Volume 2 Issue 1, February 2011

Whanau Stories - Te Rawhiti Fire Brigade

This is a tribute to our Volunteer Fire Brigade. They are whanau who are very dedicated.

Rawhiti was inundated with the usual campers, boaties,tourists and whanau who were treated to spectacularweather through Christmas and New Year. However, thefine dry days mean we had to be extra careful of the firerisk and thankfully most people were well behaved. Thosewho ignored the fire-ban were guaranteed a visit fromour Fire Chief, Arana Rewha (Charlie and Ngaire Rewha’sson).

Our Fire Fighters are a voluntary group of 28 men andwomen, who undergo a rigorous weekly training regime.They have a reputation for being a hard working andcommitted team and are highly regarded in the North bytheir fellow Fire Fighters.

They attend car accidents as well as dealing with scrub and rubbish fires. Some of the work they didover the summer included:

9 Jan - A head-on crash at Wairoa (between Maude and Barbs) where a tourist was traveling north onthe wrong side of the road and met a family who were heading home from camping. Fortunately therewere no serious injuries.

9 Jan - A car fire in scrub near Paroa Bay, which they managed to get to first and put it out beforeanyone else responded.

5, 6 and 9 Jan - The biggest scrub fire of the summerseason at Matawera in the Hokianga. One of theircolleagues suffered severe burns to his face from hotsteam that blew back while using a fire fighting tool. Hewas very lucky - if he had breathed in when the steam hithe would certainly have died.

So thank you all who work on our fire brigade forthe great mahi you do for our community.

Finally, we need to rebuild the station so we will bespending a bit of time fundraising soon. Any ideas or helpwill be greatly appreciated.

Anya and Russell Hook and whanau on behalf of everyone.

Whanau Stories - Northland Flooding

Aunty Marara writes about her floodingexperience and being kept from home fortwo days.

Good morning all,

I have had a good rest after our two-day ordeal - itwasn't really that bad, just inconvenient. Last Friday,Anya and I and my mokopuna Kia Maia, left here to go toKawakawa, then carried on to Whangarei, it poured allthe way. After our PaknSave shopping we came home,but only got as far as Punaruku. The car in front of us had stopped and advised that the water was toodeep and we wouldn't be able to get through, so we turned back to Whangarei and booked in at a motelfor the night. Before we left home Rawhiti that morning, I had got word that Pumpi (Shem and JackieParkes' son) had died and was being brought back to the marae that day.

Saturday had turned out to be lovely and sunny, so we made our second attempt to come home, got toWhakapara, there was a long line of vehicles stretching from the garage to way past the turn-off to theWhakapara marae. We got word from other motorists that there were 5 places between Whakapara andKawakawa where it was almost impossible to get through, so we decided to turn back and stay anotherday/night in Whangarei. Later, we heard that the police had closed the road from there to Kawakawa.

In the meantime, Anya was txting Russell and Teina updating us on the road conditions, especiallyHelena Bay. There were slips there but Road Transit was clearing them as best as they could. We turnedback to Whangarei again but then Teina txted us to say that Helena Bay was all clear, so we made ourway back again. It was a sorry sight to see all the paddocks turned into lakes as far as the eye couldsee and although the water was receding, one could see by the debris along the fence lines how far upthe water had come.

We drove on, then when we came to Taupiri, there was abig slip there, the workmen and one machine were stillthere but because the slip they were trying to clear awaywas too pudgy and the machine kept sliding, Russell andHiram had to get another heavy machine (one with abucket) from Paroa Bay to help finish the job, but weren'tsuccessful there, so a machine on a big truck came fromPuketona Just as well it was fine, because we just hungaround to wait, chatted with other motorists who were enroute to Russell or Elliot's. We must have been thereabout two hours I guess before we were able to move on,and finally arrived home here, still daylight.

So that was our little adventure. Thank goodness theweather wasn't too hot otherwise all our food in the boot

would have gone 'off.'

Marara Hook

“Success is the ability to go from failure tofailure without losing your enthusiasm.”

Sir William Churchill

What has no content but you are still able tosee it?

