In 2013 the village of Owaka a small town in the Clutha District, just 35km out of Balclutha, established the Owaka Going Forward campaign. The town’s population was 303 in the 2013 census, a decrease of 24 from 2006. They called a public meeting and discussed ideas to improve the look and feel of Owaka, including powerlines underground, and addressing the central corner of the town.

This week as we travelled through, we saw the end results of that dream. The Owaka waka, a steel sculpture, was made in three parts: the hull, outrigger, and sail. Former Southland Museum director and artist, Russell Beck, has created a visual landmark which not only represents the notion of navigating our futures, but also lifts our eyes skywards, to the possibilities ahead.

The waka is a powerful statement of horizon-setting; establishing a desire to always want for more, searching out new solutions to stretch our thinking and exercise our imagination. It is a profound reminder that our life is ultimately a journey in which we must set our sails forward, looking out for opportunities that can create the brave new world we all want to design fit-for-purpose for our mokopuna to thrive.

  

 

Over the course of this week we have travelled from Wairau to Whakatu, from Murihiku to Otepoti and back to Otautahi, learning from and listening to our 59 Partners in the space of Whānau Ora Navigation. The gorgeous crisp Southern frosts, set across the rich reds and browns of autumn leaves, made for a stunning landscape of colour in our travels. But the most exciting aspect of our trip was the kaleidoscope of views we received about how best to strengthen and consolidate our navigation approach.

Our team were travelling throughout Te Waipounamu for a series of regional wānanga with Whānau Ora Partners. During these wānanga we discussed ways to co-design a strategic case that succinctly identifies the problems with the current funding model and provides our preferred solution. Watch this space!

 

  

  

  

 

He Kakano Ahau

This week the inaugural round of applications for Kōanga Kai were presented at the table of the independent panel established specifically to assess these proposals. The panel is chaired by Huia Lambie, with Richard Hunter and Pounamu Skelton as members; supported by our team: Gina-Lee Duncan, Jeremy Severinsen, Mihi-Rose Tipene and Ivy Harper.

Huia grew up in Christchurch, however did have 30 years away, living in both Taranaki and Wellington, before coming back to Christchurch two weeks before the 2010 earthquakes. Her passion is to connect and influence positive change.

Richard Hunter brought his experience as Maori Relationship Advisor at The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research to the discussion. He has been on the national committee (deputy Chair) of Tāhuri Whenua – national Māori vegetable growers collective. He has been an iwi representative at Marlborough District Council for over 25 years and involved in key areas of Whānau, hapū and iwi development such as Tu Pono Te Mana kaha o te whānau ki Te Tauihu.

Pounamu Skelton has similarly rich experience as the national co-ordinator for Te Waka Kai Ora (Maori Organics Aotearoa); is a lecturer on the ARA certificate in Whānau Ora and a tutor for Kai Oranga with Te Korowai o Ngaruahine. Her focus is in promoting organic food for whānau or whānau whānui; wanting to deepen knowledge of mauri-rich food, whenua and rongoa and enhancing aspirations for food sovereignty.

We look forward to hearing the recommendations from the panel as we ‘go forward’; moving from food insecurity to food security and ultimately food sovereignty.

 

  

 

Te Rongomaiwhiti

One of our awesome Wave 13 initiatives led by Hohepa Waitoa start their first production shows this week in Christchurch.

This is the link for tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/te-rongomaiwhiti# 

Fri 14th May 2021, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Sat 15th May 2021, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Thu 20th May 2021, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Fri 21st May 2021, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm 

Sat 22nd May 2021, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Mahi Mahi Productions is fostering the skills and talents of whanau who wish to connect with the arts and performance industries and provide pathways for these whanau to become employed in the industry. Mahi Mahi will produce a full immersion te reo Maori theatre experience for kura and the community. Over two weeks, the production will be held in 20 kura, and there will be evening shows in the Little Andrometer. 

Four mokopuna descended from four Atua Māori are sent to the sacred school of learning – ‘Te Wānanga o ngā Atua.’ There they are to learn how to harness their ‘mauri’ – inner power and one day carry out the important roles of their grandparents as guardians of ‘Te Ao’ and ‘Te Pō.’

Maea Ukulele Roopu

Here are some pikitia of the Maea Ukulele Roopu proudly wearing the T-shirts they purchased with sponsorship funding from Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu. They played at the kaumatua lunch at Te Puna Oranga and were extremely well received.

 

  

 

Te Ara Waihiko hit the road

Pūrākau provide a framework for how we might engage with the different elements in our taiao, how they behave and how we can interact with each other. The story of Waihiko aims to provide a narrative that affirms a Māori perspective of our connection to the digital, technological realm and spark thinking around our ability and capacity to engage in this space, to utilise devices and technology for the betterment of future generations.

Waihiko is Ariki Creative’s interpretation of the atua (god) of electricity. An element that has always been there but only in recent times has humankind had the capacity and capability to interact with her. The daughter of Tamanuiterā (The Sun) and Rua Korekore (the potential), Waihiko loved to race across the solar system with her māmā and pāpā. 

Te Ara Waihiko is for Māori interested in a digital technology or creative career – no matter what stage of life you are in, what your current skill set or qualifications are. It is a platform to connect you to industry partners to help you build your digital legacy and support you with career advice, job seeker assistance, funding, networking and more along the way. Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu has supported the roadshow across Te Waipounamu.

Our Ngā Hau e Whā kohanga reo and Waverley Park School in Invercargill were also lucky enough to be introduced to the new purakau of Waihiko. They were blessed with the pukapuka to take home and new creative ideas on future pathways in the digital world of today.

 

  

  

 

Whakaaturanga Mahi Tūturu Aotearoa

Toihi Mahuika-Wright (Te Kiwai) and Hora Kairangi-Nicholas (RUIA) are representing us this week at the Careers Expo in the Christchurch Arena 13-15 May in helping New Zealanders explore and find opportunities for studying and entering the workforce.

 

 

Financial literacy for whānau

Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu has contracted Mokowhiti to develop bespoke whānau friendly financial tools for the delivery of whānau focussed Financial Literacy programme. This programme will target whānau directly those who accessed #Manaaki20 and Puna Fund to support them with their financial literacy and aspirations. A programme has been designed to increase Financial Literacy that has a combination of awareness, skills, knowledge, behaviour and mindset. It is a two workshop format that is whānau friendly with tools that are practical that are designed to support whānau to create clear financial goals and support to inform whānau of their rights within the lending sector, work and income and financial sector.

Week one there will be two workshops in one day to meet different whānau needs;

• 11.00am – 2.00pm to meet the needs of young mothers and their tamariki timetable

• 6.00pm – 9.00pm to meet the needs of whānau who work.

Ōtākou

• Monday 31 May 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Monday 14 June 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Murihiku

• Tuesday 1 June 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Tuesday 8 June 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Ōtautahi

• Monday 21 June 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Monday 28 June 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Whakatū

• Tuesday 15 June 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Tuesday 22 June 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Wairau

• Monday 5 July 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Monday 12 July 6.00pm – 9.00pm

Mawhera

• Tuesday 6 July 11.00am – 2.00pm

• Tuesday 13 July 6.00pm – 9.00pm

TE HA O KAWATIRI

Kahutane Whaanga, one of our team, made a site visit to Te Ha O Kawatiri in Westport with Richelle Schaper and Rehia McDonald. Kahutane was introduced to their beautiful maara and the multitude of ways maara could be put together.