A Monthly Newsletter of Kāi Tahu news, views and events.
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.
Our aroha goes out to whānau who have lost a loved one recently. In particular, the passing of Komene Cassidy’s sister.
It is also a year since Marty Taiaroa drowned and many of us joined Janece, Teone and Michelle for his unveiling.
Top left: Edward, Teone Michelle and Janece and her whānau listen as Tia Taiaroa leads out with full support from Les and Erena performing the Tahu Pōtiki haka. Top right: Teone acknowledges Spud Robson, fisherman from Jacksons Bay who found Marty.
Bottom left: Unveiled, the headstone of Teone Te Matenga Taiaroa. Bottom right: Whānau and friends at the unveiling.
Feel free to browse through our website. Any whānau wishing to book the marae for functions can now do so online at www.otakourunaka.co.nz.
Ōtākou office welcomes your whānau or personal news for including in Te Pānui Rūnaka. Please send your news items, such as, achievements in sports, education or anything else of community interest, pēpi hou, memorials, kupu hou and photos to [email protected] Your photos must have captions and names of people in the photo. Thank you.
Sunday 5 March was a warm day, and with equally warm hearts around 60 whānau from Puketeraki, Moeraki and Ōtākou gathered at Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki Marae to acknowledge and farewell Tā Mark Solomon on his departure as Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu representative and Kaiwhakahaere. Mark did not stand for re-election for Kaikōura bringing 18 years of service as Kaiwhakahaere to an end. Speeches of thanks and aroha were expressed and superb kai was served by Aroha and her team, complemented by the harmonious and very polished performance of waiata and poi by He Waka Kōtuia. Tā Mark spoke of how he became Kaiwhakahaere and the joys and challenges of the role since. He is still deputy chairman of the Canterbury DHB Board, and board member of Te Ohu Kai Moana, the Māori Fisheries Trust. Thank you Mark, we wish you and your whānau well. [Read more…]
We had a fabulous day – the pōwhiri included a speech from the Governor General Dame Patsy Reedy, presented by Lieutenant-commander Ian Marshall, the RNZN resident Naval Officer; Minister Hon Te Ururoa Flavell made light of the situation when the bag of koha broke and coins fell out over the ground much to everyone’s humour; He Waka Kōtuia led the waiata and later gave a very polished performance for everyone’s enjoyment. [Read more…]
The new Police District Commander Paul Basham was welcomed onto the marae on 28 February. It was heartening to hear the commander attempt so much of his speech in te reo Māori and we anticipate a strengthening of calibre and depth of leadership for Otago/Southland.
Local enthusiasts led by archaeologists Shar Briden (independent) and Rachel Wesley of Ōtākou have retrieved further historical finds at Papanui Inlet. The Papanui waka was recovered in October 2014 and many other artefacts have been found since 2007. Coastal erosion continues to reveal more relics. There are protections in this area to reduce vehicles and fossicking.
Our thanks go to the award-winning classic Māori show band, the Modern Māori Quartet for providing tickets for kaumātua to attend their Summer Pops show in the Dunedin. Together with the NZ Symphony Orchestra the MMQ sang their way through their ‘garage party’ demonstrating their wit and amazing harmonies. A great night, thank you Modern Māori Quartet.
Kia ora koutou whānau, ka mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa. Kā mihi o Te Tau Hou ki a koutou katoa. We wish you all the best for the New Year.
Me ngā whakaaro, inoi aroha atu – with loving thoughts and prayers to those who have lost a love one at this time.
