We are happy to introduce our Kaipiringa, Linda Kohunui-Hartman joins our kaupapa to manage our office and all internal/external communications.  Her work hours are currently 30hrs per week. 

If you would like to personally welcome her, please feel free to call our office at (04) 293 1538 or email:  admin@teatiawakikapiti.co.nz.   We invited Linda to write a profile brief so you can join the dots.  

 

Ko Pikiraikom (Bing) Kohunui.rāua ko Ramona Wall oku tipuna
Ko Arthur Kohunui rāua ko Michelle Hartman oku matua
Ko Devonte rātou ko Anastas, ko Haiz-Leigh ngā tamariki
 
Having lived on the Kapiti Coast for all of my younger life I grew up with my Nan (on my mother’s side) and sister Pera (Papara/Hartman).  I spent most of my time with my mother’s whanau growing up – but knew that my Father’s whanau were there and lived in Paraparaumu. I knew that I was loved by them and that my Nan and Koko, Aunties and Uncles would be excited to see me when I would go by them on occasion.
 
I attended Feilding Agricultural High School as a boarder and with the help of all of my Grandparents. Gaining prefect of Matatahi House and eventually leaving in Year 13 to attend Kapiti College, hapū. 

We had our daughter Devonte and when she was was around 3 went on to attend He Huarahi Tamariki – Young Parent  school in Linden, eventually becoming hapū with our son Anastas who also attended.I stuck to my studies with our babies in tow and went on to become Head Student – which was a massive achievement for me – as I was not confident in my place in this world.
 
Shortly after that we were hapū again and decided to move North to Ruakaka, to be by the kids fathers whānau. A time that I will remember forever – I was introduced to Kohanga Reo, Takahiwai to be exact. And that is where my introduction to Māoritanga came in, the people of Takahiwai embraced us and let us learn. We were ‘green’ but never made to feel inadequate. They helped shape our sons love for Te Reo and Kapahaka which he embraced thoughout his life.
 
Moving back to Paraparaumu, I enrolled our baby Haiz-Leigh at Te Kohanga Reo o Tararua ki Paraparaumu and we continued with our journey – with me eventually going in as Kaiwhakahaere. It was then that I really started learning the connection of us and our whanaunga in Te Atiawa, again – I was ‘green’ but I was helped and Iearnt a lot along the way with support from whanau that I still value and appreciate to this day.
 
Moving on with the kids at kura now – I needed to bring in an income for our whanau, so back to the books and a bit of a student loan – I started working with a local Roading Technology company with whom I stayed with for a number of years. I got to a point where I was needing to be challenged and fulfilled with more of a community interaction environment – I was lacking the motivation to just work for
the sake of working. So I made a decision to reach out to Kara and inquire about working within our Iwi.
 
And here I am.
 
I look forward to learning more and being able to eventually being a member of our iwi who can offer knowledge and support. I look forward to walking down the road and knowing how we connect and being able to tell my babies how we all fit in together and I welcome your stories and your time.
 

Whatungarongaro te tangata toitū te whenua
As man disappears from sight, the land remains

Kiaora whānau,
 
We are holding a working bee at the Takamore Urupa this Saturday 17th 9.30am weather permitting.  Fingers crossed for fine weather as we'd love to see you this weekend in your best gardening gears!!!
 
Ngā mihi
Matua Les

Countdown is on the lookout for up to five small, innovative and diverse businesses to be a part of our first-ever Kete accelerator programme.  
 

What they are looking for:

They're  focussed on businesses that:

• Businesses who want to see their products on supermarket shelves
• Businesses manufacturing products in New Zealand
• Diverse businesses e.g. owned by Māori, Pasifika, youth, women, LGBTQI+, people with disabilities
• On-trend products that meet customer needs both now and in the future e.g. convenience options, healthy choices, sustainability focused
• Businesses with a product that’s close to being ready to go to on supermarket shelves. It doesn’t have to be perfect but we want to see a clear vision and plan
• Businesses that are committed to sustainability and community
• Businesses that aren't currently ranged at Countdown

What’s in the Kete programme:

Up to five business will be chosen to be a part of Kete, and will have access to a package of support and resources worth over $250,000 each:

• $20,000 cash grant to upscale your business
• Guaranteed ranging on Countdown shelves for the length of the programme
• Mentorship and support from across the Countdown business
• Access to Countdown customer insights
• Product development and manufacturing support
• Networking and development events and opportunities
• Branding, marketing and public relations support

Apply here

Applications close 15 August 2021.

Application guidelines can be found here. If you have any questions please get in touch with kete@countdown.co.nz.

Amotai, Aotearoa’s supplier diversity centre of excellence, will be working with Countdown throughout Kete to help make sure the accelerator delivers meaningful results, especially for Māori and Pasifika businesses.

Applications are open for our summer volunteer ranger programme on Kāpiti.
 
Volunteers have the opportunity to live and work on Kapiti Island for a month at a time during summer. You'll assist DOC rangers with conservation and recreation tasks, and interact with the public on behalf of DOC.  For more information click here

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Te Kainga Ururoa is a partnership between Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira and the Department of Conservation in Porirua. This three-year project will be delivered around the Porirua Basin.

The aim of the project is to improve ecological connections across Porirua through coastal and biodiversity restoration, while also enhancing mauri across traditional mahinga kai areas and enabling active kaitiakitanga. For more information, click on this Seek link and apply.

Whaihanga | Revitalising Māori built heritage conservation mātauranga

•  the mātauranga surrounding traditional arts and whare construction
•  mahinga kai
•  māra kai, and 
•  tārai waka.

Ngā Riu o Ngā Tūpuna | Revitalising Mātauranga Māori in ancestral landscapes

• cultural mapping
• maramataka
• waka haerenga, and
• kohatu.