Ka whakarite a Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa moo Te Matatini Waikato MBA graduate first to write research in Maaori Whakahokia Te Reo Ki Ngaa Tara-aa-Whare
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KOROKI TE RATA MAHUTA TAWHIAO POTATAU TE WHEROWHERO On 8 October 1933, Koroki became our fifth monarch. As King, his time was occupied with official engagements, including entertaining visiting dignitaries, Polynesian royalty and nobility, heads of state and Crown ministers. On 30 December 1953, Koroki received Queen Elizabeth II when she called in at his official residence at Turangawaewae Marae in Ngaaruawaahia, exemplifying his well-known qualities of leadership, kindness and generous hospitality, and reinforcing the significance of the Kiingitanga. Me whakamanuwhiritia te tangata Ahakoa te aha, manaakitia te tangata Ki te haere mai he tauhou, me whakapuare te tatau o te whare ki a raatou Poowhiritia atu kia taka mai ki te kai kapu tii Mehemea koia anake, kei a koe, me whoatu The establishment of the Tainui Maaori Trust Board also occurred during the reign of Koroki. The role of the Trust Board allowed for the strengthening of the objectives of the Kiingitanga, thus ensuring its survival in to the modern era.
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In this
issue #63
05 | Ka whakarite a Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa moo Te Matatini Ko Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa teetehi kapa
haka hou o Tainui Waka i koowhiri kia tuu i te mura o te ahi ki Te Matatini 2017.
10 | First Home Buyer At The Age of 60 11 | Waikato MBA graduate first to write research in Maaori A lifelong passion for Te Reo Maaori and a concern
for the current state of the language in Pare Hauraki has gained an iwi member top marks in the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development’s Maaori-focussed Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.
15 | Pānia Papa: Maangai moo Tainui Waka i runga i a Te Maataawai
Pānia Papa: Tainui Waka representative on Te Maataawai
16 | Waikato-Tainui rangatahi top national Manu Koorero competition 17 | Whakahokia Te Reo Ki Ngaa Tara-aa-Whare 21 | From the Gold Coast to The West Coast 22 | Waka Expert Celebrated Four Awarded New Scholarship 23 | Plans unveiled for restoration of historic Rangiriri Paa site 24 | Restoring Wetlands Helps Waikato River Waikato-Tainui has been working with Manaaki
Whenua - Landcare Research to restore wetlands in the region as part of an effort to clean-up the country’s longest river.
27 | Waikato River Symposium 28 | TGH Appoints General Manager Ruakura For Your Kete - Events Calendar 29 | Commemoration Day For NZ Land Wars Set For 2017 te hookioi | 63
TRIBAL REGISTER
Are you and your whaanau registered on the WaikatoTainui tribal register? Registering with us is now made easier as it can all be done online at waikatotainui.com Any queries about tribal registrations can also be made by calling us on 0800 TAINUI (within NZ) or +64 7 858 0430. Or better still, come in and speak with a member of our Registrations Team who are based at our tribal offices at 4 Bryce Street in Kirikiriroa.
WAIKATO-TAINUI GRANT OPPORTUNITIES Waikato-Tainui has a range of grants available for registered tribal members living in Aotearoa. To find out more about the grants available, including our grant criteria go to waikatotainui.com/opportunities
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Waikato-Tainui recently opened its iwifocussed Careers Centre. Located at 20 Alma Street in Kirikiriroa, the Waikato-Tainui Careers Centre offers free employment and training advice to iwi members. Drop in to see a member of the team today or check out the latest employment and training opportunities available at waikatotainuicareers.com
SUMMER INTERNS In November, Waikato-Tainui welcomed the successful applicants of the 2016-2017 Summer Internship Programme. Twenty-nine interns will spend the next 10 weeks working alongside our teams on projects that will contribute to the ongoing development of tribal, cultural, environmental, social and economic initiatives.
WAIKATO-TAINUI STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS In October, the Waikato-Tainui whaanau welcomed Pene Wahanui Hemi who takes up the role of Health and Safety Advisor. Pene brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise with over 20 years’ experience in event management and operational, health and safety management. ___________________________________________________________ Cover photo: Te Puna Moanaroa, Waikato-Tainui MBA graduate 2016.
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Ko Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa teetehi kapa haka hou o Tainui Waka i koowhiri kia tuu i te mura o te ahi ki Te Matatini 2017. Hihiko ana te wairua o te kapa nei naa runga i te moohio i tuu tuatahi ai raatou i te whakataetae aa-rohe o Tainui inaa tau, me te aha, hei te marama o Peepuere ka whai wheako anoo raatou i te whakataetae nui rawa o te ao. E ai ki teetehi o ngaa pou whakahaere o te kapa nei, a Hoera Kereama, “I te waa i rongo maatou kua whai tuuranga atu ki Te Matatini, auee, i pakaru mai te koa o te ngaakau i runga anoo i te whakaaro, he tuatahitanga teenei moo Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa. E tino harikoa rawa ana te whaanau, tae atu ki ngoo maatou kaumaatua, kaare he mutunga o ngaa mihi ki te kapa, heoi anoo ko te whakaiti te mea nui rawa o ngaa mea katoa.” Tiimata ai a Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa i te tau 2015. “Ko ngaa pou haka o te kapa nei he uri whakaheke noo Hauaa,” te kii a Hoera. “Noo ngaa marae o te Tumuaki teenei kapa, araa, noo ngaa marae o Rukumoana me Kai-aa-te-mata, noo Raungaiti, noo Tauwhare, noo Waimakariri hoki.” E ai ki a Hoera, tokomaha o raatou ka noho ki waahi kee. “Ko ngeetehi ka whakawhiti mai i Taamaki, ko ngeetehi noo Rotorua, ko ngeetehi noo Raahui Pookeka, ko ngeetehi anoo noo te whaarua o Ruatoki. Heoi anoo, noo Ngaati Hauaa tonu raatou. Ko te toenga e noho paatata ana.” I runga anoo i ngaa aahuatanga o te noho ki waahi kee me ngaa mahi i tua atu i te kapa haka, he uaua maa eetehi ki te tae ki ngaa whakaharatau. “Konei ka rongo i ngaa wero, heoi tee taea te aha, me akiaki tonu kia tae mai ki ngaa mahi whakangungu i runga i te wairua pai,” te kii a Hoera. “Me uu tonu ki te kaupapa, heoi anoo hei te waa o te kapa haka, he kapa haka te mahi. Me aro puu ki teenei kaupapa me te moohio anoo, he kapa anoo i hiahia ki teenei tuuranga noo reira me manawatia teenei hoonore.” Ahakoa he tauhou raatou ki Te Matatini, ki taa Hoera kaaore he rerekeetanga taa te whakariterite moo te whakataetae aa-motu ki te whakataetae aa-rohe. “I ia whakataetae he pakanga, noo reira moea te poi, moea te taiaha, moea te kaaheru, kia rite, kia mataara i ngaa waa katoa.” Ko te whainga nui o te kapa nei ko te kotahitanga, ko te oranga o te reo Maaori, ko te oranga o ngaa tikanga anoo hoki. “Noona tata nei ka hinga teetehi o ngaa pou o te ao kapa haka, a ko Koro Napi Tuutewehiwehi Waaka, naana anoo te