Treaty commemorations
By the time this February pānui goes to print, Waitangi Day will be all done and dusted. Tracey Potiki worked tirelessly to create a great programme with the steering komiti and office staff especially administrator, Nic Hedley. Also Pete Asher – groundsman, Toni Evans – cleaner, kaimahi teams, whānau members and Department of Conservation Coastal Otago office working bees have done a great job to prepare for the big day. [Read more…]
Wātene Māori were a presence in the Octagon on New Year’s Eve. Crowds were well behaved with only a couple of incidents. The Wātene Māori have supported some tangi over this season and were on traffic control at the Ngāi Tahu Treaty commemorations on 6 February. [Read more…]
Graduations are emotional events, as graduates found at the Otago Polytechnic in conjunction with Capable NZ and Pre-Māori and the main graduation ceremonies held from 8 – 10 December. Our congratulations go to Ōtākou members, Michelle Taiaroa McDonald and Paulette Tamati-Elliffe who both graduated with a Bachelor in Applied Management Strategic Management with distinction; and Natalie Karaitiana in Bachelor in Applied Management and Māori Organisational Leadership with distinction. [Read more…]
Archaeological monitoring at Papanui Inlet is continuing to identify and excavate eroding worked wood from along the foreshore. This site shot to prominence in 2014 after the excavation of a six-and-a-half metre partial waka hull, and since then, quite a number of smaller wooden items associated with waka have been discovered.
The volunteer monitoring team, under the direction of archaeologists Shar Briden, Brian Allingham, and Rachel Wesley are making fairly regular trips over the summer to continue monitoring this dynamic wāhi tūpuna. [Read more…]
Two blessings were held recently, one at the old Dunedin Prison where renovations have commenced, the second was the blessing of the new Department of Conservation (DoC) office site at Wickliffe House on Princes Street. Annie Wallace is the DoC Coastal Otago Operations Manager and has ensured her staff have consulted with Ōtākou on all aspects relating to Kāi Tahu such as representation. DoC hope to move in to their new premises in December, all going to plan. [Read more…]
Brightening up kaumātua Eleanor Murphy’s (Miss Elle) life is sweet Millie Murphy. A cute Shihtzu cross, seen here when Eleanor visited the office recently.
Miss Elle and Millie.
Koha of plants are welcome so our māra kai will flourish in this fresh spring weather. If you’re ever in the area, pop up and say hi to Pete our groundsman.
Peter Asher, picking fresh rhubarb while Erena Russell-Harris admires the blossoming pear tree.
Peter Asher, Ōtākou member and Groundsman at Ōtākou Marae, tending to the māra kai with Erena Russell-Harris.
Kia ora koutou whānau, ka mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa. Kā mihi rā i tō rā whānau, e te tau; Kia rā pai tēnei mōu. Me kā whakaaro, inoi aroha atu. To whānau who have lost a loved one or attending unveilings, our loving thoughts and prayers are with you.
Our congratulations to whānau who have welcomed new pēpi into their whānau – awesome. Ka mihi nui me te aroha nui.
The Ngāi Tahu Treaty Festival will be held on 6 February 2017 at the Ōtākou Marae, Tamatea Road Ōtākou on the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin. Pōwhiri 10am – poroporoaki 3pm. The theme for the festival is Te Hereka Waka – binding together the People of the Pacific, to strengthen our connections and relationships pre and post 1840.
While we are still firming up our programme, we are still hopeful of a Crown representative attending and will include representation from as many Pacific nations as possible and a presentation on the Papanui waka with a short opportunity to view it, plus other cool activities. We would appreciate it if Ōtākou whānau would think about volunteering their time to assist on the day to make this a successful celebration of our connections. The official programme will come out later. Christmas and holidays disperse everyone their own way right in the middle of the lead up to 6 February, so whānau, your early consideration and planning is appreciated. Ka mihi aroha ki a koutou e te whānau o Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Kā mihi aroha ki a koutou katoa whānau.
We send our deepest sympathy to those who have lost a loved one recently – tēnā rawa atu koe i to aituā nui.
‘Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe me he mauka teitei.’ Pursue what is precious and do not be deterred by anything less than a lofty mountain.
Rā whānau ki a koutou katoa.
This is to advise Ōtākou rūnaka members that our annual general hui will be held on the 13 November in Hakūiao starting at 9.30am.