A hole.

Whanau Stories - John Willoughby in Utah

Our Xmas was spent working in the cold and snow.

No rest for the wicked I guess. At least the sun came outwhich took the "bitch factor" edge off of it. We were up inUtah north of Salt Lake City in a town named Hyrum,pretty nice up there when the sun shines. Sending you acouple of shots Brigitte took from the truck. Gives you anidea of small town USA, much like a small town in NZ, setin beautiful surroundings and populated with folks thatare just trying to make the best of what they got.

Hope you guys are enjoying the summer. I'll see yah'smid Feb when I come down for a few weeks and startlooking at setting something up so I can stay!

Much Love

John

"If you're walking down the right path andyou're willing to keep walking, eventuallyyou'll make progress."

Barack Obama

What can fill a room but takes up no space?

Light.

Whanau Stories - Celebrating Ratana's Birthday

The 25th of January is a significant date for the Ratana Church.

The 25th of January is the birthday of Tahupotiki Wiremu Ratana, who was bornin 1873, 138 years ago! Since his death, we, the Ratana adherents (or Morehuas we call ourselves – morehu meaning remnants) have celebrated his birthdayby visiting Ratana Pa annually, 12 miles out of Whanganui, where our Temple is.When TWR was still alive, people began arriving at the Ratana Pa to celebratehis birthday, but he advised that he did not wish his birthday to be celebrated,but instead, preferred the people to celebrate the 8th November which was thedate he was ‘inspired’ by the Holy Spirit and thought that was a far betterreason for celebration. However, as the date coincided with School Holidays, itwas a fitting time for whanau to take their children on the final week of theholidays. The weather was right, the festival atmosphere was right, it was a good start of the school yearto visit the Temple and allow us to ‘fill up our bottles’ with blessings for the ensuing year!

As time went on, the families from throughout Aotearoa put aside this time to visit the Pa, it wasalmost like an annual pilgrimage. As we lived in Auckland, the mode of travel was to catch the LimitedPassenger Express leaving Auckland Railway Station at 7.30 pm arriving in Wellington about 7.30 nextmorning, But, all the passengers for Ratana Pa would hop off at Marton, about 5 am, then all pile on toa train taking us to the Ratana Pa Station. The first year I started to attend these annual trips was in1947 (I was in Standard 5 or Form 1 at Avondale Intermediate School) and this was the last time thatthe train went to the Ratana Pa Station, as the railway service to there was discontinued from that year.

As passengers to Ratana Pa for this time of the year were increasing in numbers, the then Member ofParliament for Northern Maori, Tapihana Paikea, or Dobby as he was more popularly known, approachedthe Government of the day to provide a Special Train from Otiria to Ratana Pa and back again. By theend of 1947, a Special Train had been granted in time for the January, 1948 trip. This caused a lot ofexcitement amongst the Morehu throughout the north and with this news, families were able to takeextra family members to the Pa.

People from Rawhiti, Ngaiotonga, Kaikohe, Mangakahia, Mangamuka, Te Kao, Te Hapua and othernorthern places would all find their way to Otiria Station, the starting point for the Special Train andit would make its way to Auckland Railway Station where the Auckland people and surrounding areas,Helensville etc would all be waiting to hop on. Here, too, the Railways Dept would put on 2 or 3 extracarriages to accommodate the Auckland contingent and when the train arrived at Frankton Junction,another couple of carriages would be added on to cater for the Tauranga, Te Kuiti and those areas.

My mother and her two sisters and all their Morehu contemporaries wouldhave baked, cookedand prepared eats for the trip down, not only for our family, but to be sharedwith all the other passengers in our particular carriage. Everyone else did thesame and it would be a real picnic atmosphere – very exciting I must say!

Our train would leave about 2 hours after the usual daily Limited Express toWellington, this meant that the refreshment stations along the way wouldhave time to re-stock their sandwiches, pies, fizzy drinks and cups of teabefore our train came along. We would ensure that the carriage we chosewould be about half way along the whole length of the train, because wegauged that that particular carriage would stop right outside, or near enough,to the refreshment rooms. We would jump out, order the cups of tea and mybrother, sister and I would ‘chain’ the cups of tea from the counter to the one

nearest the carriage.

The celebrations still go on. http://www.tainui.co.nz/te_hookioi_pdfs/Issue28.pdf

That’s all for nowTe Kuia nei, Marara

Visit http://www.theratanachurch.org.nz/ for more information.

Nga Kai Ora Healthy Food

Two poisons in our food

• FRUCTOSE & MSG

• MSG is hidden with different codes-E620 to E625.

Healthy Tip! Read all labels.

Healthy Children

• Encourage your children to read the labels while you shop withthem.

• Start your own vegetable garden for your whanau.

• Serve vegetable sticks and dip before dinner for your kids to snack.

• Make sure your children have daily exercise. Walking, running and playing everyday!

Healthy Tip! Sweets are not snacks.

Beware of Plastic Containers

• Plastic bottles and plastic containers put tiny amounts of plastic in to our bodies and can causediseases.

• Change any liquids you buy to drink from plastic bottles to glass as soon as possible.

• Put vinegars in to glass bottles as soon as you get home. Vinegars do break down plastic morequickly and go in to our food.

Stay well and happy whanau till next time,

Allan Mountain

Contact Allan if you want to know more or have a question at datavoice@clear.net.nz

Joke Time!

Little boy was praying and his Dad walked passed and stopped to listen to his son.” Dear God pleasebless Mummy and Daddy and Grandpa tatata Grandma”. The next day they found Grandma dead onthe floor.

That night the Dad listened again and the boy said, “God bless Mummy and Daddy tatata Grandpa”.The next morning Grandpa was dead on the floor.

The next night the Dad said, “Oh dear! Its me next”. So he listened to the boy who said, God blessMummy tatata Daddy. The man stayed up all night and really early in the morning he went to thedoctor and the doctor said he was all right. He went home.

When he got home his wife came running out and said, “This morning we found the post man dead onthe door step!”

Schedule of Treaty Claims Meetings 2011

Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi

HUI DATE VENUE PROPOSED OUTCOME

Te Kotahitanga o nga HapuNgapuhi

26 January2010

Mahuhukiterangimarae, Tautoro

Monthly hui to report back tasksallocated to Working Party andIHOK and plan where to next

Claimants Preparation Huifor Final Submission

10 & 11February2011, 10am

Motatau Marae,Motatau

Hui to finalise Claimants closingsubmission

Te Kotahitanga o nga HapuNgapuhi

16 February2011, 10am To be confirmed

Monthly hui to report back tasksallocated to Working Party andIHOK and plan where to next

Week 5 of Initial Hearings

Tues 22 -Thurs 24February2011,(3days)

Otiria Marae,Moerewa

Closing submissions for Crown andHapu

Claimants debrief hui aftercrown evidence

11 March,2011, 10am To be confirmed

To provide the opportunity forclaimants and hapu members tohear and debate the CrownEvidence

Te Kotahitanga o nga HapuNgapuhi

29 March2011, 10am To be confirmed

Monthly hui to report back tasksallocated to Working Party andIHOK and plan where to next

Quote

"If we wish to present ourselves to the wider world as New Zealanders then we must be able to listento our own voices, and trace our own footsteps; we must have our own heroes and heroines inspire us;we must persist with building our own culture with the ingredients close to hand and not import thesesingredients ready made from abroad."

The late Michael King NZ Historian.

The Northland Treaty Claims

There are Two Stages to the Ngapuhi Te Paparahi o Te Raki / The NorthlandClaims.

Stage OneThe first stage is a number of hearings where the Kaikorero (speakers),Tohunga of Ngapuhitanga and others chosen by their hapu gaveevidence. They had to submit their korero to a panel of Nga KuiaKaumatua o Ngapuhi for checking first.

Ngapuhi's Key Objectives for the Hearings:

1. That the Tribunal understand and record hapu understandings of HeWhakaputanga/ Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti/The Treaty2. That Ngapuhi never ceded sovereignty to the Crown3. That forcing sovereignty on breaches Te Tiriti/The Treaty4. That the Tribunal’s Report of the hearings becomes public and starts the dialogue of including HeWhakaputanga/ Declaration of Independence and Te Tiriti/The Treaty in a constitution based on truthand principle, not political expedience

Stage TwoThe second stage is where all the northern hapu and iwi present their(297+) individual claims of wrongdoing by the Crown to them. To copewith the numbers of claims, the Tribunal said that hapu had to formLarge Natural Groupings (LNG).

At first, most hapu agreed with the Runanga o Ngapuhi funded LNGcalled Tuhoronuku to present all Ngapuhi Claims. But it was found that Tuhoronuku and the Runangawere secretly negotiating directly with the government in Wellington on behalf of the whole of the north.In this way, the Crown will not have to worry about returning land, just handing out money for the casesthey think are proven.

The Runanga o Ngapuhi, which holds our Fisheries money, will now hold the Claims money if they getit. Individual whanau and hapu will not get a look in.

What does the Claims Process Mean to Te Rawhiti?

Our DOC-held lands around us at Te Rawhiti (see map) might never bereturned. We need to be able to tell our stories. We need the Tribunal tohear us.

Ngā Hapu o Te Takutai Moana is a collective of hapu centred on Ipipiri(Bay of Islands). These hapu include Ngāti Rehia, Ngāti Rahiri, NgātiKawa, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Manu, Te Kapotai, Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha. Wehave come together through our shared whanaungatanga to collectivelyrealise our agreed vision statement ‘Kia papa pounamu te moana.’ Weare committed to working with Te Kotahitanga o nga Hapu Ngapuhi.

We are also supportive of achieving a comprehensive Treaty settlementfor all of Ngapuhi through a Ngapuhi wide approach. Ngā Hapu o TeTakutai Moana are not to be included in any discussions with TeRunanga-a-Iwi o Ngāpuhi/Te Roopu o Tuhoronuku in regard to TreatySettlements.

Register with your hapu! Both Ngati Kuta and Patukeha have their registration process on theirwebsites. Visit: http://www.ngatikuta.maori.nz/aboutregistration.html for the Ngati Kuta form. Justemail the forms with your name, your children's and grandchildren's and their ages to the contact -Arnz4037@gmail.com for Ngati Kuta or pahitapu@xtra.co.nz for Patukeha.

It’s important that you sign up now! Do your bit to help the whanau

The Governor-General Visits Bay of Island College

An extract from Sir Anand Satyanand's speech to the students and staff ofBay of Islands College

It has been a pleasure for my wife Susan and I to havethe opportunity to visit Bay of Islands College here inKawakawa today. I am told that this is the first Governor-General visit to your school so it really is good to behere.

Your education is the most significant contributor ingiving you a broader understanding of who you are,where we have come from, and how our world works. Thedifferent subjects you study, be it mathematics, English,history, the arts, or sciences, are based on wisdom andknowledge that spans more than three thousand years oflearning.

You may decide to pursue tertiary education, or you may decide to head straight into the workforce.Whatever that choice, what you have learnt in school, including your values and key skills, will assistyou in making decisions and will prepare you for what lies ahead.

The success of a College can be measured on the success of its students and, in that regard, thisCollege can be proud of the calibre of its alumni. Those include past students such as LieutenantCommander Wiremu Leef, who was made Commanding Officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy vessel,HMNZS Manawanui, in May last year and District Court Judge Greg Davis. I made a number of enquiriesregarding past students and mention of those two was just the beginning.

There have been many senior figures in education, for example Elizabeth Ellis, a long-time EROcoordinator and currently the Commissioner of Te Aute College, and her sister Helen Mountain Harte,herself a teacher and researcher. It also seems that former PM Mike Moore and his family spent time atthis College.

Each student here has the potential to be just assuccessful in life after school as those I have mentioned.

Each student here has the potential to positivelycontribute to the community and to the wider NewZealand public.

Each student here has the potential to be great. In orderto make that a reality, it is important that you perseverein achieving your goals.

And on that note of encouragement, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offeringeveryone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.

