’ with designs incorporating feathers, piupiu and screen-printed images. Check out her Kahuwai Facebook page.