Ā mātou kōrero

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…

Saturday 27 February 2016 Helen Leahy, Chief Executive for Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu         I pay my first respects to Ngāi Tahu, the first peoples of this land.   I acknowledge your unique relationship to this…

E te rangatira kua ngaro, e te reo o te iwi kua wahangu, e Ranginui, haere, haere, haere atu ra. E te uri o Te Whakatohea, ka tangi te ngakau ki a koe kua kapohia atu e te ringa kaha…

We have been so proud this week, to celebrate with Jade and Wiki Temepara, and their five tamariki, the opening of the Kākano Café and Cookery School. “Jade Temepara grew up in Murihiku/Southland until the age of 18. Here she…

Speech notes for Monday 22 February 2016; 4pm Helen Leahy, Chief Executive Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu The split second of time, immortalised at 12.51pm this day, will be forever etched in our collective memory, as whānau, as a city,…

Kei ngā uri tōpūranga ariki o te motu whānau, nāia te kupu whakamihi ki a koutou katoa i a mātou e whakamōhio ake nei ko wai tō mātou Tāhūhū Rangapū hou o Te Pūtahitanga. On behalf of the Board of…