Taurahere Groups

Tauranga Moana

It has been a busy, yet abundant season for Kāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana with many reasons to share space, time, and words together. As well as sadly farewelling a loved one.

Te Aoerere ‘Placid’ Briggs

While we continue to mourn and honour the loss of our kaumātua, Hohepaturanga Joe Briggs, we also farewelled his daughter Placid Briggs, who was laid to rest at Waikari Marae, Matapihi on 15 February.

Placid was dedicated to providing counselling, clinical and cultural supervision to support whānau and communities, as well as mentoring many other Māori practitioners. Placid was also a part of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.

E aroha nui atu ana ki te whānau i tenei wa. Me ngā whakaaro, inoi aroha atu.

Kawe Mate – Hohepaturanga Joe Briggs

Our kaumatua Hohepaturanga, his daughter Te Aoerere Placid, his son Joseph Kahotea, and his much loved mokopuna Erica-Deane Roimata Briggs, and mokopuna tuatoru, Mayson Tupaea Terry Ellis kawe mate was brought back to their tūrangawaewae Te Wheke Marae, at Rāpaki, on 15 March by whānau and friends. While sad, it was a beautiful celebration of their lives, among whānau. Our uncle would have been happy to start the day for the NZ Sail Grand Prix, in which he was asked to be the Commodore for the event, an event he felt honoured to be asked to represent.

Whakapapa Kōrero – Te Horipo Karaitiana

At our bi-monthly hui, 12 February, Te Horipo shared whakapapa kōrero about Te Wheke wharenui that connects us all to Rakaihautu. It was an empowering session that had our small but mighty group engrossed. “Ka Puna-karikari-a-Rakaihautu”.

Tanenui-arangi – Laurie Loper Award

The Laurie Loper Award will be presented on 24 March at Tauranga Boys College, and members of our committee and rōpū will be attending. Our taurahere rōpū membership will continue to encourage and support a young man every year and celebrate their achievements.

Ngāi Tahu ki Tauranga Moana AGM

The AGM was held on Sunday, 2 April, 1pm at Tauranga Boys College, Aronui Wharenui. The guestspeaker was Te Horipo Karaitiana who led a session around creating a programme of mahi that the whānau would like to know more about e.g., whakapapa, pūrākau etc.

Ngāi Tahu ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara Taurahere Rōpū

The taurahere rōpū at Te Whanganui a Tara has started slowly for 2023 as some of us took quite a long holiday break!

We have planned a minimum of four meetings this year so the ones to put in your dairy are:

- Sunday 4 June

- Sunday 6 August

Sunday 8 October

And we are still thinking about late November 2023: to be confirmed.

We continue to be supported by the whānau at Waiwhetu so we always meet at Te Aroha Hutt Valley Association Pavilion, 148 Whites Line East, Waiwhetu, Lower Hutt.

We meet from 1pm – 4pm.

We always have good whanaungatanga to start with and try to have a speaker that helps us understand more about what is happening across Ngāi Tahu. We encourage everyone there to learn more about their whakapapa and start a journey of re-connection to tribal and rūnanga activities. We are super lucky to have Hauangi Parata, who is a whakapapa expert and always keen to help people understand their whakapapa and always shared with aroha me manaaki! Plus, Ken Te Tau who superbly supports us in our te reo and waiata practise.

We welcome all whānau – especially first-timers and celebrate the regulars coming back! We want everyone to feel relaxed and welcome. Last time we met we had the joy of an 11-month-old boy coming and were pleased to give him a copy of Tangata Ngāi Tahu to support him in his connectivity to the tribe!

We welcome you even if you live outside Wellington or the Hutt Valley!

The Facebook page continues to be our main communication tool: Ngāi Tahu ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara Nau mai, haere mai!

Contact Tewhanganuiatara.Taurahere@ngaitahu.iwi.nz or Karen Coutts, 027-365-3993.