Wiremu, Marara's moko who is a student at Bay College, went up to Sir Anand Satuanand and said 'MyNan is Nanny Helen'. Anand gave him a smile and spoke to him.

Support strong for Te Aute College

By Doug Laing | 2nd February 2011 | Hawkes Bay Today | Photo/Glenn Taylor

The sun streaming across Te Aute College as newcommissioner Elizabeth Ellis was welcomed yesterdaywas far from being the only ray of hope as the schoolstaves off the threat of closure. College principal PiripiBlake just had time for the one-hour powhiri, revealingthe "turmoil" of the last fortnight has resulted in astring of late enquiries about enrolments for the newyear. "I had a koraua come to see me on Sunday fromTaihape," he said.

For Mrs Ellis, it's been a drop-everything few days sinceshe was asked if she would take on the role. It was with"mixed feelings" and the circumstances "painful" thatshe took the role, but it's also "great to be here". As an Education Review Officer she has been to theschool many times, but the ties are much longer. "My mother's brothers came here," she said. "And theirsons, and then their sons."

Among those at the powhiri for Mrs Ellis were members of the resigned board, former members andothers from the community. The commissioner was welcomed by kaumatua and former pupil TuahineJoe Northover and Mr Blake, and Canon Hone Kaa and and Kepa Stirling represented her Ngapuhi andNgati Porou whanau before she was led across the paepae in front of the meeting-house Te Whare oRangi to take her place in the school.

Elizabeth Ellis is the daughter of Walter & Emere Mountain, sister to Helen and Aunt to Anya & co.

Toi Iho Trademark Transferred to the People

The conception of a Māori trademark was first verbalised by Sir ApiranaNgata in 1936.

But it wasn't until 2000 that the then government’s cultural recoverypackage enabled Te Waka Toi, chaired by Elizabeth Ellis, to begin theprocess of developing a registered trademark through Creative NewZealand’s ‘Seriously Māori Strategy’. The result was toi iho™– the Māorimade trademark denoting authenticity and quality. It was agreed thattoi iho™ would identify the best creative expressions of Māori and helpMāori artists market and present their work.

In 2009, Creative New Zealand’s CEO, Stephen Wainwright claimed ‘a changing landscape’ was oneof the factors instrumental in Creative NZ’s decision to disinvest in toi iho™, the Māori trademark ofauthenticity and quality. So in 2010, an entity and preferred custodian of toi iho™, Toi Iho KaitiakiIncorporated (TIKI). "I am relieved and delighted that Toi Iho has been transferred from Creative NewZealand to Māori after more than a year when we feared it would fade into oblivion," says Ellis.

She believes Māori artists will again be able to use Toi Iho to identify their work and Toi Iho will againenhance a positive profile for Māori and for Aotearoa-New Zealand. However, Ellis acknowledges thereis still much of the journey and development to go for the new entity.

“TIKI has much work to do in 2011 as we re-establish Toi Iho, consult, support and promote our brilliantMāori artists and secure funding for Toi Iho. I know that the elders who started Toi Iho, including DrPaki Harrison, Erenora Hetet, Diggeress Te Kanawa and Hirini Melbourne who have since passed on willbe beside us as we rejuvenate Toi Iho, so this is an exciting andtesting time,” says Ellis.

Abriged article from Tu Mai magazine http://www.ebookonline.co.nz/tumai/tumai_114_decjan2011/

Born for War by Brent Korohena

Research for a Historical New Zealand Novel

I am taking this opportunity to address you all, in relation to myproject titled Born for War an historical novel based upon NewZealand's military history.

Born for War spans a period of approximately 200 years andincludes:

• Traditional Maori inter-tribal warfare (late 1700s-early1800s)

• Musket Wars (1818-1830)• Peace - Letter to the King, Declaration of Independence and Treaty of Waitangi (1831-1840)• Northern War (1845-46)• New Zealand Land (Maori) Wars (1860s-1880s)• World War One (1914-1918)• World War Two (1939-1945)• Occupation of Japan (1945-1950)• Vietnam War (1960s-1971)

It can be used as an academic reference. A significant discovery has also been uncovered, in relationto the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledged by a number of current academics, scholars and historians.

