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Taranakitanga - Whiria te muka: Strengthening our Taranaki Iwi cultural identity by bringing us together as whānau.
Taranakitanga: Taking the lead in everything we do as Taranaki Iwi
Advancing Taranakitanga is at the heart of every activity and initiative supported by Te Kāhui o Taranaki.
“Taranakitanga is our priority whenu,” says Tumuwhakarito Wharehoka Wano. “It is about our cultural identity and coming together as whānau.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to reach out to whānau who live away from home. During the Covid years, we set up online ohu for whānau in Christchurch, Wellington, Dunedin and other places to connect with each other. But we were always waiting for the time when we could come back together, at home on our whenua.”
Those days finally came. With the restrictions of Covid lifted, whānau flocked home to reconnect ā-kanohi.
“We saw the fruition of those ohu when many of our whānau came home to Tiripoua at Parihaka and Taranaki Tū Mai in Hāwera.
“We watched those connections grow and our whānau draw strength from their history and kōrero, our iwi journey, and each other.”
Tiripoua - A celebration of the Taranaki Iwi Treaty Settlement
Tiripoua marks the milestone achieved on 23 February 2017 when Taranaki Iwi signed a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown. That time has been celebrated every year in the last week of February since 2017.
“For three years we had not been able to come together ā-tinana on this, the most important day of our calendar,” says Whare. “This year, at Parihaka, we really celebrated being together again on our whenua.”
Spaces were created for whanaunga to enjoy their time together, with different wānanga for tamariki, taiohi and pāhake: an activity programme including mahi toi and games for the youngest age-group, a tech and gaming camp for rangatahi run by LearnerMe, and a Taiao haerenga for pāhake, taking in aspects of the work being done in the Taiao space, including the rāhui, coastal planting, maara kai, and the seedling nursery and Whare Taiao at Pungarehu.
While uri are encouraged to return each month for the 18th and 19th at Parihaka, especially when bringing back kawe mate and important kaupapa, Tiripoua remains a specific focus.
The name Tiripoua refers to embedding the mana of the kaupapa among the people and ensuring it is passed on from generation to generation, acknowledging both the mamae of the past and the promise of the future. It is a celebration of history, a reiteration of values, and a recommitment to the shared journey.
“We remember that we survived the brutality of going through settlement. We remember its significance. It is our day to work on the strategies we have in play and to bring our uri home so they know where they belong.”
Iwi-branded clothing was a runaway success, with every uri sporting a Tiripoua t-shirt.
“That was quite empowering. It showed pride, the huge positive impact of a shared identity and that our people want to represent themselves as Taranaki Iwi.”
Taranaki Tū Mai - Taranaki stands strong at all-iwi festival
In Hāwera this year, Taranaki Tū Mai continued to stand strong as a cultural touchstone of iwi identity and commitment to Taranaki traditions, language and customs.
The biennual platform for competition, performance and whanaungatanga brings all eight Taranaki iwi together for the three-day event.
“The number of uri who came back to represent Taranaki iwi were significantly higher this year thanks to that strategy of reaching out to our uri who live outside our rohe,” Whare says.
“We had a huge marquee as our base in Hāwera, where we were able to manaaki our people. In among all the sports and kapa haka, there were many opportunities to simply enjoy being together, to build connections, learn history and tell our stories.”
Xtreme Hip Hop
Taranaki Iwi uri have been inspired by the high intensity step and dance aerobics fitness classes. Xtreme Hip Hop was developed by Phil Weeden in the USA and taken up across the world.
Taranaki Iwi uri have been inspired by the high intensity step and dance aerobics fitness classes. Xtreme Hip Hop was developed by Phil Weeden in the USA and taken up across the world.
Our team of licenced and certified instructors have been motivating communities to become more active.
Ari Capper has free weekly classes in Opunake and Rawinia Leatherby-Toia & Hone Toia have begun free weekly classes in Ngāmotu and will soon be offering classes in Waitara.
Close to 1,300 uri and community members have attended over 36 classes in the past year and with Raumati coming, what better way to get active and have fun. He Oranga Iwi tātou!
Indigenous Sustainable Food Systems
For three seasons and during the pandemic, Te Kāhui o Taranaki continue to support around 200 uri households to grow healthy huawhenua and huarakau in whānau backyards within Aotearoa and Australia.
Our wānanga bring uri together to discuss reclaiming indigenous knowledge systems which includes learning about maramataka, seed saving and the all time favourite ‘how to grow kūmara’. With the cost of everyday living rising each year, saving pūtea and eating healthy kai has been the most desired outcome for uri.
Registered uri with Ka Uruora will also receive the support of the programme in their quest towards financial independence and security for them and their whānau.
Rawinia Leatherby-Toia (Pou Rautaki - Strategic Project Manager) is excited to support two other Taranaki Iwi who are planning to offer Tātai Tangata ki te Whenua Maara kai programme to their membership. Like Tohu Kakahi and Te Whiti o Rongomai, we are inspired to empower ourselves, stay positive and be supportive of others.