koorero ‘kei roto i te ao haka te oranga o te reo Maaori, e whia kee ngaa kupu me akona e ngaa pou haka o ngaa roopuu, he neke atu i te kotahi mano kupu. Ka rua, ka whiwhi hoki i ngaa whakamaaramatanga o ngaua kupu’, noo reira koinei te painga o ngeenei mahi – ka whakahoki anoo i te reo Maaori ki te arero Maaori.” Noo konei ka kii mai a Hoera ko te wero nui rawa atu o ngaa mahi kapa haka ko te whakairotanga i ngaa kupu. “Kei roto i ngaa ringa o te kaituhi te whakakitenga tuatahi o ngaa mea katoa ka kawea e te kapa ki runga, ki mua hoki i te motu. Noo reira ki te hee, ki te takaware ngaa kaituhi, kaare e kore ka too hoki te waa moo te kapa.” Waimarie moo ngaa kaumaatua a Koro Rewi Rapana raaua ko Matua Mokoro Kiirete. “Ko raaua ngaa pouwhirinaki o te kapa nei. Kei ngaa whakaharatau katoa raaua e noho noa ana, e maatakitaki ana, aa, ko raaua anoo hoki ngeeraa ka tirohia te whakairotanga mai o ngaa kupu kia kite mehemea e whai maaramatanga ana ngaa kupu, mehemea he puruheti raanei.” E kawea ana e Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa ngaa kaupapa whakahirahira ki Te Matatini. “Tuatahi ko te kotahitanga o te iwi o Ngaati Hauaa, tuarua ko te Kiingitanga, te Tumuakitanga me te mana motuhake, tuatoru ko ngaa iwi taketake o te ao kua haumaru ai taatou katoa ki raro i te maru o te kotahitanga.” Atu i a Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa, e whaa anoo ngaa kapa haka o Tainui Waka i uru atu ki Te Matatini, ko Te Iti Kahurangi raatou ko Ngaa Pou o Roto, ko Te Pou o Mangataawhiri, ko Mootai Tangata Rau eeraa. Ki taa Hoera, “E mihi nui atu ana ki ngaa kapa haka o Tainui e kaha nei ki te manaako i a maatou ngaa whakapaakanga o teenei whaanau haka. E kore hoki e warewaretia ngaa kapa o te whakataetae aa-rohe, tae atu ki ngaa kapa haka o ngaa kaumaatua anoo hoki. Hoki rawa mai ki roto o Ngaati Hauaa, ki a Ngaati Hauaa Iwi Trust, ki a Waimakariri Marae, ki ngaa whaanau katoa naa raatou maatou i aawhina, nei raa a Te Kaaheru Matarau a Hauaa e mihi atu nei.” Tuu ai a Te Mataini ki Heretaunga a te 22-26 o ngaa raa o Peepuere 2017. Tirohia te pae tukutuku tematatini.co.nz moo ngaa whakaritenga.
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Supporting Education
excellence
Waikato-Tainui Tertiary Education Grants Undergraduate study, closes Tuesday 28 February 2017, 5pm
Tumate Mahuta Memorial Scholarships Post Graduate and Masters study, closes Tuesday 28 February 2017, 5pm
Heritage Protection Scholarships
Archealogy study at University of Auckland, closes Friday 31 March & Monday 31 July 2017, 5pm
Harbour Asset Management Scholarship Year 3 or 4 of Finance, Economics or Accounting study, closes Friday 30 June 2017, 5pm
Kapuia Ngaa Kaakaho Scholarships
Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Sciences, Ecology or Archealogy study, closes Monday 31 July 2017, 5pm
Waikato-Tainui Doctoral Scholarships
Available all year round (terms & conditions apply)
2017 Education Grants are available to registered tribal members pursuing higher education. Download an application form today!
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June Wilson, of Raungaiti Marae, has just brought her first home in Waharoa. June is a widower who has nine children and 36 mokopuna. Earlier this year June received a letter from Housing NZ (HNZ) to say she no longer fit the criteria and will need to move out of her Matamata HNZ home in 90 days. Which meant looking for a house on the open rental market and paying full market rental. However, this misfortune turned out to be an opportunity for June to own her very own home. HNZ had offered the house to June to purchase. Determined and hopeful, June started out researching the steps to purchasing her own home by visiting her bank and carrying out the Waikato-Tainui Home Ownership workshop. At the face of it, it was a bit of a stretch to get a mortgage even though she had Kiwisaver and a good job. Her age could be a deal breaker and she was purchasing a home by herself. The journey has not been easy. She often experienced lots of times of frustration and disappointment. But with determination, June finally received pre-approval from her bank for her HNZ home. This had given her confidence so she decided to look on the open market and see what is out there in her price range.
It was love at first sight. June had forgotten her game face and told the real estate agent she wanted it straight away. June was putty in the real estate agent’s hands. It was her dream home, a brand new house with all the mod cons, a big section for the mokos and beautiful gardens. Best of all, her first cousin was her neighbor and her brother and sister live down the road. June is literally related to the whole street. Unfortunately, there was still one problem. She hadn’t got pre-approval for price of the house. So June went back to the bank. Her bank told her she needed someone else to purchase the house with her to fit the lending requirements. So she asked her son-in-law and without hesitation he agreed to purchase the home with his mother-in-law. He too was a first home buyer so both him and June were entitled to a First Grant of $10,000 each. That gave them both an extra $20,000 towards their deposit. He also had Kiwisaver. The Home Start grants and both June and his Kiwisaver gave them a good deposit for the banks. June still needed to carry out diligence and she talked with her lawyer to ensure that the deal was legally sound. Her lawyer explained to them about the process of how their Kiwisaver funds and the Home Start grant is accessed. The lawyer also discussed their co-ownership arrangements. And she talked with the Waikato Tainui Housing team on how to negotiate with her bank to get a better interest rate.