The link to a promo for the prospective documentary can be viewed at http://bfwdoco.tumblr.com.auand my documentary - maker brother (whom I will be working with)

• Kris' website: http://www.kiskerehona.com• My research website: http://www.tumatauenga.webs.com• A biography about Moka Te Kainga-mataa on the New Zealand History online website

http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/moka-te-kainga-mataa• The proposed Three Brother Chiefs: Te Wharerahi, Rewa, Moka exhibition at Russell Museum

http://www.russellmuseum.org.nz/special.htm• Published poem Moka's Utu composed by Doug Poole http://www.review.mai.ac.nz/index.php/

MR/article/viewFile/346/538• The artwork titled Moka's Utu by Penny Howard http://nzpoetsonline.homestead.com/

AWhenua26.html

I am seeking any interest and support from all quarters. I would be extremely appreciative of anysupport, no matter what the amount or information. Any sponsors will be placed on my website, aswell as being acknowledged in the book and documentary.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely

Brent KerehonaBA, MTeach

Email: kerehona@hotmail.com

"That was the big effect Lord of the Ringshad on me. It was discovering New Zealand.And even more precious were the people-not at all like the Australians."

Sir Ian McKellan

Clouds are high flying fogs.

Rain is saved up in cloud banks.

Whanau History

Te Rawhiti Public School Register 1904 - 1947

Dear Whanau,

These are precious images and they are old. Look at our karanisenrolled as children. The first pupil Maria Ngahoro was born atRakaumangamanga.

I thought that they would be of interest to us all.

Helen Harte

Proposed Development Plans

Bentzen Farm

In ‘Omarino’, the Waipiro bay 15 lot subdivision where Bentzen had his farm is being sold by Heatleyand his group. A house is being built on Lot 2 . They have asked for a resource consent for buildingeight 25 thousand litre water tanks for the house. We have asked that the number be reduced from 8to 5. The owners and planners are asking for a meeting to discuss this.

Joke Time!

There was this fella with a parrot. And this parrot swears like a sailor, I mean he's a pistol. He canswear for five minutes straight without repeating himself. Trouble is, the guy who owns him is a quiet,conservative type, and this bird's foul mouth is driving him crazy.

One day, it gets to be too much, so the guy grabs the bird by the throat, shakes him really hard, andyells, "QUIT IT!" He tries all sorts of things to stop the bird swearing. They don’ t work.

At that point, the guy is so mad that he throws the bird into the freezer. For the first few secondsthere is a terrible din. The bird kicks and claws and thrashes. Then it suddenly gets * VERY* quiet.

At first the guy just waits, but then he starts to think that the bird may be hurt. After a couple ofminutes of silence, he's so worried that he opens up the freezer door. The bird calmly climbs onto theman's outstretched arm and says, "Awfully sorry about the trouble I gave you. I'll do my best toimprove my vocabulary from now on. "

The man is astounded. He can't understand the transformation that has come over the parrot. Thenthe parrot says, "By the way, what did the chicken do?"

Proposed Development Plans

John Eliot's Property

The road cut in to the property opposite Pokaitaniwha is for John Eliot’s property . Opposite that is apile of strippings of rotten rock from Eliot’s quarry. He’s building the base of an accessway to the 3 lotshe’s had consented for subdivision. He has to improve the silt control because it borders a sanctuarythe wetlands or swamp and the estuary.

The heavy rains meant that the silt control was inadequate. This means that the clay is leaching in tothe wetland where there is a conservation area for native ducks. It is also going in to the estuary.

Alan McDonald is contracted to do the silt control. He lives opposite where this access way is placed.We’ll all keep an eye on this.

Ka Kite Ano

If you would like to submit content to future newsletters, please email• Helen Harte: helen-harte@xtra.co.nz• Liz harte: liz.harte@gmail.com

To see all previous Pipiwharauroas, please visit http://www.terawhitimarae.maori.nz/pipiwharauroa

Thank you for reading!

Liz Harte, Editorliz.harte@gmail.com