Whānau from Auckland to Queenstown gathered at Te Āwhina Marae for the July whakapapa wānanga. Photo: Melissa Banks

Kia pai te noho!

Tēna tātou e te whanau. To live well and prosper is all we can ask for each other.

From Auckland to Queenstown our whānau travelled to Te Āwhina Marae in July for our whakapapa wānanga. The connections were meaningful, the learnings were deep, the kai awesome and the waiata beautiful.

Such a special time shared by all, many talking about the next time we can come together ...

More wānanga planned - register now

For those of you who were unable to attend, you can register now for our August and September wānanga.

Waiata Noho - Whakatū Sat 28 August 2:15pm - Sun 29 August 4:15pm
Te Rautaki Reo o Ngāti Rārua - Whakatū Sun 29 August 11:00am - 4:00pm
Whakapapa Wānanga - Wairau Sat 25 September 2:15pm - Sun 26 September 4:15pm

Open to ALL our registered members, this is another crucial step for those who have expressed their interest in our journey towards Te Heke Tahutahu Ahi in November. Mauri ora!

Kia atawhaitia i te tangata i muri i a ahau, kia pai te noho
Be kind to all peoples, live well.

Left image, left to right: Scott Evans (Head of Property Delivery, Ministry of Education), Vanya George (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Kuia), Michelle Lavender (Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua), Dr Peter Meihana (Te Rūnanga a Rangitāne o Wairau), Johnny Joseph (Ngāti Toa Rangatira), Sam Fowler (GM Capital Works, Ministry of Education). Right image: Dr Melanie Riwai-Couch

Whānau input vital for success of Te Tātoru o Wairau

Ngāti Kuia, Rangitāne o Wairau, Ngāti Rārua and Ngāti Toa Rangatira have been working with the Ministry of Education and Bohally Intermediate School, Marlborough Boys’ College and Marlborough Girls’ College to create opportunities for whānau to be directly involved in Te Tātoru o Wairau, previously known as the Marlborough Schools Project.

The project is to relocate and rebuild three local schools and is now known as Te Tātoru o Wairau.

Interested in helping? Get in touch

Te Tātoru o Wairau is an excellent opportunity to work together to realise the aspirations and goals our whānau have for the education of our rangatahi. So if you want to be part of a project that enables our rangatahi to succeed, please contact us at admin@ngatirarua.iwi.nz

Dawn blessing for new whare at Te Pītau Whakarei

Ngāti Rārua whānau attended the blessing of the new whare for Te Pītau Whakarei - the bilingual unit at Nelson Intermediate on Monday 26 July.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua are owners of the land the school sits on and led the proceedings.

Find out more about Te Pītau Whakarei on the school website.
Read coverage on nelsonapp.co.nz

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua staff joined representatives from NZ Police, Nelson Marlborough Health and the Health Action Trust to welcome Mel Round (front row second from left) in her new position as Whangaia Nga Pa Harakeke.

Fresh approach to wrap whānau in aroha and reduce harm

A mihi whakatau was held on Friday 18 June to officially welcome Mel Round to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rārua.

Pou Hononga Koren Grason said Mel’s role was a fresh approach to a job previously undertaken by the NZ Police.

“The police recognised that Iwi input would be valuable. The reality is this space is one where Māori are over-represented.

“So Mel will be employed by us and will be based at Nikau House in Whakatū, where she will work closely with NZ Police and other social agencies.

“Our hope is that we can collaboratively build the inter-agency approach which will broaden thinking and get better results for whānau who have high family harm risk.”

Mel’s official title is Whangaia Nga Pa Harakeke. She will be co-ordinating regular meetings for agencies around the Family Harm table, and be involved with other other initiatives designed to wrap whānau in the appropriate care and aroha for their needs.

He tiaki i te whānau koirā tā tātou mahi!

Protecting whānau is what we do!
Whakatū Marae Vaccination Clinic, Thursday 5 August.

If you are eligible, you can book in your whole whānau (if they are over 16). There is also help with transport, just mention it when you book.

Book by calling Te Piki Oranga: 0800 672 642

A full list of clinics, including Sunday walk-in clinics is on the Te Piki Oranga website

Kapahaka festival Te Tauihu ki te Hoe takes place this Saturday 7 August at the Trafalgar Centre in Whakatū. Doors open at 9:15am and performances kick off at 10am - entry is by koha.

Rōpu from across Te Tauihu have been practising for months for this performance and the event will be live-streamed on the Māori TV website.

There will be a range of stalls inside and outside with kai predominately outside. Plenty of whānau are performing - we hope to see you there!