She and her whaanau went to view many houses but there wasn’t any that appealed to her. She said some of them were real dumps; she wouldn’t house a dog in them let alone let her mokos come and stay. Then she told the real estate agent not to contact her if he doesn’t have anything decent to show her.
Through persistence and a “won’t give up” attitude June has achieved home ownership success. She went and got the information needed, listened to the advice of the experts, and she was open minded to solutions.
That day came and he rung to tell her that there was a new build house in Waharoa that will be coming on the market soon. June was hesitant because Waharoa is her hometown, six kilometres from her marae and the dream location. She hadn’t heard of this new house, but still hopeful, her and her daughter went along for the viewing.
June is truly an inspiration to her tamariki and other older, first home buyers. Her daughter described her as the “moko bank”. When her moko asked for something she gave it. Now she has the ability to give her children and mokopuna more by providing a foundation they themselves can eventually build from. | 10
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A lifelong passion for Te Reo Maaori and a concern for the current state of the language in Pare Hauraki has gained an iwi member top marks in the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development’s Maaori-focussed Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme. Te Puna Moanaroa is the first Waikato MBA graduate to write her research in Te Reo Maaori with her thesis looking into the revitalisation of Hauraki reo and tikanga. “As a descendant from Pare Hauraki, myself and others are concerned that the language and protocols of Pare Hauraki are in a state of decline.” She says her mum always wanted her children and mokopuna to learn and understand Te Reo Maaori so it was important for her “to investigate and find solutions that will help my people and our language”. Her research sought to find measures to sustain Te Whare Taahuhu Koorero o Hauraki as it moves into the future. “The focus of my research was to look for a strategy to save and protect the dialect throughout Hauraki,” says Te Puna. “The main objectives were to create a vision, prepare strategic actions to revitalise the language and protocols, and to investigate potential support mechanisms.” Pare Hauraki spokesperson Korohere Ngapo told Maaori Television’s Te Kaea, “Our home language has not yet hit the standard or attained the highest level we expect, however, it’s a start. This is a good sign because she is the first to write her thesis in Maaori from this programme so all of us from Hauraki are proud of what she’s achieved.” Te Puna, a mother of four, was one of nine students to graduate with distinction. “I joined the MBA with my cohort who come from a diverse range of backgrounds. They inspired me to see the world from different perspectives while also encouraging me to remain staunch to our Maaori values and tikanga.” Her class of 16 students is the third cohort to graduate from the College’s internationally recognised tohu. Offered in partnership with the University of Waikato, the Waikato MBA is delivered in a waananga environment and focusses on Maaori and indigenous business strategies.
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“I’m a staunch supporter and believer of kaupapa Maaori embraced education,” says Te Puna. “Since the College promotes this kaupapa and is based in Waikato, where I’m from and where I grew up, it was a natural choice for me to complete my MBA with them.” She says it was a massive undertaking that was definitely worthwhile. “By completing my MBA thesis in Te Reo Maaori, I hope that our people can see that our language has value in all aspects of our lives and that it is not limited to the political, education and arts sectors.” Her advice to those considering pursuing higher education, Te Puna says, “Follow your heart’s desire, be brave and believe in yourself. Self-doubt is an unnecessary staller. And most importantly, be sure about why you want to pursue higher education as this reason will motivate you to keep going during times of difficulty.” The Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development’s third cohort of MBA graduates include Leesah Murray (Ngaati Maniapoto), Marian Ruri (Ngaati Mahuta, Tuuhoe), Glenda Taituha (Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngaapuhi), Lizana Tuake (Ngaapuhi, Waikato), Rocky Rua (Ngaati Porou, Tainui, Te Whaanau-aa-Apanui, Ngaati Raukawa), Justine Quensell (Tainui, Whakatoohea, Ngaati Tuuwharetoa, Te Arawa), Rayna Crymble (Ngaapuhi, Ngai Takoto), Jamie Forsman (Ngaati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi), William Kathagen, Tina Ngatai (Te Arawa, Ngaati Whakaue, Ngaati Porou, Tapuika), Lana Ngawhika (Te Arawa, Tuuhourangi, Tuuhoe), Leonie Nicholls (Tuuhourangi, Ngaati Tuuwharetoa, Ngaati Whakaue), Chae Simpson (Rongomaiwahine), Frances Taituma (Ngaati Tuuwharetoa), and Joshua Walmsley (Ngaapuhi, Ngaati Whaatua). The graduates received their tohu in front of College patron Kiingi Tuheitia and 300 whaanau and invited guests at a special graduation ceremony held at the College. Minister of Maaori Development Hon. Te Ururoa Flavell was guest speaker.
Since 2011, the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development has been delivering programmes that focus on developing leadership capacity and capability. The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, delivered in partnership with the University of Waikato, is one of those programmes. Designed for leaders who want to increase their knowledge of business, it fulfils one of the objectives of Sir Robert Mahuta, the College’s Founding Fellow and Principal Negotiator of the 1995 Waikato Raupatu Settlement, as “the means by which we will be able to produce a continual stream of leadership to take Maaori people through the next century.” We recently celebrated the graduation of the latest cohort and we now have 42 inspirational leaders who affiliate to Waikato-Tainui and many other iwi and cultures across the motu.“We are very proud of the achievements of our graduates not only as the ambassadors of this programme, but also knowing they are connected to our wider Maaori communities, and will be leading the way as the new generation of innovative thinkers and change makers” says Dr Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, Academic Director of the College. “The whanaungatanga within the cohorts has created an extensive network that will create opportunities for collaboration and collective growth in the future,” adds Sarah-Jane. The programme covers all areas of business and leadership, sharing knowledge and insight through local, national and international examples. Utilising a contextualised indigenous focus throughout the content highlights how businesses operate on different scales, but more importantly, allows participants to critique and gain perspectives of the opportunities Maaori business have within this environment. Sarah-Jane says, “Having an internationally recognised qualification to enhance the past experience and skills of our participants has provided innovative tools for them to think about Maaori business with a global lens.” Our graduates are business owners, senior managers and executives, directors and consultants in public, private, local, national and global companies, and come from a range of sectors including iwi development, health, education, politics, law, environment and innovation, to name a few. Global exposure for participants with international companies, including Aotearoa and Maaori owned companies doing business internationally, is another key component of the programme. Their success creates great inspiration for our current 2016 cohort of 18 participants to complete Part One of the programme.