After repairs, the marae is up and running again with hui being held by Otago Polytech School of Occupational Therapy, Araiteuru Whare Hau Ora and Te Tumu o University of Otago and School of Pharmacy.
On 12 August Te Kura Mātauraka Wai-whakaora Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou (School of Pharmacy, University of Otago) spent the day with Paulette and Komene. The kaupapa of the day was for the tauira to be welcomed onto the marae, learn about the whakapapa of the marae, present their mihimihi, make a putiputi out of harakeke and to learn some Te Reo.
Te Kura Mātauraka Wai-whakaora from University of Otago learn about the whakapapa of Ōtākou marae in a warm and informative atmosphere.
A very successful hui was held on 30 July with around 40 hapū members and local whānau in attendance. Everyone was keen to meet again so we will be holding another one.
From left: A friend of Taiaroa McDonald, Taiaroa McDonald, Edward Ellison, Aunty Koara Harborne, Erena Russell-Harris, Anne Robertson, Michelle Taiaroa-McDonald, Wayne Frisby, Paul Karaitiana, Robyn nēe Harborne, Julie Rita (nēe Asher), Tukitaharangi Potiki on the knee of his mother, Megan Potiki.
After much practice and anticipation, one of the most southern groups to qualify for the competition — He Waka Kōtuia, from Kings and Queens High School, Dunedin departed to participate in the National Secondary Schools Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua 2016. Good luck to all our Kāi Tahu rakatahi who are performing in this event. [Read more…]
Congratulations to Tumai Cassidy (son of Paulette Tamati-Elliffe and Komene Cassidy) in winning the Rāwhiti Ihaka – Junior te reo Māori section of the Otago/Southland Ngā Manu Kōrero contest last month, hosted in Invercargill.
We wish him all the best when he represents our region for the second time, at the National event in Whangarei, in September.
We also congratulate 15- year-old Oliver Dawson for his achievement in reaching the under 17 South Island Volleyball team. Oliver started following his dream in Year 9 and was very excited and proud to be named in the South Island representative team. [Read more…]
Delegates from the city of Atsugi in Japan spent four days in Dunedin to establish and enhance relations with Dunedin. Their visit involved meetings with Dunedin City Council officials and the Deputy Rector of King’s High School, Darryl Paterson along with the opportunity to watch the Highlanders and Chiefs match played at Forsyth Stadium. The manuhiri also spent time at Ōtākou Marae. Atsugi City has a population of 225,000 and is situated southwest of Tokyo — an hour by train. The city has been chosen as one of the host cities for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympic Games. [Read more…]
Ka rere kā tai o mihi ki a koutou katoa.
‘Whatungarongaro te tangata, toitū te whenua’
As man disappears from site, the land remains.
Rā whānau ki a koe.
The next rūnanga general hui will be held on the 11 September in Hakūiao at 10am.
The new driveway is now completed. Please drive and park carefully while the surface is settling.
The new driveway to Hakuiao at Ōtākou Marae.
Staffing at Ōtākou office has gone through some changes in the last couple of months. Natalie Karaitiana is acting manager until the managerial role is appointed. Anne Robertson has been appointed Komiti Coordinator for six months and Kate Dempsey has resigned as cleaner and interim Wharekai Coordinator. She is now enjoying other employment on the peninsula. The rūnaka thanks Kate for her commitment to the manaaki of organisations during marae events. We welcome Ngaomi Taiaroa as the new cleaner and have a pool of whānau members who are familiar with the wharekai role, who will be caring for hui bookings until the wharekai role is appointed.
Since the appointments ballot papers have been distributed, a number of members have contacted us to update their address details. Please contact the office any time to update your address and email details when you move.
Ōtākou office welcomes your whānau news for inclusion in Te Pānui Rūnaka. Please send your achievements in sports, education, pēpi hou, memorials, kupu hou or anything else of community interest and photos to: [email protected]
Your photos must have captions and names of people in the photo. Thank you.