Nā te Kaiwhakahaere

After the Canterbury earthquakes, Clare worked in partnership with CERA to recognise and develop a Tiriti-based relationship to work collaboratively on rebuilding the Christchurch CBD. A true advocate for the care of te taiao, she was at the forefront of the partnership between Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāi Tahu Farming, and Lincoln University in developing the best farm practices for Te Whenua Hou. We also recognise her many years of devotion to the Tuahiwi Māori Women’s Welfare League alongside her husband Frank in supporting whānau health and wellbeing.

Sadly, we have experienced the loss of other whānau in recent months. In June, we joined Awarua and Arowhenua online and in person to farewell our whānaunga Bubba (William) Thompson at Te Rau Aroha Marae. Bubba, nō Ngāi Tahu (Awarua, Arowhenua) me Ngāti Kahungungu, was a much loved pāpā, pōua, uncle, brother, and treasured husband of Gail Thompson who is the Awarua Representative to Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

Māturuturu ana kā roimata ki a rātau ko karakahia e Hinenuitepō i tēnei te ata o Pipiri. Koutou te ope o te rua Matariki, kā manukura i whakapeto koi kia hāpai i kā taoka o Poua mā, o Taua mā, e kore koutou e wareware i a mātau. Nei mātau e noho tireki pakukore ana i tō koutou weheka. Moe mai, okioki mai rā.

Koutou kā urupā o rātau mā, ka rere kā mihi ki a tātau e whakakōkiri tonu ana i kā kaupapa nui o te wā.

It is with immense sadness that I open this pānui by marking the recent passing of several of our extended whānau whose contributions to our iwi are still felt to this day.

Clare Williams (Ngāti Kurī, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāi Tahu Rangitane o Wairau) made enormous contributions to Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga and to Ngāi Tahu whānui as a former Te Rūnanga Representative, Alternate Representative, and former Rūnanga Chair. She was an advocate for whānau aspirations and worked hard to attain them.

Her desire to retain and enhance mahinga kai values steered her into the mahi that she has undertaken over the years. She was instrumental in building valuable partnerships throughout the district, especially with the Waimakariri, Selwyn and Hurunui District Councils, and the Christchurch City Council. She forged strong relationships with Environment Canterbury and was involved in the development of the Mahaanui Iwi Management Plan.

Bubba generously gave so much of himself to his iwi and leaves a lasting legacy, especially at Te Rau Aroha where he held the paepae over the last two decades. “I have depended very heavily on Bubba for the management of our marae,” said Tā Tipene O’Regan, “and I feel bereft by his passing.” Many people across and beyond our iwi will share this sentiment.

In late May we marked the sudden loss of Maria Hema. Her whānau have described Maria as living her life with an incredible zest and projecting happiness. Maria was sister to Tahu News Producer Paora Crump and a sister-in-law of Tokona Te Raki Director Eurera Tarena. Maria was a founding member of Te Waka Pounamu Outrigger Canoe Club and has been described as giving a “life of service” to her Māori community and whānau. Maria was a passionate supporter of Kotahi Mano Kāika. She was part of the first Ngāi Tahu Puna Reo and her tamariki were raised in te reo Māori. As a kaiako, Maria encouraged her ākonga to pass on their mātauranga to others.

Kāore hoki te aroha e kaikinikini i a mātau. Ka takihia, ka mihia koutou katoa kā mate o te wā, he hokika mahara ka piri ki te kākau mō ake tou atu.

As Makariri (winter) begins to properly settle in, we are quickly approaching our second year of Matariki as an official public holiday. I hope you take the time to remember those who have passed away during the year, gather with your whānau to celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.

In mid-May Ahorangi Rangi Matamua launched his new Matariki karakia booklet and series of online resources at Dark Sky Project. These resources can help you to celebrate Matariki from your home. Rangi has contributed eleven of his own karakia within this booklet, which also includes the significance of the nine whetū and the Hautapu. You can download the booklet at matariki.com/resources.

E te whānau, by now I am sure you’re aware that the Ngāi Tahu roadshows are back after a few years hiatus due to Covid disruptions. In late May, hundreds of whānau enjoyed the Tauranga Moana roadshow, reconnecting with their whakapapa, each other, their Taurahere rōpū, and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu. The feedback received from manuhiri was overwhelmingly positive. The workshops run by Pōtiki Poi were wonderfully received and tamariki enjoyed learning how to bind pounamu at the wānaka with Poutini Waitaiki.

The whole show had a wonderful atmosphere with all age groups well represented, I was very pleased to see many tamariki present, nurturing their Ngāi Tahutanga and connecting with their wider whānau. These roadshows are a wonderful way for whānau to discover a range of opportunities available.

