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Taranakitanga - Whiria te muka
Rā Tiripoua 2024: A flagship event for Taranaki Iwi
Taranakitanga reigned supreme in Ōpunakē when hundreds of uri attended our annual celebration to mark the day in 2017 when Taranaki Iwi signed a Treaty of Waitangi settlement with the Crown.
The whānau-focused celebration on 17 February attracted 575 registrations, with more than 400 uri in attendance.
Pou Whakatoka Hayden Patene says it was heart warming to see uri turn out in numbers.
“It’s a flagship event for Taranaki Iwi and is a day for our people to unite on their ancestral lands,” he says.
“Taranakitanga, our cultural identity, is our superpower. It is our unique pathway to find and maintain balance in the world we find ourselves in today. It connects, grounds, inspires and builds resilience within us, which enables us to overcome adversity and fulfil our potential as individuals and as a collective.
“Matua tangata whenua, matua manawa whenua – our Taranakitanga is likened to that of a subterranean aqua spring; unlimited benefits and unlimited potential.”
Organised activities included beach volleyball, surfing lessons, a lawn game called Kubb and a hīkoi to the headlands. There were also separate zones for tamariki and pāhake and a very popular entertainment space where Taranaki Iwi kapa haka group Te Moungaroa performed, along with Te Ahi Kātoro.
One of the day’s highlights was a 90-minute hīkoi to visit old pā site Taumatakahawai. While at the site, uri talked about some of the area’s history and their aspirations for the future.
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 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.
Te Kāhui Pāhake: going from strength to strength
Te Kāhui Pāhake has become increasingly popular since it was established in November last year.
Between 50 to 60 people are now attending the bimonthly hui that officially started in February at Pūniho Pā. Te Kāhui Pāhake was also hosted at Toroānui Marae in April, Ōpunakē Bowling Club in May and Te Pōtaka Pā in July.
A pāhake aspirations list is being used to prioritise the needs of the rōpū and informs the agenda for each hui.
Some of the group’s aspirations included having a space to share knowledge, karakia, waiata, tikanga, fostering a political voice, attending key events and openings, and getting support with internet-related technology. They also wanted Marae visits.
“It is about creating space so our pāhake can socialise together. The magic flows from there: there is always a lot of laughter, reflections, storytelling and sharing of experiences they had growing up as tamariki,” Hayden says.
One of the opportunities that will be explored in the future is capturing pāhake kōrero, ensuring it is available for future generations.
The bimonthly hui, organised by the events and engagement team of Te Kāhui o Taranaki, are in addition to functions such as the annual pāhake kaitahi, which was held at Pihama Lavendar Farm in December last year.
Mounga Reo
In 2023, our 10-week online Mounga Reo classes supporting Taranaki Iwi reo Māori aspirations showed a strong local appetite for reclaiming and learning our language.
The course taught Taranaki Iwi kōrero and was full immersion across beginners to advanced levels.
From August to November last year, a total of 174 uri registered for the free Mounga Reo classes, with 113 people in Level 1 (basic/moderate te reo level) and 61 people in Level 2 (proficient/advanced). Ninety-five people who registered lived in Taranaki.
These registration numbers were significantly higher than 2022 registrations of 105 people, with 85 uri taking Level 1 classes.
Hayden says with only 57 percent of the 2023 Mounga Reo group demonstrating active attendance, more work is needed to ensure investment is met with open dialogue and commitment from attendees.
“The numbers show our people are hungry to learn our language, tikanga and kōrero tuku iho. However, reclamation of language and identity is not an easy journey and for many it is a life-long one,” he says.
(see pg.21 of the publication for 'Confidence with Reo' statistics)
Taranaki Tū Mai 2023
Taranaki Tū Mai had a record number of pre-event registrations for the eigth biennial festival that attracted more than 4000 participants.
The three-day event, hosted in November by Ngāti Tama, brought all eight Taranaki iwi together to celebrate whanaungatanga, kotahitanga, manaakitanga and inter-iwi rivalry.
Almost 700 Taranaki Iwi uri, including more than 240 under-18-year-olds, represented our Taranakitanga with pride, competing in a multitude of sports and activities such as debating and kapa haka throughout the weekend.
Last year’s event in Waitara completed the full iwi host rotation through all eight iwi. In 2025, Taranaki Iwi will be hosting at Ōpunakē.
Merchandise
Merchandise is one of the many ways we can connect with Taranaki Iwi uri either at events or through social media and our online store.
We continue to look for ways to connect with our Taiohi through clothing. This year, Marino Te Rata-Owen’s design won the Taranaki Tū Mai Tee competition. Each entry was required to have the following components:
• Taranaki iwi logo
• The words ‘Taranaki Tū Mai 2023’
Marino’s entry began as a project of passion rather than a competition entry. But, after consultation with Marino, we mutually agreed to get our design cadet Casio Austin to work on the design elements until we were happy with the right look.
The tāmoko on the front of the tee is a personal design of Marino’s that interprets her view of the Rahotū township which includes the little ‘bump’. We highlighted the tāmoko in gold on the tee which speaks to our Taranakitanga whenu with the remaining elements aesthetically placed on the tee in white.
We are proud of Marino’s efforts and grateful to Jai at Game Changer for turning the winning entry into a wardrobe piece we can all wear with pride.
Kotahitanga and what it means for Taranaki Iwi
A series of national kotahitanga hui that started with Kīngi Tūheitia’s call for unity in January has prompted our own discussions about what kotahitanga means for Taranaki Iwi.
Groups from Taranaki Iwi and Parihaka – up to 50 – attended the hui at Tūrangawaewae Marae (January), Rātana (January), Waitangi (February) and Ōmahu Marae (May).
The hui were to bring iwi Māori together to share dialogue and solutions in response to a current political and social environment that doesn’t prioritise Māori needs.
After the Ōmahu Marae hui, Te Kāhui o Taranaki invited those who had shown interest and leadership to our own hui taumata about Taranaki Iwi kotahitanga aspirations. These aspirations would be presented to the board of trustees.
Taranaki Iwi plans to send a group to the final national hui in the kotahitanga series at Tuahiwi Marae, Kaiapoi, hosted by Ngāi Tūāhuriri, on 22 October 2024.