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Kua whakatuuria a Pānia Papa hei maangai moo ngaa iwi o Tainui i runga i a Te Maataawai – he roopuu motuhake e aarahi ana i ngaa mahi whakatairanga i te oranga o te reo Maaori maa ngaa iwi me ngaai Maaori. Ko te uri oo Poohara Marae he kawau maaroo moo te reo Maaori, e tuu nei hei maatanga reo, hei kaiwaihanga marautanga me te rauemi, hei kaiwhakamaaori, hei kaihautuu hoki moo Whakaata Maaori. Waihoki, e tautoko ana a Pānia i a Waikato-Tainui ki te whakatutuki i tana rautaki reo. Naana i waihanga ngaa marautanga moo Te Reo Kaakaho – he waananga ako reo, ako tikanga maa ngaa uri o Waikato-Tainui, he kaiako anoo moo Te Reo Kaapuia – he waananga ako pouako o te reo Maaori. Naa Kiingi Tuheitia i whakamana, naa ngaa kaiaarahi i te reo Maaori i roto i ngaa rohe o Waikato, o Hauraki, o Maniapoto me Raukawa i tautoko a Pānia hei maangai moo Tainui. E ai ki a Pānia ko tana mahi he aawhina i te whakawhanaketanga o ngaa kaupapa reo e kookirihia ana e ngaa iwi me ngaai Maaori kia haangai puu ai ki oo taatou hiahia me oo taatou manako. “Ko teetehi o ngaa mahi tuatahi, ko te arotake i ngaa mahi kua oti aa mohoa i roto i te rohe, hei tiaki, hei whakatairanga, hei whakaora hoki i te reo Maaori, e kitea ai ngaa hua kua puta ki a taatou me ngaa aahuatanga hei whakapakari maa taatou, e whai hua ake ai ngaa mahi, haere ake nei.” Hei taa Pānia, ki te aata arotake ia hapori i ana taangata kia kitea ai ngaa huarahi e waatea ana hei whakarite kaupapa whai take e pakari ai te rere o te reo Maaori i roto i aua hapori, maa reira taatou e aawhina ki te whakarite i teetehi puna moohiotanga, puna wheako hoki hei aarahi i aa taatou mahi.
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“He mea nui hoki te mahi tahi me te whai moohiotanga i ngaa wheako o teenaa, o teenaa.” Ko eetehi atu o ngaa mema o Te Maataawai ko Te Waihoroi Shortland (Te Tai Tokerau) raatou ko Bentham Ohia (Mataatua), ko Cathy Dewes (Te Arawa), ko Jeremy Tatere MacLeod (Te Tai Raawhiti), ko Ruakere Hond (Te Tai Hauaauru), ko Nuki Takao (Te Waipounamu), ko Mereana Selby (hunga maatauranga), ko Scotty Morrison (hunga paapaaho), ko Hiria Hape (te hapori), ko Willie Jackson (te hunga noho taaone nui). Ko Rawinia Higgins raaua ko Robin Hapi ngaa maangai moo te Kaawanatanga. I te hui tuatahi moo Te Maataawai ki Ootaki i koowhiria a Te Waihoroi hei kaihautuu raaua ko Mereana hei kaihautuu tuarua, kia rere wawe ai ngaa mahi whakahaere i roto i ngaa marama e ono e haere ake nei. I whakatuuria a Te Maataawai e Te Ture moo Te Reo Maaori hei tiaki, hei whakatairanga, hei whakaora hoki i te reo Maaori. Ka riro hoki maa Te Maataawai e tautapa eetehi o ngaa mema moo ngaa poari o Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maaori, o Te Maangai Paaho me Whakaata Maaori. Waihoki, maa Te Maataawai e whakawhanake te rautaki reo maa ngaa iwi me ngaai Maaori (Maihi Maaori) hei whakawhaanui i te rautaki a te Kaawanatanga. Hei taa Pānia, “Ko taku whaainga, kia ora anoo te mauri o te reo Maaori i roto i oo taatou kaainga me oo taatou hapori.”
Pānia Papa has been appointed the Tainui Waka representative on Te Maataawai – an independent body set up to lead te reo Maaori revitalisation on behalf of iwi and Maaori. Pānia, of Poohara Marae, has long been an advocate for te reo Maaori, working as a Maaori language consultant, curriculum and resource designer, translator, and presenter for Maaori Television.
More recently, she’s been supporting the tribe to deliver its reo initiatives, including co-authoring Te Reo Kaakaho – a reo-based waananga programme tailored to iwi members, and teaching Te Reo Kaapuia – a professional development programme for reo teachers. Her appointment to Te Maataawai was endorsed by Kiingi Tuheitia and supported by key Maaori language leaders from Waikato, Hauraki, Maniapoto and Raukawa iwi. Pānia says her role on Te Maataawai will be to aid the development of reo activities delivered by iwi and Maaori to directly meet the needs and aspirations of communities. “An important starting point for me will be to evaluate what we’ve done in the rohe to date to protect, promote and revitalise te reo Maaori, what’s worked well for us and what we can do to improve and enhance our future efforts.” Pānia says if each community takes stock of its members nd finds out exactly where the opportunities are for developing meaningful kaupapa that will enhance the use of te reo Maaori in those communities, that will help to build a strong network of information and experiences to guides everyone’s efforts.
“Working together and learning from each other’s experiences will be hugely important.” Joining Pānia on Te Maataawai are Te Waihoroi Shortland (Te Tai Tokerau), Bentham Ohia (Mataatua), Cathy Dewes (Te Arawa), Jeremy Tatere MacLeod (Te Tai Rawhiti), Ruakere Hond (Te Tai Hauauru) and Nuki Takao (Te Waipounamu) as well as Mereana Selby (education), Scotty Morrison (media), Hiria Hape (community) and Willie Jackson (urban). Rawinia Higgins and Robin Hapi were appointed by the Government. Te Wahoroi and Mereana were elected chair and deputy chair at the first meeting of Te Maataawai held in Ootaki in October. They will hold their roles for the initial six month set up phase. Te Maataawai was established under the new Maaori Language Act to protect, promote and revitalise te reo Maaori, including nominating board members to Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maaori, Te Maangai Paaho, and the Maaori Television Service, as well as developing the Maihi Maaori language strategy to complement the Crown strategy. “My goal is for te reo Maaori to thrive again in our homes and communities,” says Pānia.
