Hakihea/December 2006 Issue 2 1
E rere atu na Tainui return to Puukawa
te hookioi
Situated near the beautiful Waihi Falls, at the south-western corner of Lake Taupo is Puukawa Marae, the site Pootatau Te Wherowhero was chosen to be the first Maaori King. The historic event took place in November 1856 and was the second of a series of meetings held following Pootatau’s reluctant acceptance to the kingship. This meeting was of special significance because chiefs and representatives of principal tribes of New Zealand were in attendance to confirm Te Ariki o Ngaati Tuuwharetoa, Te Heuheu Tuukino VIII Pootatau’s position. A memorial was erected to and Kiingi Tuheitia mark the site and records the names of twelve illustrious chiefs of that era and stands in remembrance of those assembled in support of establishing the Kiingitanga. 150 years later, Tainui return to Puukawa to celebrate the opening of a new tupuna whare, Manunui-a-Ruakapanga. In this special Christmas edition of Te Hookioi, we follow the multitudes to Ngaati Tuuwharetoa.
New Tribal Development Unit A newly established Tribal Development Unit has joined the team at the Waikato Raupatu Trustee Company Ltd. Headed by manager Marae Tukere Ngaati Mahuta Tuurangawaewae Marae, the unit will work alongside long-serving tribal registrations staff, Moera Solomon and Teeny Tukere. Four new team members are: Johnine Davis Ngaati Mahuta/Wairere Taupiri Marae, Janet Falwasser Ngaati Mahuta Taniwha Marae, Eric Pene Ngaati Wairere Hukanui Marae and Haereata Poutapu Ngaati Mahuta/ Naho Maurea Marae.
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Five strategic areas have been identified for the unit to focus on, they are; education, health and wellbeing, whakakotahitanga, maatauranga and resource management. For each area, the unit will be required to achieve the following objectives: • identify the challenges faced by the tribe; • define tribal focus and rationalise priorities; • advise how tribal investment can achieve tribal outcomes; and • manage the tribal register and grants distribution processes. Marae says the unit is re-developing the Tainui website, analysing the recent marae survey, reviewing grants distribution policies, scoping a report of iwi and other service providers, and will soon be assisting with the completion of a tribal census. “This work will help to inform us about where we are as a tribe,” Marae said. “It’ll also help us to develop initiatives for progress in the five kaupapa areas. We’ve got a fantastic team with a wealth of experience and a range of skill sets.” The Tribal Development Unit can be contacted by calling Tainui on 0800 824 684
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Photo from left: Janet Falwasser, Marae Tukere, Haereata Poutapu, Johnine Davis and Eric Pene.