Waihōpai Rūnaka

Kia ora koutou e te whānau, ngā mihi nui ngā mihi aroha ki a tātou katoa.

Ōraka Ararau – Inaugural National Māori Alcohol and other Drug Hui – 1-2 May

Jessica Cooper and David Ihimaera

The bonds of human relationships that are carefully weaved together will last an eternity.

Hurō…. Jessica Cooper and I were supported by Waihōpai Hauora to attend the inaugural national Māori alcohol and other drugs hui. We flew from Invercargill and arrived in Rotorua to be welcomed on Te Puia Marae experiencing the cultural excellence that Te Arawa are well known for, and boy did they deliver.

The hui space for the conference was filled to capacity with a virtual moana of brown faces armed with pens, paper, phones and other recording devices to feast on the kai that was being served by the legends, tohunga and experts in the Māori Addiction sector.

The conference had its beginnings at the CuttingEdge AOD Conference 2022 held in Ōtautahi. There was a loud noise from Māori who attended that we should assert our tino rangatiratanga and have our own National AOD Wānanga. Our Māori AOD hui have been shackled to the coat tail of Cutting Edge for many years who provide a time for minority groups like Māori, PI, Asian and disability groups to have a one-day pre-cutting edge meeting to feed back into the conference, however, it was strongly asserted that Māori are not a minority, we are tangata whenua. Te Whare Tukutuku, our national Māori resource service supporting workforce development, leadership, research and community development have taken up the challenge to initiate this inaugural event.

We spent two days saturated by amazing kōrero from presenters like Tuari Potiki, Terry Huriwai, Te Rangimaria Warbrick, Te Puia Winiata, Phyllis Tangitu, Rawiri Pene, Dr Vicky Macfarlane, Dr Andre McLachlan, Dr Tahlia Kingi, Billy Mcfarlane, Tame Iti, Kirsty Crawford and Haehaetu Barrett. Each of these presenters provided a story about beginnings, culture, hope, inspiration, kotahitanga and daring to be great.

I have worked in the AOD sector for over 10 years, I have attended many hui and made many personal and professional friendships. Jess and I ensured that Waihōpai Hauora is now known throughout the motu, and we have carefully reached out to people and services who can help us to grow and strengthen our own AOD service at He Waka Tōtika.

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Te Arawa also set a high standard with their manaakitanga. The lunches and morning/afternoon teas were as amazing and delicious as our presenters kōrero, reflected in the proverb that kōrero is the kai of a chief. Jess and I can attest that the food and the kōrero were of a chiefly quality and most of our networking was done around the kai table during lunches and our breaks.

The hui was a time for reflection and a great reset for everyone as we embark on the mammoth journey ahead of us all to support our whānau Māori stuck on the merrygo-round of addiction. We have been inspired

May Celebrations

as a collective of Māori AOD kaimahi to embrace the cultural skills and values of our tipuna because it is evident that Western approaches alone are not working for Māori. We are heartened that we are not alone in the struggle and tautoko is only a phone call, zoom or email away.

Ngā mihi ki ngā rangatira o Waihōpai Hauora i te tukuna mai o tēnei āheinga ki a māua ko Jess. Nō māua te hōnore nui.

Nā David Ihimaera.

May was a time to share kai, celebrate and of rememberance. Our team celebrated Mother’s Day with an afternoon tea, sung happy birthday to kaimahi who celebrated birthdays in May, and supported two important events –Pink Shirt day and Pink Ribbon.

Mauri ora

Koutou o ngā whānau kua mate, haere ki te waka o ngā tīpuna, haere, haere, haere atu rā

Our condolences to all whānau who have lost a loved one over the last few months.

Arohanui e te whānau – “Squirrel on the Hill”

Murihiku Regeneration Energy and Innovation Wānaka

The 2023 Murihiku Regeneration Energy and Innovation Wānaka held in Invercargill from May 2224 saw the Murihiku community collectively look towards the creation of a thriving economy and healthy environment for generations to come.

Murihiku Regeneration was established by Murihiku Upoko to support hapū, iwi, whānau, Māori and community aspirations.

The three-day wānaka organised by this rōpu saw a total of over 600) individuals tune in both in person and online.

Day one focused on the He Ao Hou: New Future Murihiku School STEAM Education Programme. He Ao Hou is a key part of Murihiku Regeneration’s intergenerational capability strategy.

The programme is designed to engage Southland’s rakatahi in a conversation about the future of life in the region. Filled with lots of exciting kōrero, the day explored the realities of green energy and a decarbonised economy and assessed how the school curriculum could be enriched with the use of tools like the hydrogen science kits which will be available for all schools.

Days two and three at the Ascot Park Hotel in Waihōpai showcased the future of the energy industry with of industry experts reflecting on the opportunities and challenges.

Tā Tipene O ’Reagan set the tone for the discussions when he said in his opening address “We need to think differently, we need to dream differently if it’s not hydrogen, tell me what else we are going to do.”

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The Minister for Energy and Resources, Hon Megan Woods, announced the government’s $8 million funding commitment to helping Murihiku transition to a more resilient, sustainable economy.

“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 led from the front.”

From a global session on the importance of international partnerships, and discussions around regional infrastructure and leadership to updates on the Southern Green Hydrogen project and the Tiwai Smelter, the event’s agenda comprehensively covered emerging energy transition and related climate adaption issues.

As the 2023 Murihiku Regeneration Energy and Innovation Wānaka drew to a close, there was one central takeaway that remained a constant throughout the three days. This is that the Murihiku region is ready to work collectively to embrace change and foster a sustainable and inclusive future for themselves and their children after them.

Tā Tipene O’Regan closed the event by highlighting that moving on from this wānanga, perseverance is key. Tipene concluded with the famous Kāi Tahu whakataukī, “He mahi kai tākata, he mahi kai hōaka. As pounamu consumes sandstone, so does work consume people.”

Murihiku Regeneration acknowledges the incredible energy and enthusiasm of the event’s attendees, hosts, and key speakers. In addition, the Murihiku Regeneration team acknowledges the support from the sponsors –Ministry of Education, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Hokonui Rūnanga, Mitsui & Co, Meridian, Te Puni Kokiri, Southern Green Hydrogen, Woodside Energy, Invercargill City Council, Rio Tinto and many more which underpinned the success of the Wānaka.