Tangirau Papa, of Hiona and Poohara marae, achieved top honours at this year’s national Manu Koorero competition. The Te Wharekura o Maniapoto student won the Raawhiti Ihaka Junior Maaori category. Hoomai he raa, or Give Me a Day, was her topic. Her view: “Kaua e tatari moo te Kaawanatanga ki te whakaae mai ki teetehi raa, me takinatia he raa – Don’t wait for the Government to give us a date [for the Land Wars commemoration], we just have to choose a date and run with it.” The 14-year-old also came third equal in the Taa Turi Kara Junior English category which earned her high points across both the Maaori and English sections and securing her the E Tipu E Rea title. She also won the Dame Whina Cooper Memorial Trophy for best female junior orator. Joining Tangirau at the top was fellow Ngā Taiātea Wharekura student Paumea Walker, 17, who won the Pei Te Hurinui Senior Maaori category. His topic was “Kotahi tonu te hiringa e kake ai au ki te… – With the right determination, I will…” Taking action for Maaori self-determination was the focus of his koorero, which drew attention to the loss of the Maaori language and the lack of a Land Wars commemoration. Adding to his win were a first place in the prepared speech and first equal in the impromptu speech sections. The Tainui rohe students were two of 30 from around the motu who stood in front of a packed house at ASB Stadium in Whangaarei.
Ngaa Manu Koorero has been running since 1965 and is considered a place to spot up-and-coming talent. Past winners include leader of Tainui-based kapa haka Te Iti Kahurangi Kingi Kiriona, television presenter Matai Smith and musician, Ruia Aperehama. The national competition is made up of four sections: Pei Te Hurinui for Senior Maaori, Korimako for Senior English, Raawhiti Ihaka for Junior Maaori and Sir Turi Carroll for Junior English. Five topics are given to speakers in each section with 12 minutes allocated to Maaori speakers and 6 minutes for English speakers. Students take two to six months to prepare themselves to take the stage. | 16
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“It’s been great learning about all aspects of Waikato-Tainui, from marae and history to our own tribal dialect and kīwaha” te hookioi | 63
The Huka whaanau, of Te Papa o Rotu Marae, say the best way to learn te reo Maaori is to give it a go – which is exactly what they have been doing. Sisters Tracy, Adele, Awhimai and Mariana have always been interested in learning te reo Maaori so when the paanui came out about the tribe’s Te Reo Kaakaho programme they all jumped at the chance to take part.
work. “I use phrases with teachers at my school who want to speak more Maaori. My husband is Paakehaa so I use simple sentences with him too, but I often talk to my daughter in Maaori over the phone,” says Tracy.
“Mariana received a paanui about it and quickly sent it out to all of us,” says Tracy. A few encouraging emails later and within a day all four sisters had registered for Te Reo Kaakaho along with Tracy’s daughter, Awhimai.
For Adele, “I am more confident to koorero Maaori at school and I encourage my seven to eight year old students to become involved, and I’m infusing more instructions in the reo into my normal classroom practice.”
Partly modelled on kura reo run by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maaori, Te Reo Kaakaho involves a series of language and cultural waananga tailored to iwi members who are wanting to strengthen their knowledge and delivery of our tribal reo and tikanga.
The whole whaanau agree that the best way to learn te reo Maaori is to give it a go. “Like Nike – just do it! It’s like embarking on any new learning, it’s difficult, it’s challenging, but with perseverance and determination it’s such an achievement,” says Tracy.
“Waananga were fun, informative, supportive and really encouraging,” says Tracy. The experience was mutual for Adele who says, “The kaiako were always approachable and never made us feel shy to participate but rather encouraged us all to give it a go.”
“Just give it a go,” adds Adele. “Get to know others around you who are keen to koorero and if you make a mistake, there are always people that can help you. You’ll never know what you don’t know until you give it a go.”
She adds, “Learning te reo Maaori as an adult is frustrating and challenging, and the first experience was scary and new, but with grace from our kaiako and the expectation to give it a go, we found the confidence as a group to koorero. “I loved getting to know everyone and we had ample opportunities to work alongside different people all the time. By the end, we loved spending time together and learning from each other,” says Adele. “It was an amazing experience, especially to observe and notice the growth of the beginners group.” Te Reo Kaakaho is about building competency in te reo Maaori so participants are placed into groups based on their level of reo with waananga covering four subject areas, including Te Reo Oopaki, Te Reo Tohutohu, Te Reo Whakawhitiwhiti and Te Marae. “It’s been great learning about all aspects of Waikato-Tainui, from marae and history to our own tribal dialect and kiiwaha,” says Tracy. “My confidence to say my mihi and converse in Maaori has improved. It was hard, but I’m now able to explain where I come from and who I am.” For the Huka whaanau, learning te reo Maaori has also been about keeping the language alive within their whaanau. “When we grew up, English was the main language spoken to us. Our Mum didn’t speak Maaori and our Dad would speak it only on the marae but not to us at home,” says Tracy. “It’s been great to see how far my daughter Awhimai has progressed with her reo too. She had no knowledge at all of te reo Maaori, but had made a deliberate choice to learn the language this year. It’s lovely listening to her speaking the reo of our tuupuna who have gone before us. My parents would be proud as we all are of her. She has been my inspiration.” Tracy and Adele, who both work in education, say they are now speaking reo wherever possible in their everyday life and
Along with Te Reo Kaakaho, Waikato-Tainui has introduced a number of other initiatives dedicated to enhancing and supporting the preservation of our tribal reo and tikanga. These initiatives include Te Reo Kaapuia, a professional development programme for reo teachers; He Reo Aratau, an NZQA accredited Te Reo Maaori programme co-created by Waikato-Tainui and WINTEC; and, Arareta Waikato: Tinana and Arareta Waikato: Pakikau, interactive mobile learning applications for children. These initiatives are carried out as part of Tikanga Ora Reo Ora – the tribe’s reo strategy which aims to have 80 percent of iwi members fluent in te reo Maaori by the year 2050. Make sure to keep an eye out on waikatotainui.com for reo waananga coming up in 2017.
He Kete Kiiwaha introduces common kiiwaha or idioms to help support the revitalisation and preservation of our reo and tikanga. Aakene [koe] i a au! Aakene teeraa raa i a au! I’ll deal to that one!
I’ll get you! /I’ll deal to you!