While in Tauranga, I enjoyed joining Rōpū Taurahere ki Tauranga Moana for their 21st anniversary the day before the roadshow. We fondly remembered Uncle Joe Briggs who was a stalwart of his Taurahere group. We spoke about his generosity and his vision of reinforcing the connection of our Ngāi Tahu taurahere whānau with our whenua. It was an honour to gift a mauri stone to Rōpū Taurahere ki Tauranga Moana which was carved out from a large pounamu boulder sourced by Uncle Joe from the Toaroha Awa.

While I greatly enjoyed my time in Tauranga, it was a bittersweet feeling as this will be my final roadshow as Kaiwhakahaere before our elections in November. However, there are three more shows in Auckland (Sunday 2 July), Wellington, (Sunday 3 September), and Brisbane (Sunday 11 February 2024) that you can attend, e te whānau. Registrations are now open for Auckland. If you, your hoa mahi, or whānau would like to attend, please register now on our Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu website.

At the other end of the motu, our southern whānau looked to the future during a Murihiku Regeneration Wānanga in Waihōpai across three days. Tā Tipene O’Regan set the tone for with his opening address: “We need to think differently, we need to dream differently, tell me what else we are going to do.”

The kōrero ranged from a global session on the importance of international partnerships to a discussion around regional infrastructure and innovation. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Megan Woods also announced the government’s commitment to help Murihiku transition to a more resilient, sustainable economy. saying, “It is the local Rūnanga who have come together and been instrumental in ensuring we have clear plans for the future. It is the Murihiku people who have really led from the front.” I tautoko our Murihiku whānau who are embracing change and fostering a sustainable and inclusive future for themselves and their children after them.

Staying south, congratulations to Waihōpai Rūnaka for the opening of their beautiful new marae complex. While the original wharenui remains, Murihiku Marae has been transformed over the past year. Guided by an environmentally sustainable design and build philosophy, the marae now stands as an example of innovative architectural solutions. The multi-million development includes a triple net-zero approach – targeting water, energy, and carbon neutrality.

The aerial view reveals a tohorā (whale) shape, with the newly developed Hine o te Iwi featuring a reception area situated at the tail. The body of the marae houses modern facilities such as offices, meeting rooms, wānanga spaces, and the wharekai (dining area). Preserving the wairua (spirit) and significance of the marae, the wharenui Te Rakitauneke, remains as the head of this remarkable transformation. Ka mau te wehi!

This year Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Waitaha Papatipu Rūnanga entered two campaigns for consideration in this year’s Public Relations Institute of New Zealand (PRINZ) Awards. It’s fantastic that the joint Waitaha Papatipu Rūnanga and Environment Canterbury campaign to support the passing of the Ngāi Tahu Representation Bill to secure two Ngāi Tahu Councillors on the regional council, was recognised with a Silver Award. This was incredibly significant legislation and the first time an iwi has achieved permanent voices and votes on a regional council.

I was also pleased that the launch of our climate action plan Te Kounga Paparangi was recognised with a Gold Award. We received incredible media coverage following this launch and I’m grateful for the crucial support of our Papatipu Rūnanga which includes Upoko o Te Rūnaka o Moeraki David Higgins who generously shared stories of the impact of sea level rise on his hapū. His kōrero featured on TVNZ’s Sunday programme late last year.

I want to acknowledge all the people, and there were many, who were involved in these two important campaigns. I also tautoko to you, e te whānau, for engaging with this mahi and supporting your Papatipu Rūnanga with Te Kounga Paparangi.

Finally, I wish to congratulate several of our whānau for their recent success.

E te rau o tītapu, Te Tuhi Māreikura o Rāuru, Te Tuhi Māreikura o Oho. E poho kukupā ana tō iwi o Kāi Tahu i āu mahi huhua ko whakamana tō tātau ao Māori. Nei te reo uruhau e whakamānawa atu ki a koe e te rakatira.

We are pleased to celebrate with Tā Selwyn Parata (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu), who was been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Māori in the Kings Birthday Honours. As Chair of Te Matatini since 2008, Chair of Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou since 2014, and Chair of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa since 2014, Selwyn’s service has been enduring and selfless. From 1987, Tā Selwyn committed his abilities to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Porou and then its successor, Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou.

He has also done much to ensure close connection between his two iwi: Ngāti Porou and Ngāi Tahu and has worked tirelessly to advocate for education and Māori performing arts. Under Selwyn’s leadership, Te Matatini has strengthened and grown to become the remarkable international event that it is today.

Congratulations to our other whānau who have also received Kings Birthday honours.

I wish to also acknowledge Megan Pōtiki (Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) who has been appointed to