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EXCITING NEWS JUST IN!

Te Aitarakihi is about to start delivering our Whānau Mahi Work Readiness programme!

Whānau Mahi is a free, full-time, 12-week programme for whānau who want to get into employment. Our programme is open to all cultures and nationalities interested in learning in a kaupapa Māori environment. If you know of anyone that may be interested in this, there are more details further on in our newsletter.

It has been another busy few months at Te Aitarakihi. Applying for funding, coordinating learning programmes and use of our whare along with working on ways to better serve our community etc. All the usual things to keep an organisation like ours ticking over.

Our kaimahi taking care of our grounds and buildings have done an amazing job painting our whare, giving our gardens a good clean out and trim and even helping to build some new office space for our kaimahi. Their work is very much appreciated.

Garden update: Our garden is coming along so well under the watchful eye of matua Jan and whaea Mavis. Their plans are turning into seedlings and plants that are thriving under their care. We have an experimental plot of kumara planted so watch this space .

We have a team of volunteers that are regularly helping out and this input is vital to enable the garden to flourish. Ngā mihi nui so much to those that have given their time. There have been some posts up on to our Te Aitarakihi Facebook page showing the progress – including some ‘unique’ volunteers on 24hr duty. . . If you are interested in volunteering in our gardens or any other aspect at Te Aitarakihi we would love to hear from you.

Students from Timaru Boys have been to help out along with our tamariki from our onsite Early Learning Centre – He Manu Hou. Ngā mihi nui for your awhi.

Projects:

Te Aitarakihi was fortunate to be able to run two wānanga in conjunction with Brainwave Trust. Hikoi Mahara - A wānanga focused on the use of waka huia to evoke kōrero and storytelling of parenting experiences and enhance whanaungatanga. Each participant who attended the Hikoi Mahara wānanga received a taonga. Through sharing their experiences of Te Ao Māori they had notes taken. These notes were turned into small stories and were sent to an artist to create an individual picture for each person. The feedback for the day was amazing and created a profound experience where whānau better understood their practices and felt more confident to parent in the view of Te Ao Māori.

Lead by one of our own whānau, whaea Maire Froud tutored the second wānanga Tiakina te tamaiti. This explored what whānau can do to help tamariki reach their potential. Tiakina te Tamaiti highlights the importance of loving experiences in the early years, gently weaving mātauranga Māori, te reo me ō na tikanga into its delivery of the current understanding of brain development. On this day particpants unpacked theory of brain development and whānau were able to consider with their experiences of parenting. These two days created a safe space for whānau to share their experiences and empowered them with all the positive ways they parenting.

Te Aitarakihi is running further wānanga with Brainwave Trust. See flyer later in the newsletter.

During August we where honored to host matua Kaperiere Hogan for a week to reconnect with Te Aitarakihi whānau. During this time, a group of us worked with rōpū from Waimataitai, Boys High and Roncalli, focusing on taiaha for the boys, rakau kēmu, waiata and pūrāku (stories with meanings and values/legends). Kaperiere had hui with whānau, supported our staff professional development session and his attendance with our Te Aitarakihi kapa haka reinvigorated the group. We hope to see Kaperiere back here again soon.

Our 2023 programme is shaping up to be a lively one with many events and programmes going into our calendar. Te Reo Māori, various whānau days, Rangatahi and tamariki programmes and more – Stay tuned!

Our next intake for our Kia Piki Te Reo (advance your language) programmed will be starting mid October along with FINALLY being able to hold another night market in November. More details in ‘what’s on at Te Aitarakihi’

Nei rā te mihi ki a tātou e whakanuia te Wiki o te Reo Māori.

Mai I ngā tamariki mokopuna ki ngā Kaumatua hoki, e kaha ana te katoa ki te kōrero i te Reo Māori ….

🌟🌟🌟Mahurutia Te Reo. 🌟🌟🌟

What a wonderful time of the year when we have embraced Matariki and celebrated with each other to bring in the Maori new year, we now have te Wāhanga o Te Koanga descend upon us and we see new growth flourishing everywhere. 🌼🌻🌼🌻🌼🌻🌼

It has been a busy time for Taumata keeping abreast with all the activities at Te Aitarakihi.

Events that have featured Taumata involvement have included:

🍃Pōwhiri to local groups attending Ki Te Whai Ao Wānanga, Tipuna Parenting Wānanga, Aurora College from Waihopai attending netball tournament, Te Aitarakihi Board members and Kaimahi, Noaia Trust members attending overnight Noho with course participants.

🍃Other hui have included tangihanga and rangatahi noho focusing on well-being and leadership.

Nō reira,

Mā te Atua tātou e tiaki, e manaaki i o tātou kainga maha i tēnei Wāhanga o te Koanga.

Mauri Ora 🌿✨🌿✨🌿✨🌿✨

It continues to be very quiet on the Kaumatua front outside of our Taumata group. The ever present risk of influenza is still with us and now with non-mandatory wearing of masks makes our Kaumatua more vulnerable. Our Whakahononga Hāpori services, continue to keep a check on our Kaumatua to ensure they are ok and if their needs are being met. Ngā mihi nui rawa atu 🙏🌺🙏🌺🙏🌺 He Rawe!!!