Mei kore ake If it weren’t for/ Were fortunate/ It’s just as well Mei kore ake koe hei tohutohu i a maatou We are fortunate to have you to advise us Hei aha atu maau Don’t worry about it/ Don’t let it bother you Rangi: Kua poouri au i ngaa koorero a Ani. Pare: Hei aha maau ngaa koorero a teenaa wahine weriweri. Rangi: I’m upset about what Ann said. Pare: Don’t worry about what that horrible woman says.
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Up until 2015 Tuauru Marshall and wife Lucy were living a good life on the Gold Coast in Australia where their daughter Maea was born. However, Tuauru always knew he was going to come home. Tuauru’s (Maketuu Marae) story begins 20 years ago. His mother and her brothers had talked about returning to their land block in Kawhia to live one day. Following the death of his uncle, Tuauru was left his uncle’s share of the block. His uncle knew Tuauru would do right with the whenua for the whaanau. Last year was a big year for him as he flew back and forth from Aussie to have hui with the other owners. It is fair to say Tuauru has been the driver of his whaanau home project. He describes it as a combined whaanau effort and everyone was supportive of his aspirations for their whaanau land block. A clear plan and good relationships amongst the whaanau members also made the Maaori Land Court process and gaining a land occupation order easier.
When he got work in Taharoa this opportunity was the beginning of the transition to move his whaanau back to the motherland and he was now available to progress their project. Supportive Lucy and Maea stayed on in the Gold Coast for a further three months before returning back to Aotearoa. The plan was to build a home for himself, Lucy and Maea. For Tuauru, this home wasn’t going to be just any house. He says “I’m gonna die in the house” so it had to be a good one. Also the master plan included a site for his mother and father and a site for his brother. Sounds simple, but they were dealing with multi-owned Maaori land. Although Tuauru and Lucy had good jobs and saved up a good deposit, banks were not willing to give them a mortgage due to the security difficulties around Maaori titles and multiple ownership. ASB was willing to give them a huge mortgage for any other property but not one which had Maaori title. So the only bank that may be able to loan to them was Kiwibank through the Kainga Whenua Loans. Tuauru and Lucy experienced months and months of frustrating hurdles. In the end Kiwibank was not willing to loan them the full amount for the build and infrastructure costs, and they continued to be bounced around from person to person. Tuauru was also experiencing institutional attitudes, rude and judgmental remarks. So they looked around for other avenues such as Te Puni Kookiri and Nest Home Loans (mortgage brokers), and worked on an application for a Kainga Whenua Infrastructure grant and was successful. However, they still required lending for the house build. Fortunately, Tuauru’s parents had allowed them to use their home in Hamilton as collateral to borrow the rest of the funds for the house build. The Marshall whaanau have experienced an emotional roller coaster ride and have given us all food for thought about what it takes to be successful. Projects like home builds can take a toll on a marriage and cause whaanau rifts, but their whaanau ora seems to be stronger than ever. They finally got there thanks to the efforts of the whaanau and the knowledge and support from Pat Nathan at Te Puni Kookiri.
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Tohunga, artists and community leaders were recently celebrated for their contributions to preserving and helping to secure the future of high-quality Maaori arts at the 2016 Creative New Zealand Te Waka Toi Awards. Our very own waka expert Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr (Ngaati Mahuta) was among this year’s recipients, receiving the Te Tohu Toi Ke Waka Toi award in recognition of his leadership and contributions to all art forms pertaining to waka. Hoturoa, who was one of eight Maaori artists celebrated at the event, has been sailing waka throughout the Pacific for 35 years and his name becoming synonymous for navigating the seas in the traditional way. “Ko ngaa mahi hoe waka, whakatere waka a o taatou tupuna, taarai waka eeraa mea katoa, he taonga hei whakaatu ki te ao,” says Hoturoa. His passion and dedication for waka and traditional navigation now sees him specialise in education and leadership programmes that use waka as a platform for learning and development, particularly with rangatahi. Established in 1986, the annual Te Waka Toi Awards celebrate the lives and successes of Ngaa Toi Maaori practitioners and advocates.
Four Waikato-Tainui iwi members have recently been awarded a scholarship offered in partnership with the New Zealand Transport Agency. Helen Barlow (Okapu Marae), Christine Morehu (Turangawaewae Marae), Jakki Nahu (Tikirahi Marae) and Dylan Taute (Maungatautari Marae) are the first recipients of the NZTA Waikato-Tainui Kaapuia Ngaa Kaakaho Scholarship, valued at $4000. The recently introduced scholarship was established to facilitate education and training in relation to the design and construction of the Hamilton Section of the Waikato Expressway. Waikato-Tainui Grants Officer Jackie Haggie says, “It is envisaged that this scholarship will enhance the maatauranga
This year’s supreme award – Te Tohu Aroha mo Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu – was given to acclaimed writer Patricia Grace (Ngaati Raukawa, Ngaati Toa, Te Atiawa). Other Ngaa Toi Maaori award recipients include Mana Elizabeth (Liz) Hunkin, Te Kanawa Pitiroi, Keri Kaa, Professor Piri Sciascia, Hokimoana Te Rika Hekerangi, Cori Marsters and Te Kanawa Ngarotata.
of iwi members and further develop their skills in the environmental and engineering fields.” The NZTA Waikato-Tainui Kaapuia Ngaa Kaakaho Scholarship is offered annually and is aimed at registered tribal members who are studying in the areas of planning, engineering, surveying, environmental sciences, ecology or archaeology. Selection criteria includes academic achievement, contribution to their marae, community spirit, cultural awareness and connection to the Hamilton Section area, and the motivation to study. For more information on grants and scholarships available to iwi members, go to waikatotainui.com/opportunities or contact Jackie on 0800 TAINUI.
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Waikato-Tainui and the New Zealand Transport Agency recently unveiled plans for the symbolic restoration of the historic Rangiriri Paa site.
closure to the elders of the nation who have harboured the pain of this road since its building in the 1960s. The paa site was the key landmark in the 1863 Battle of Rangiriri, which was a major engagement in the invasion of the Waikato, during the New Zealand Land Wars.
The project will involve the removal and infilling of the old disused SH1 and an interpretation of the layout of the paa site using the old military survey to reveal the footprint at 1863.
The Transport Agency’s Waikato and Bay of Plenty Regional Director Parekawhia McLean says the Transport Agency has worked closely with Waikato-Tainui to preserve the cultural and historical significance of Rangiriri.
Carved pou will mark the full line of the battle trench to help tell the story of the site and its history. Waikato-Tainui Te Arataura Chairman Rahui Papa says the symbolic restoration is a genuine commitment by the Government to recognise and provide for cultural and heritage matters. “The site is significant to the nation as it is to the Kiingitanga and the collaborative approach to finalising a plan has taken some time to complete. “The return of the soil into the now old SH1 provides some
“Waikato-Tainui were heavily involved in the design process. We’ve worked together to come up with a plan that recognises the area’s history not only for Iwi but for all New Zealanders,” says Parekawhia. The new 4.8km Rangiriri section of the Waikato Expressway has moved SH1 to the west providing the opportunity to reinstate the historically important area.
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Wetlands play a vital role in maintaining the water quality in our rivers, lakes and streams, and are considered taonga, or treasures, but only a staggering 10 per cent remain in Aotearoa. Waikato-Tainui has been working with Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research to restore wetlands in the region as part of an effort to clean-up the country’s longest river. A C+ might be considered a pass in the classroom, but when it comes to the quality of the Waikato River it doesn’t make the grade. The mark was part of a “report card” for the catchment by the Waikato River Authority and released earlier this year. The report card considers a C and D grade as a fail.
But it’s been a two-way street. The tribe has also contributed to the Wetland Restoration Programme, which is funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), by providing a Mātauranga Māori perspective. Waikato Raupatu River Trust strategy manager Nicholas Manukau said the tribe realised restoring the river requires a multi-disciplinary approach.
Waikato-Tainui has been working with Crown research institutes, including Manaaki Whenua, to help restore our tupuna awa. One approach to assist with this vision has been restoring wetlands, which play a vital role in the health of waterways.
“The restoration and protection of the Waikato River requires collaboration amongst the tribe and Crown research institutes, the likes of Landcare Research.
Wetlands role Te Arataura Chairman Rahui Papa said wetlands were important to the tribe because of their benefit to the river.
“The tribe doesn’t have all the answers, but neither do the CRI’s as well, so it’s important that we collaborate and work together in partnership for the betterment of the Waikato River, its tributaries, lakes and streams.”
“Wetlands are the kidneys of the river. With the river so degraded after this time because of a number of different aspects, the wetlands play a wonderful role in filtering out the stuff we don’t want in the main bed of the river,” said Rahui. “Part of our work with Landcare Research will be to actually research how pristine the river was, how beneficial it was to have the wetlands in cahoots with the river and then how do we get back to that. Research is wonderful, but research that sits on a shelf and gathers dust is no good to anybody, but research that actually informs an action plan is beneficial not only to the people but to the river itself.” Collaboration Through the Wetland Restoration Programme, the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Manaaki Whenua co-designed, co-developed, and co-implemented a variety of projects that worked towards the restoration of wetlands throughout the Waikato region. The research partnership has run a variety of training courses to develop tribal members’ skills and expertise in wetland restoration, and monitoring of cultural indicators. Wetlands scholarships were also developed through the Waikato Institute of Technology, which saw three tribal members go through the programme and secure jobs in wetland restoration. The partnership has also been involved with key projects such as the restoration of Maurea Islands. te hookioi | 63
Cultural wetland handbook As part of the Wetland Restoration Programme, the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Manaaki Whenua have produced an online cultural wetland handbook, Te Reo O Te Repo: The voice of the wetland to showcase iwi-led wetlands work happening around New Zealand. Yvonne Taura (Rukumoana and Kai-a-te-Mata marae), a kairangahau at Manaaki Whenua and a science research advisor at the Waikato Raupatu River Trust, said the articles in the handbook were written by Māori researchers and scientists working with iwi. “It really is our people telling our stories from a cultural point of view,” said Yvonne. “What we’re doing is showing how Mātauranga Māori and science can work together to develop frameworks, initiatives, or projects that everyone can get involved in. It’s not just one telling the other, it’s together – they each have a role to play when it comes to the restoration of any ecosystem. “We may have a different approach but we’re all aiming for the same outcome.” She hoped the handbook would increase people’s awareness of the wetland restoration work that iwi and hapū have done around the motu.
“What we really wanted to highlight were the successes and the challenges and also the great outcomes and benefits that have come from these particular projects. It was really important for our own people and the communities throughout New Zealand to really get an idea of what we’re doing in this space.” Guidance Yvonne said the online handbook would be useful to groups around the country wanting to embark on a wetland restoration project. The handbook aims to provide best practice techniques for the enhancement and protection of cultural wetland values to share with Māori around the country, she said. It would also assist local authorities, research providers, and community groups in their understanding of cultural priorities for wetland restoration. Yvonne believed the case studies featured in the handbook provided lessons for future restorations. “It enables those who want to do a similar project to get an idea of what’s involved - the planning, the budget, the funding, the trials and tribulations, the successes, outcomes and benefits.” Cultural indicators Manaaki Whenua wetlands expert Dr Beverley Clarkson said the handbook was so much more than a restoration guide. “It’s ultimately about looking after our wetlands,” said Bev. “There’s been work done to show that 90 per cent of our wetlands have been destroyed since European settlement. So we have only 10 per cent left – one of the worst records in the western world, on a global scale – and the problem is that many of our wetlands that remain are steadily degrading because there’s too little water, there are too many weeds, too many pests, and too many nutrients. “The reason we got the wetland programme going was because unless we do something about these wetlands we’re just going to lose them. We’re going to lose the tikanga, and the resources that iwi grew up with. So, it’s about helping our wetlands but also looking at it from different perspectives and trying to bring back, or restore, all aspects of wetlands. The cultural aspect is really important.” The handbook covers how to engage with whānau, hapū and iwi, as well as tools to assess and monitor a wetland from a cultural perspective, and how to protect and enhance the cultural resources within wetlands. “It doesn’t cover everything, but we see it as a living document,” said Bev. Yvonne said the handbook provided examples of “taonga species” as “cultural indicators” to showcase why wetlands are so important and special to Māori. Taonga species covered in the book include: harakeke, wātakirhi, ruru and matamata.
