Ā mātou kōrero

The ‘koukou’ brand : blight free; virus free and delicious taewa. This week Te Waipounamu has had the privilege of hosting the Minister for Whānau Ora, Hon Te Ururoa Flavell.   And what a week it has been.   From the still…

I love hearing new words.   This week, at a hui of Māori entrepreneurs the phrase ‘Genetic Maorification’ was dropped into the conversation.   It draws from the concept of whakapapa;  genealogy being passed from one generation to the next and…

Hosted by Poutini Waiora at Arahura Marae, Hokitika Helen Leahy, Pouarahi/Chief Executive, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Friday 8 April 2016; 12.30pm Just over a year ago, a young woman of Ngāti Waewae descent, stood in front of Tūhuru, the…

OK, I have to admit it, I do love the shimmering harbour of Whanganui-a-Tara.    This was our view on Tuesday this week, when I attended the meeting of the national council of Family Works; the child and family services…

There is a place I return to in my mind when I am looking for a direction. Punakaiki.   A place where the river meets the sea. It is the place we spent holidays in summer, floating on the lilo, swimming…

Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see. (Neil Postman, The Disappearance of Childhood (introduction), 1982 Mānia Ieremia and Tamairangi Norton, members of the Omaka Honomai kapa haka at the anniversary of the marae…

This week started off in the beautiful paradisal setting of Koukourārata for the scholarship presentation ceremony for Whenua Kura.  Whenua Kura is open to all Māori, with scholarships available for those aged 16-40. It is a learning partnership between Te…

Last weekend our Taumata (iwi board) and General Partner Limited Board held a strategic hui at Ukaipo, the Rangitane Conference Centre at Grovetown.    The first thing that struck us was the powerful symbolism of the Wairau River flowing as…