Practices have remained more constant since Kapahaka has restarted.

The splitting of the rōpū into Whakataetae and Whakangahau, are being received well by the kapa members. This allows the whakataetae group to focus on specific kapa skills required at top level performing, as well as learning their own performance items.

The whakangahau group has come under the tutelage of Whaea Brenda and Whaea Ani as Matua Haami takes a more relaxed role.

Performances have included:

• The Timaru District Council to celebrate Matariki at the Council Chambers - 29 July

• Relay for Life performance at the Bay - 4 September

• Te Wiki o te Reo Māori - Te Aitarakihi - 13 September

• Opening of the Pasifika Festival at Ara - 23 September

Up and coming performances include:

• Aoraki Multicultural Race Relation’s Day - 29 October

• First Friday Night - 4 November

• Christmas on the Bay - 26 December

Mahurutia i te Reo Māori
🌿🌟✨✨✨🌟🌿

Kia Piki te Reo

For next term, we are in the process of changing the way we deliver. We intend to have a beginners course running however this is yet to be finalised, so what we are asking is for people to still go ahead and register because when we know, we will contact our members and those registered to let them of the changes then let them decide if they would like to go ahead or not.

The intermediate (Tuakana Reo) course will still be going ahead as planned so if you feel like you are ready to step up, then please go ahead and register for that.

Our language programme is called Kia Piki te Reo (advance you language) and is broken down into three separate courses:

• Kia Piki te Reo: Beginners - start date TBA, on Tuesday evenings.

These classes are our beginner classes that go right from the basics for complete beginners, through to basic sentence structure including tenses, pronouns and possessives. Class is usually broken up into two levels depending on personal abilities.

• Kia Piki te Reo: Tuakana Reo (Intermediate) - Commencing 3 November 2022, 6.30pm - 8.30pm; weekly on Thursday evenings

Tuakana Reo is a six-week program. These classes will have Māori speakers from our community and move into more complex structures. Completion of Kia Piki te Reo Beginners or prior reo Māori knowledge required.

Register for either Kia Piki te Reo classes here: Term 4 Te Reo Class Registration

• Kia Piki te Reo: Whaikōrero - Held every second Wednesday, 6.30pm - 8.30pm

This programme is for tāne wanting to learn and refine their whaikōrero when speaking as a kaikōrero at a pōwhiri. The classes are open to all tāne connected to Te Aitarakihi and in the Aoraki rohe who are ready to step into the whaikōrero realm.

To join this kaupapa, register here: Whaikōrero Program

Tāne Ora

Tāne Ora is a health and wellbeing group for tāne only (men only). This rōpū meet alternative Wednesdays starting with kai at 5.30pm and runs on alternative weeks to our whaikōrero class. It is free and open to any men wanting to attend - no RSVP is necessary. For more information, please contact matua Kima on 027 672 7626

Brainwave Trust

On 19 Oct we have two separate wānanga being delivered by the amazing Brainwave Trust facilitators. You are welcome to attend either one or both:

1. What Does Your Child Really Need? 12-2.30pm

2. Unravelling the Adolescent Brain 3.30-5.30pm

Pānui with more information below. Please contact Ana to register: kairuruku@teaitarakihi.co.nz

Night Market

After having to postpone our previous two Night Markets, we are VERY happy and excited to get our Night Market back up and going. Will be held Friday 19 November 4.30-8.30pm. To have a stall, or for more information please contact Ana: kairuruku@teaitarakihi.co.nz

Stay tuned for more information and see pānui below

Otherwise we will see you there on the night!

Ki Te Whai Ao – 3 day Cultural Competency programme

Te Aitarakihi in collaboration with Kia Tika te Ara are proud to offer our wider South Canterbury community, ’Ki Te Whai Ao’ (The Glimmer of Dawn). A three-day intensive Professional Development programme for cultural competency in Te Ao Māori. Pānui with course content below.

The next delivery will be held over two Fridays and final day on Thursday 9am – 4pm (total of 21 hours) on 28 Oct, 4 & 10 Nov at Te Aitarakihi Multicultural Centre in Timaru (final day changed to Thursday due us now having a public holiday on 11 Nov).

Cost is $820+GST includes resources and kai.

Check out what some of our last attendees had to say in a recent Facebook post

If your organisation needs to seek funding in to join this programme we will happily supply you with a quote. The programme will be run four times in 2023:

Mondays 27 Feb, 6 & 13 Mar

Fridays 5, 12 & 19 May

Mondays 31 Jul, 7 & 14 Aug

Fridays 27 Oct, 3 & 10 November

If you would like to register for the programme staring in October, please fill out this registration form: KTWA - Oct or email Julie admin@teaitarakihi.co.nz

Te Aitarakihi Membership

Are you interested in becoming a member of Te Aitarakihi?

Members get first notice of upcoming courses or events and priority on our courses, filling out a membership form is highly recommended if you or your whānau haven’t already done so. Its free, you’ll get occasional emails and a quarterly newsletter, we promise we won’t spam you!