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Our view that the health and the wellbeing of our tupuna awa is intrinsic to the health and welling of our people was the focus of this year’s Waikato River Symposium. More than 100 people representing iwi and various organisations from across the motu attended the two-day symposium delivered by the Waikato Raupatu River Trust and Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. Following on from the inaugural Waikato River Symposium held in 2012 which provided a forum to discuss and share common interests, experiences and aspirations regarding the Waikato River, this year’s symposium broadened its focus with indigenous delegates from North America and Canada sharing their views and experiences with their freshwater bodies. Rahui Papa, Chairman of Waikato-Tainui tribal executive Te Arataura, says our guest speakers have presented at various freshwater forums and symposiums across the world and so the tribe saw it as an opportunity to gain an insight into the experiences of our whanaunga from across the Pacific with the aim of learning from them. He says the challenges our whanaunga have faced are uncannily similar to our own. “We heard from the Penobscot people in America who talked about how their river was being over polluted by pulp and paper mills – we have the same challenge with Kinleith. They also have challenges with multiple dams and the decommissioning of dams which is something we have in common as well.
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“With the Heiltsuk people, they’ve gone to their government and secured a coastal waters fund that supports them similar to our petition for the clean-up fund through the Waikato River Authority,” says Rahui. “Kelly Brown (Executive Director of Resource Management, Heiltsuk Nation) also stressed the importance of incorporating our origin stories into any strategy which is similar to how we view the Waikato River as our tupuna and not just a waterway.” The importance of sharing these stories, Rahui says, is because it incorporates the whakaaro of other people into your own whakaaro. “A lot of it we’ve already thought about with some of the projects we have running on the ground at the moment, but this helps us to broaden the scope of some of those projects and think about what we’re doing in a different way so that we make some real beneficial impacts for our tupuna awa.” Going forward, the tribe’s Environmental Team will look to incorporate some of these new learnings into their strategies and current work programmes. “The koorero shared at the symposium are at the higher level so now it’s up to our teams to work out how we drop those koorero, those values and those actions down into bite sizes for our marae and hapuu,” explains Rahui. “This can’t be just a hui koorero, it’s got to be a hui with some doing at the end and so by the next symposium we will be able to share some of our experiences and outcomes which will in turn help others to carry out their own freshwater projects more effectively.”
Six kapa haka will represent the Tainui Waka rohe at Te Mana Kuratahi - National Primary School Kapa Haka Competition next year in Te Tairaawhiti. Claudelands Arena hosted this year’s regional competition which saw more than 600 tamariki from 16 kapa haka competing in front of a 25 strong judging panel. Defending champions, Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga wowed the judges and the mass crowds to retain their number one spot. Second place went to Te Kura Kaupapa Maaori o Te Ara Rima with Te Kura Kaupapa Maaori o Bernard Fergusson receiving the third spot. Te Wharekura o Te Kaokaoroa o Paatetere took fourth, Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha finished fifth and Te Roopuu Kapa Haka o Nooera sneaking through with sixth. Koia kei a koutou ngaa whakatupuranga o Tainui!
Poukai Hakihea 03 11
Waikare Reretewhioi
Kohitaatea 01 17
Horahora Kokohinau
See waikatotainui.com for more information.
OTHER EVENTS Pre-Employment Workshops Waikato-Tainui Pre-Employment Workshops focus on supporting, preparing and motivating individuals to secure employment opportunities.
Waikato-Tainui commercial arm Tainui Group Holdings has appointed Blair Morris to the new role of General Manager Ruakura. TGH Chief Executive Chris Joblin says Blair’s deep experience and understanding of New Zealand’s logistics sector will be invaluable as TGH progresses its plans for an inland port and logistics hub at Ruakura to link the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. “Blair’s appointment is a key step as the region’s premier inland port and logistics hub at Ruakura comes to fruition. He brings decades of experience in understanding and meeting the needs of exporters and importers and the logistics sector,” says Chris.
So if you need support with preparing your CV, learning valuable interview tips or gaining motivation to find your dream job, then come along to our next pre-employment workshop. 6 December Taamaki Makaurau Apply online at waikatotainuicareers.com or email Papakura Kaa on papakurak@tainui.co.nz for more information.
Good with Money Workshops
For the past four and a half years Blair has been General Manager Commercial at Kotahi Logistics LP, New Zealand’s largest collaboration of exporters, where he provided strategic direction and management of Kotahi’s business growth in New Zealand and Australia including customer solution design and customer experience.
Do you need help managing your money? We’re holding Good with Money workshops to assist people of all levels with money management.
Prior to his role at Kotahi, Blair spent 22 years in the shipping industry, holding a wide variety commercial and trade management roles. He was General Manager of HapagLloyd New Zealand (a German shipping line headquartered in Hamburg Germany) before relocating to their Singapore Corporate Office where he was Senior Director Region Asia for the business.
Apply online waikatotainui.com/good-with-money-workshop-3
6 December
BNZ Business Partners Centre, Hamilton
or contact the Waikato-Tainui Housing Team at housing@tainui.co.nz or call 0800 TAINUI
Blair started at TGH in December. | 22
A national day has been set to commemorate the New Zealand land wars in 2017. In a hui, representatives of New Zealand battle sites across the motu called for a dedicated day on 28 October each year starting in 2017. This day also marks the signing of Te Whakaputanga – The Declaration of Independence in 1835. Rahui Papa, Chairman of Waikato-Tainui tribal executive Te Arataura, says “It’s wonderful to come to some agreement and resolution around this kaupapa.” This kaupapa has been mooted, debated and discussed over several years, including at the Koroneihana of Kiingi Tuheitia in August. There the Deputy Prime Minister announced the Governments support of the initiative. Rahui says the idea is to host a National Commemoration Day in Te Taitokerau in 2017 and then move around the country from year to year to fully appreciate all areas that these battles and invasions took place. Leah Bell and Waimarama Anderson, the Otorohanga School Petition Leaders, feel a sense of relief that their hard work has contributed to a National Day. They say “We, our generation, worked hard to achieve more than 12,000 signatures to recognise these historic events and bring them to the notice of the nation. “Each battle has its own story to tell and a National Commemoration Day will help in sharing that story with the whole country,” Leah and Waimarama said. Rahui applauds the Hon. Nanaia Mahuta and the Minister for Maaori Development for bringing this to the attention of the Government. “Minister Flavell has been instrumental in adding this to the Governments agenda. There are still some aspirations to achieve, including putting it into the New Zealand curriculum and perhaps stronger recognition like a Statutory Commemoration Day.” Nanaia was the sponsor of the petition that was presented to Parliament in December last year where almost all political parties received the petition in Parliament Grounds. Rahui went on to say, “The discussions will continue. We must face up to the happenings of the past to prepare all of Aotearoa – New Zealand for a brighter, more unified future! “Me maumahara taatou – We must remember!”
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