Volume 2 Issue 2, April 2011

Fundraising for Marae DIY

We want Our Marae to be in the 2012 Series!

If you aren’t familiar with the programme,Marae DIY is an award-winning programme that airs on Maori Television.The episodes are a one hour bilingual programme whichtakes the viewer on a trip into the heart of the region andthe Iwi, the history of the marae and hapu, local myths andlegends and of course the journey of the DIY with it’s people.

We need to fundraise!

Marae DIYwill promote our marae and our region through their popular TV series and bring alongmany contributors, which help reduce costs of your builds considerably. However, they require us toestimate the forecasted costs, where possible, for materials, trades-people, transport and equipment.Our estimates say we need at least $40K for Marae DIY to consider us - but we only have $20K!

How to contribute

Give $5 a month

- By cash, cheque or direct debit, you can help the marae development moveforward by making a small monthly donation. Every little bit counts! Direct debit details are:Account Name: Te Rawhiti Marae 439 Reserve.Bank: ASB Kamo Account Number: 12-3090-0090-743-00

Purchase Merchandise

- We have Te Rawhiti Marae t-shirts (in a variety of sizes) available forpurchase from themarae website. You can buy them online by credit card.

Provide Donations

- You can make one-off donations of any amount from themarae websiteusingyour credit card.

Promote our Plans

- Be sure to talk to people about the fundraising we’re doing and directing themto themarae websitefor more information.

If we all do our part, we can get on Marae DIY!Make a Donation Toda

Whanau Stories - Wharenui in the United States

Ngarino Ellis recently visited the U.S. as part of her research into wharenuistanding outside New Zealand.

Here are some of the photos from our trip. This was the second one for my sabbatical project fromthe University of Auckland. I had been granted Research Leave to research and write about the fourMaori meeting houses overseas. In March I visited one in England and another in Germany. This timewe were off to the States.This time I took along Emere, who had just turned 10, and is named after our grandmother as shewas born 100 years to the day of Nanny.We started in Chicago where we visited the whare named Ruatepupuke which was carved in the1880s by Nanny's great uncle Hoani Ngatai. It was located in Tokomaru Bay before the local chief sold it in the early 1890s. It is now located inside the Field Museum. The curator made us feel mostwelcome and it was a really humbling time spending the day inside the house.After a few days in Chicago, we flew to Hawai'i. The last house is called Te Aroha o Te Iwi Maori andis located in the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Laie, about 45 minutes north of Honolulu. This house isdifferent from the other 3 as it is a 20th century house, having been built under the direction of HoneTaiapa, the Ngati Porou master carver, and his team in 1963. It is also distinct as it was built for theMormon Church, rather than for a local Maori community. Again, we were made to feel most welcomeby the Manager of the Maori Village and the kuia, who happened to be my kapa haka teacher fromschool!For now, the research is on the shelf while I finish my PhD (after 14 years!!). It was great seeing thehouses and meeting those who care for them.He mihi aroha tenei ki a ratou.

Ngarino Ellis is daughter of Elizabeth Aroha Mountain and Robert Ellis. She is a lecturer of Maori Art History at the University of Auckland.

Whanau Stories - He Wahine Toa, Aunty Wini

In April, our Kuia, 80 year old, Ngawini Heke Pepenewrote to us asking for help to go to the World MastersAssociation Stadia Championship Games inSacramento, USA. Aunty Wini is a fitness person andhas been for decades. She had dozens of cups,ribbons, medals for all the sporting competitions shehas won all over the world. On August 3, 2011, [we received a message] from herniece, Atarangi Norman: ‘Aunty Wini has just returned home from the games.She had a super time and came home with a silvermedal for the javelin. She competed with gout in her hand and a hip injury. So we are realproud of her achievements. “Way to go Aunt!” I hope that at 80 years old, I will have just as muchenergy.’ She asked for help to attend the Games on July 17th, 2011 to compete against the world’s best 80-84 year old women in athletic field events. She wrote: ‘I have competed in Masters Games within NZ and internationally for the past 35 yearswith very successful results, having won gold, silver and bronze medals in a number of track andfield events in the age group at the time. I last competed in the women’s 75-79 year old age group Masters Games in Christchurch andDunedin during 2006 winning several medals for track and field events-golds for the high jump, shotput, javelin, hammer; silvers in the discus, weight throw! I was 80 in October, 2010 and wish to continue to break records in Masters Games. I recentlycompeted in NZMA Track and Field Championships, Inglewood. Taranaki on 19-21 November, 2010with excellent results. For those of you who helped her trip, thank you.

Joke Time!

An old man goes to the doctor for his yearly physical, his wife tagging along.When the doctor enters the examination room, he tells the old man, "I need a urine sample, astool sample and a sperm sample." The old man, being hard of hearing, looks at his wife and yells: "WHAT?" "What did he say? What's he want?" His wife yells back, "He needs your underwear."