Uri paving new pathways

For the first time, a special iwi celebration was held after Te Korowai’s AGM in August that honoured uri who had graduated from tertiary or professional study in the past 18 months.

A total of 16 people were presented with certificates and a kohatu from the Kāpuni awa in kete specially made by Ngāruahine kairaranga and kaiawhina for this occasion.

Back row (L-R): Maakere Edwards, Te Ahu Rei, Bonita Bigham, Manuirirangi Edwards, Rere-no-a-rangi Pope , Wendy Eynon, Archie Johnson, Andy Maruera. Front row (L-R): Aroha Rauhihi, Erana Edwards, Daryl Young, Dr Te Aroha Hohaia, Ngahuia Knowles, Toni Robinson, Madison Johnson, Janine Maruera.

Te Korowai’s Poutakawaenga Bonita Bigham, who was also one of the graduates, said the inaugural ceremony brought whānau home from all over the motu. “It was great to see so many of our people achieving such great things in a huge range of specialist areas, from counselling to cookery, early childhood education to Mandarin and Reo Māori translation and many other exciting areas of study,” she said.

“We had a husband and wife honoured together, a mother, son and daughter together and another grouping from the same extended whānau. It highlighted the strength in having whānau tautoko to go through the study journey with and it’s just wonderful to be able to see them be honoured for their successes together, in front of our people.”

Earlier this year, Te Korowai also awarded a joint scholarship to Bianca Weston-Jacobson in partnership with the Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust to support her study towards a Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary).

“Supporting the education aspirations of our people is one of the greatest investments we can make as an iwi and partnership with Parininihi ki Waitotara Trust, who have been doing this for over 30 years, just makes sense.” Bonita Bigham