TPR - building community

I've really enjoyed the latest Te Pànui Rùnaka. There is so much going on. From the carving apprentices at Ngàti Waewae, to the brillant update from Waihao about their recent wanaka. So much good news. One of my favorite reports was from Òtàkou about their recent wanaka . What a wonderful 3 days they must have had; to hear the history, to visit the places where it happened, to talk, write waiata, and have kai. What a great effort.

As usual I really appreciated learning about the candidates for the appointments committee of Te Hapù o Ngàti Wheke. Skills, experience, knowledge, passion and humility. Perfect attributes for the role – best of luck to all. Aoraki Bound is one of the best things we do as an iwi. My heartfelt thanks to all the organisers and tutors – you are making a massive difference in the health of our young people, our land and our iwi. You truly are great leaders for us. And more proof comes in the article by Huhana Carter, I found this paragraph particularly moving:

“There were many highlights of this experience but for me the opportunity to meet the kaitiaki of our treasured resource, pounamu was truly memorable. i learnt of the trails and asssociated stories. As I walked the tracks I continually thought, “Kà tapuwae o mua mò muri”” (the footprints of the past informing us about the future). To physically walk in the footsteps of our ancestors was an absolute privilege. I found the course to be particuarly enlightening to strengthen my cultural identity through increased understanding of the history and places of significance to Kài Tahu. Very little of this knowledge has survived in our whànau. We only have small pieces of information, but this course has confirmed some knowledge and expanded the overall picture. I would like to encourage others to take the challenge.”

How good is that? We are doing many things really well and Aoraki Bound is one of those excellent Ngai Tahu initiatives.

Another fantastic idea is the DOC Trainee Ranger Programme. We need to train our people up and this is an effective and innovative way to do it. And we are training them up in skills and expertise that we will need. Our kaitiaki role will increase over time, we will have more to protect and support, and we will need more Ngai Tahu skilled and able to support the kaupapa. Congratulations to the successful applicants to the programme: Michael Robb, Levi Lanauze and Joseph Walker. And thanks especially to Rachael for dreaming this idea up, turning it into a plan, and then making it happen. The scholarship from Te Runanga is a lovely touch.

So an absorbing read and so much information. Thanks so much to the team (Vicki) who gets this essential panui out every month.