Kia ora koutou,
Arohamai, it’s been a couple of weeks since my last kōrero.
I would like to mihi Paora Mackie and Uncle Lawrence MacDonald for laying the ANZAC wreaths at Picton, Blenheim and Nelson on behalf of Rangitāne o Wairau on ANZAC Day. If you would like to nominate a whānau member to lay a wreath at these locations next year please send an email to the office.
The marginal weather on Easter Sunday was offset by a large amount of chocolate and sugar fuelled exuberance at the Easter Egg Hunt at Wairau Pā. Thanks to those who helped organise this event.
As part of our Tangata Rau Reo Kotahi strategy we will be holding a series of Wānanga Waiata in Wairau, Ōtautahi, Pōneke, Horowhenua and Heretaunga where whānau can learn waiata specific to Rangitāne. The first wānanga kicks off in Wairau this Friday evening at Ūkaipō from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Check our website for other dates and venues Wānanga Waiata #1.
We will be “breathing life” back into the Wharenui at Tuamātene with a dawn blessing on Saturday, 8 June. Sunrise is 7.45am so we will meet at 7am, karakia will be followed by hot drinks and breakfast. Please call the office if you wish to attend. Prior to this, there will be a working bee and BBQ at Tuamātene on Sunday, May 19 at 10am, primarily to plant winter brassicas and to tidy up the Wharekai.
A reminder that Anton Matthews will be returning to the rohe with his Mobilising Te Reo night, 6pm Tuesday, 28 May at Ūkaipō. It’s free and bookings can be made on the Eventbrite website. This is highly recommended. Besides the Ika and Heihei cooked to perfection, the lessons on Māori pronunciation are informative and a lot of fun. To book for the Blenheim event click on this link Mobilising Te Reo. For other Te Waipounamu venues and booking links check out Anton’s facebook page “Fush”.
The Marlborough Youth Trust will be blessing the new Marlborough Youth Development Centre on the corner of Kinross and Redwood Sts on Friday, 24 May at 6.45am. MYT do great work and we encourage you to support them. Email info@myt.org.nz.
Our 2019 AGM will take place on Saturday, 5 October at Ūkaipō. There will be travel assistance offered again this year to 18+ validated members. Keep an eye out for travel assistance pānui on our website and Facebook page this week.
Saving the best for last, at dawn this Thursday, our Trustees will be attending the opening of Te Taiao Nature zone at Te Papa in Wellington. A highlight and focus of the exhibition will be a moa egg and moa bone necklace from one of the burial sites at Te Pokohiwi-ō-Kupe. The egg is 194mm in length and 139mm wide, and has a small hole in one end indicating it was used as a water carrier. It is believed to be the 18th largest known, and one of only 36 largely intact eggs in existence. The new nature zone will be opened to the public on May 11.
Mā te wā,
Nick
PHOTO: Artists impression of Te Kohunga Nest in the new nature zone at Te Papa.