Sign up here: Te Aitarakihi membership form

Volunteers

Are you interested in volunteering from time to time for Te Aitarakihi? We would welcome any help that you were willing to offer from help in the garden, when we have events on, running our programmes to some general maintenance. No obligation to help out when we call upon you – it will always be on your terms. To find out more or would like to get your name down you can either fill out a membership form (link above) and fill out the volunteer section or contact Bex, our wonderful Volunteer Coordinator and she will help you out – volunteers@teaitarakihi.co.nz or 027 253 7883

Hāmi Goldsmith, Brenda Warren, Leana Edwards – Kaiwhakahononga Hapori (Community Connectors)

• Tautoko whānau access online service and fill out government forms/applications

• Make appointments with service providers

• Refer whānau to appropriate agencies

• Link whānau in with a range of services depending on needs

• Provide support-related information and advisory services to whānau

• Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) hui with specialised agencies

• We can meet at your whare, marae, wherever you or your whānau feel comfortable

• Gather information and promote the service available at Te Aitarakihi

• Meet regularly with the Community, Government and Non–Government agencies, District Councils and other provider networks.

• We have our Kaiwhakahaere who can support with whakapapa.

• Provide kai welfare support to whānau self-isolating due to COVID-19.

You can contact our Kaiwhakahononga Hapori on the following

Brenda: brenda@teaitarakihi.co.nz or 027 286 8885

Hāmi: hami@teaitarakihi.co.nz

Leana: leana@teaitarakihi.co.nz

For general enquiries and service intake: support@teaitarakihi.co.nz

It has been busy at He Manu Hou lately, our onsite early learning centre.

He Manu Hou recently celebrated e whā ana tau, 4 years! The tamariki marked this occasion with a haerenga to Chipmunks.

Kaimahi visited from Te Ana Rock Art, where the tamariki learned about tuna, eels, and created with clay.

Whānau at He Manu Hou also bid farewell to Whaea Carey.

For more information about availability at He Manu Hou contact admin@hemanuhou.nz

Arowhenua Whānau Services Timaru clinic is located at Te Aitarakihi and is available to anyone in the community to access and utilise. For any enquiries, please contact AWS on 03 615 5180.

Currently the Te Aitarakihi clinic is open on Mondays and Fridays, but you are welcome to drop in to speak to the kaimahi on site on those days.

Te Aitarakihi is excited to be running the Whānau Mahi, Work Readiness programme in partnership with Noaia Trust and support from Ministry of Social Development (MSD).

Whānau Mahi is a free, kaupapa Māori, whenua-based, employment and training programme for whānau of all cultures and nationalities, who are:

• A registered job seeker with full time work obligations

• OR a registered job seeker with a medical certificate

• OR not be in employment, education, or training (NEET) with an exemption

Whānau Mahi is a wānanga/employment navigation service conducted in a marae style environment

Monday to Friday

9.00am to 3.30pm

This is a fulltime 12-week commitment for whānau who want to get into employment.

Te Aitarakihi will transport you to and from the programme, and supply you lunch everyday!

Whānau Mahi will include various forms of counselling, changing habits, daily mentoring, getting 'life ready', developing employable skills & earning micro-qualifications.

Work ready skills will include, job interviewing, worksite visits, work experience & trial periods Cultural competency is a key component to Whānau Mahi and will include immersion within a Kaupapa Māori setting.

Whānau Mahi is about working as a team and celebrating each others' successes. Te Aitarakihi continue to support employed whānau for as long as required after the programme finishes

Successfully completing Whānau Mahi can lead to:

• Increased confidence

• Life skills

• CV writing skills

• Community connections

• Increased cultural competency

• Driving experience

• Upgraded driver licence

• NZQA qualification

• Personal healthy choices

• Interview experience

• Work experience

• Personal and work references

• A JOB

If this interests you, either speak to your MSD case manager OR go straight to our applications tab on our website here to fill out our Whānau Mahi application form!

Any questions, please contact Kylie on 027 232 2622 or kylie@teaitarakihi.co.nz

Ngā mihi nui to those that have filled out our consultation Survey.

Te Aitarakihi is continually seeking feedback from the voices of our community so that our strategic plan is developing as we grow.

We had a prize draw for one lucky Survey contributor and Pauline was the lucky recipient! She was rapt at winning and even more elated when she saw what was part of the prize kete. Congratulations Pauline and enjoy your goodies.

We are still looking for your input to what services and capability YOU would like us to have here, to provide for our whānau, our members and wider community in the Aoraki region.

Please take the 5-20 mins (depending on how much you have to tell us) of your time to help us be an awesome community facility.

We encourage each member of your household or workplace to fill out their own Survey. Please support tamariki, kaumatua and any others to submit their individual feedback. 1 completed survey = 1 voice.

Please feel free to pass this survey on to anyone in our local community, your other whānau members that will be happy to share their thoughts with us.

Link to the survey is here

The Board and management of Te Aitarakihi would like to acknowledge our generous funders and supporters for their contributions. Their support allows Te Aitarakihi to continue supporting our local community: