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The Te Rawhiti Newsletter—Fortnightly

Pipiwharauroa The Herald of Spring

Volume 1 Issue 5 24 November, 2008 It’s n ot O K Prepare for a stress free Xmas!

The 20/20 Coastal Survey

The ongoing degradation of the Bay of Islands has brought Maori and Pakeha groups
together to work towards restoring the Bay.
As an integral part of the project, the Bay of Islands Maritime Park “umbrella” group
initiated a workshop between Maori groups such as Nga hapu o Te Rawhiti Marae, Te
Roopu Kaitiaki Whakature I nga Taonga o Tangaroa, and Te Runanga a Iwi o
Ngapuhi, other stakeholders such as Recreational Fishers, the Agencies, yacht clubs
and the tourist operators.
The result was that the Bay of Islands was included in the Coastal Survey. Three
vessels are surveying the north eastern coastline from Spirits Bay to Bream bay to
map the coast above and below the water. Phase 1 swath mapping has been carried out
in the Bay of Islands and you may have seen the vessels around Rawhiti.
Phase 2 of the project, involving a survey of seabed habitats and biodiversity is being
modified to reflect local concerns.
Sedimentation and water pollution were seen to be the major problems for the Bay,
followed closely by severely diminished fish stocks.
A TRAION representative (George Riley) and another will assist the 20/20 Survey
team governance. The hapu and the Maritime Park members with the scientific design
of this biological phase 2 of the project planned to start around May 2009.
This phase will primarily be focussed on gathering data on Biodiversity, Water
Quality and Sediments.
All the survey and research results from this project should be available by the end of
June 2010, with some results possibly available sooner.
At this stage, it is hoped that hapu, runanga, other stakeholders and governmental
bodies will work closely together to put all the data and findings into practice.

He Pitopito Korero
* November 22-23 –
Day Skippers Course, Attended by Anya, Russell, Paul, Alvin and Barb. Great
weekend!
*November 25th –
White Ribbon Day, when we support the worldwide movement to stop the violence
against women and children.
* November 30th TREL Meeting 9am 11am Wai Claimes 12pm – 4pm

Break the Silence Stop the Violence


Whakatauki
Ko te amorangi ki mua, Ko te hapai o ki muri.
(The priests to the front and the food bearers after)

The primary importance of things spiritual, te taha wairua, is advised in this saying,
with the necessary sustenance for the body being secondary.
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Kaingahoa Bay is looking lovely. Thank you to the Good Samaritan who is looking
after the waterfront!
To whoever it is who is constantly maiming our landscape with graffiti….. please stop
it!! We are tired of painting over it only to have you re-apply your handiwork!
Also, to whoever it is who stole the two shrubs from outside the Marae, shame on
you!! Some of us work hard to make Te Rawhiti a beautiful place to live, don’t spoil
it.
Parents talk to your kids about looking after our community. Those who are looking
after Te Rawhiti are doing so out of the goodness of their hearts.
Thank you to Lou who has done a great job clearing and tidying around the Marae
corner and collecting the bottles and rubbish from the beach front. Come on all you
drinkers, if you have to drink on the beach then at least take your bottle home with
you. They are free to dump at the recycling centre!!!
Welcome Claude Howe to the community. It’s great to see you here!

Te Rawhiti Resident

A Kuia goes into the shoe shop with her 14 yr old mokopuna, The Salesman says
‘Good day madam, how can I help you? She replies “I want to buy some shoes”. He
says “Very well, who for”?
She replies “No….. hu five!!! “ See you in two weeks!!!! Paddy Te Tai.

The overview of Fisheries Research completed, in process and to be done

1. Completed Maunganui baseline research


2. Completed Urupukapuka baseline eel grass research
3. Final Maunganui report filed
4. Final Ipipiri Traditional Ora History report to be filed December 19,2008
5. Initial discussions with NIWA Scallops Researcher completed 20.11.08. - Scallop
ropes to be placed November 30, 2008
6 Initial discussions with NIWA eel grass researchers completed 21.11.08 Proposal
for re-planting to be formed for funders for January 2009.
Three year plan for rohe moana. First year plan. 2009

• Complete NIWA proposal for eel grass survey, wait for funding
• Monitor Northern Scallop Enhancement at Maunganui re-seed project.
• S186a application for area in Maunganui for 2 year ban on all fishing
• Mataitai preparation of application for Maunganui/ discuss with nga hapu. Lodge
application
• Investigate land based aquaculture at Te Rawhiti

Second year plan for rohe moana 2010


• Mataitai: Establish management group for mataitai. Establish management plan for
mataitai. Carry out surveys in mätaitai area

• Research/Education:Update Management Plan with outcomes of research projects


• Develop eel grass research re-planting , monitoring series of test areas
• Develop re-seeding scallops in series of test areas
• Develop pipi/mussel research and replanting beds.
• Develop land based aquaculture
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Third year plan for rohe moana 2011


• Mataitai Monitor mätaitai management. Review research. Review rohe moana plan
• Continue eel grass/scallops/pipi/mussel monitoring
• Develop land based aquaculture
IT’S N OT O K!
Tikanga

It has become very evident that people who have been attending tangi at the marae are
younger and younger which means that the dress is different and the management of
babies and young children in the wharehui and dining room is NIL by parents.
Cellphones are now creeping into the whare and even the electrical connections in the
whare are being used for charging batteries.
Except for our last tangi, 3 previous to that were young people so it was
understandable that younger people would be in attendance.
We in Rawhiti need to educate our whanaunga who don’t live at home here of the
basic protocols on our marae, and I’m sick of hearing “it’s my marae, I can do what I
like”
Our marae is a sanctuary and a place to be respected
I will not allow beanies, hoodies, back-to-front caps inside the wharehui OR when
sitting down to a meal in the dining room, outside is fine, but not inside.

Wahitapu

It came to my notice during the last tangi that the grave had been dug the day before
the nehu. I do not think it has happened at Opourua, definitely never at Te Kauri, but
apparently has happened a few times at Te Rautawa. While I have no jurisdiction
over what happens in that wahitapu, I would like some guidance from Patukeha as to
what is their policy. I have always grown up with the tikanga that the grave is always
dug on the morning of the funeral, rain, hail or sunshine. Digging it a day before is
termed “e karanga mate ana.” This goes for the carrying of a casket. I believe during
the last tangi the casket was carried up the hill head first – a person walks on his/her
feet, not on their head. Here again, the term “e karanga mate ana” applies – calling
another person to join them! It may sound ‘out of this world’ in this modern day and
age, but my age group all grew up with this tikanga and these are the things we pass
on.

One of the duties of nga kai powhiri is to ensure that the home gravediggers know
when the funeral is. I usually consult with Russell who in turn rounds up the crew
who are always on standby and know what to do. The reason that I have put this
extra duty on nga kai powhiri is that it has happened (I won’t mention the whanau)
where no-one had
told the gravediggers, with the result that the whanau were so upset that they nearly
uplifted their beloved to take somewhere else.
No reira koutou nga kaumaatua o te Patukeha, whakamaramatia mai te kaupapa mo
Te Rautawa.

Te Runanga o Taumarere

The Runanga were set up originally to filter down money from TRAION (Te Runanga
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a Iwi o Ngapuhi) which was in turn set up to receive the $60+ million fisheries money
for Ngapuhi and manage it. Only some of this money is cash and most is in assets.
When there is an excess from TRAION’s mysterious activities, this is divided out in
to the 7 Runanga. Te Runanga o Taumarere (TROT)-Ngati Manu, Kapotai,
Kororareka Marae Society, PK, NK, Te Uri Karaka- got $1000 each (less $100 each to
pass the money on to us) for two consecutive years in the beginning but there have
only been bits now. TROT got $11000 from the marina at Opua which they have
invested on our behalf. I don’t know why the $1000+ for each of the hapu in TROT
didn’t go straight there to us. This 35 year investment at 8% with ASB, will be about
$3097.50. The investment gives TROT a reason to exist because, apart from providing
a Trust Board member to TRAION, it has no finances and gives us nothing except for
the lean pickings from TRAION which could happen directly. Paul Henare has
declined as NK delegate. Robert is now NK delegate to TROT

By Helen Harte

Snippet from diary of Ihaka Mita Te Tai

5, 6, 7, 8 November, 1939

Fine day. Attended a meeting of Church Committee at Pae’s (PaeNathan)

Fine day. After breakfast went out to the Point and boarded launch on way to Russell
for Mr Henry Kidd’s funeral at 1 pm at Churchyard. Nine of Rawhiti folks went,
came back again about 3.30 pm

Fine day. Had a visit from Henry Clendon about noon. After dinner we all went
down to the beach below, tide nearly in, netting pote kanae. Weren’t very many.
Getting things ready for the 8th celebrations.

(For the benefit of non Ratanas, the 8th November is the anniversary of Tahupotiki
Wiremu Ratana’s spiritual visitation and this year is the 90th anniversary)

Fine day. After breakfast I rode over to hui house and Sue, Iti, Bess, Mita, Marara and
Paddywhack (younger brother Waihuka’s nickname from birth) pulled over by boat
for the hui house to join with the other morehu in the annual thanksgiving service for
what happened today in 1918. Fair number attended. The sermon portion of the
service programme was taken up by catechizing the congregation on the many
incidents of the Movement. A feast followed the service which was enjoyed by all.
The Te Kauri folks came home after and in continuation of the 8th November
celebration, we had a private party at Te Kauri here. The Hakaraia family joining us
in dancing till 11 pm.

Note: ‘pulled’ – that was the term everyone used, instead of ‘rowed.’ Most boats too
had 2 sets of rowlocks - pronounced rollicks - where two people pulled at the same
time which gave the boat that extra oomph and seemed to glide quicker to its
destination

Catechizing (I had to look up that meaning!) – instructing by question and answer.


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Continuation at Te Kauri. Hakaraia family. A part of that night I remember was the
singing of Little Sir Echo which was Top of the Pops at that time. The chorus starts
off with “Hello” which is echoed several times on different harmonizing keys, and
when the Whiorau whanau went home, with Arthur in front holding the lantern, they
sang it as they wound their way from Te Kauri until they reached the Oharo gate
(where the Quarry is). The adults left behind, stood at the front door and listened
until their voices
faded away!

Break the Silence Stop the Violence

Obituary

Rongo Patutaonga (Hakaraia) de Baugh

Kua okioki koe e te tuakana I nga ahuatanga o tenei ao, kua tae atu koe ki o tatou tini
tuupuna, kua tu honohono nei koutou I te ao wairua. No reira e te whanaunga, haere
atu ki a ratou maa, ki o maatua, ki o tungane hoki, haere atu ki te Torona o Ihoa.

Ngahue Hau Te Paa, 85 years old


“When I was young my brothers used to row out to Maunganui when we wanted
maomao. There were thousands out there. We spent the day there and we knew when
to come home because the papahu used to come and herd us back. They always
followed us back home. They looked after us. My Dad would go out and get koura.
He’d only get two for our dinner because that was enough he said. They were big for
our whole family. Whatever we wanted we got from the sea.”

Te Puna Hou Church will be holding a Christmas service on 22 nd December, Te


Rawhiti Marae, 6pm, please feel free to join with us in remembering and celebrating
“Jesus”, the Reason for the Season. Please bring along something to contribute
toward a “Pot Luck” dinner.

With the cost of food at an all time high, Te Puna Hou and Russell Baptist Churches
are working together to get food parcels out to families who are in need of a helping
hand especially at this time of year. There is a strict confidentiality policy and no
information will be disclosed to any other person or organisation. If you would like to
access this service please contact Louise at home or on 09 4037323.

Louise Clarke

Te Kahui Mana Ririki

A new initiative is Marae Papaki Kore, Smack Free Marae. Papaki (said pu-as in
but- and paki as in puckey) is to smack. So the words for our marae are:
‘Marae Papaki kore, Auahi kore, Tarutaru kore and Waipiro kore’.

Break the Silence Stop the Violence


Christmas is a financially stressful time for a lot of families. It is a well know fact
that a lot of families fracture during the festive season. Try to remember, Christmas is
about whanau, it is about getting together with people you love and sharing a meal,
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memories and love. It is not about who got the biggest and best present. The only
people who benefit financially from such an occasion are the retailers!
To most of us a well thought out gift which is created by you out of things in your
environment means much more than a gift you have spent half your weekly income
on…….
Marae Fundraiser T-shirts ready in time for Xmas! $30 adults and $20
children, contact:
Catherine Pullan Helen Harte
09 6252842 095211837
0272433096 021755553
Catherine.pullan@minedu.govt.nz
helen-harte@xtra.co.nz

If you have email and would like to have your ‘Pipiwharauroa’ sent via the internet,
please contact Barb with your email address. Please send on to your whanau.

Thank you to all who contributed to this issue of Pipiwharauroa

www.terawhitimarae.maori.
nz
www.patukeha.maori.nz
www.ngatikuta.co.nz

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