Our Stories - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

Humble, selfless, courageous and humanitarian are just some of the words that spring to mind when reflecting on the subject of our cover story for this issue of TE KARAKA (page 10). Therefore, it came as no surprise to learn that Aroha Reriti-Crofts was made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday honours earlier this year for her lifetime of service to Māori and the community. It is no exaggeration to say Dame Aroha is an extraordinary wāhine whose work has always been dedicated to her iwi, hapū and whānau, with a particular focus on the wellbeing of wāhine and tamariki.

From the CEO
The New Normal

As we race towards the end of 2020, this past decade has been marked by several devastating events right on our doorstep, and our vulnerability is once again being tested as we navigate the ongoing impacts of a global pandemic. We are so used to watching CNN thinking that what makes world news is often far from home, and now the long-term lingering presence of COVID-19 everywhere has shown us just how small this world is and that we are very much a part of it.

Whenua

Te Awa Whakatipu (the Dart River) flows from its headwaters in Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana (the Southern Alps) and the Dart Glacier, into the northern end of Whakatipu Waimāori (Lake Whakatipu).

He Whakaaro
Media Revolution

The rumblings of a potential revolution in our media landscape have occurred with Stuff – the publisher of The Dominion Post, Taranaki Daily News, The Press, and a number of other regional newspapers – opening its online news coverage today (November 30 2020) with the headline: “Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Over three centuries we’ve failed to represent Māori fairly.” Stuff then issued a formal apology to Māori titled: “Nō mātou te hē: We are sorry.” And promised to rebuild trust by saying it was adopting: “… a multicultural lens to better represent Māori and all people of Aotearoa, supported by Treaty of Waitangi principles.”

Enough is enough
Why Ngāi Tahu is suing the Crown over its waterways

We all know that something needs to be done about the water quality in our rivers and lakes in the South Island. Our natural environment is in a bad state and despite promises from elected officials for many years, action is long overdue. That is why Ngāi Tahu has notified the Government that we are going to court to force these matters to be addressed.

Dame Aroha

One would be hard pressed not to know Dame Aroha Hohipera Reriti-Crofts CBE – especially around Waitaha. Decades of service to ngā iwi katoa through her mahi with the Māori Women’s Welfare League, as a teacher, as a guide, in kapa haka – her signature purple easily recognisable in so many realms within te ao Māori. Kaituhi Arielle Kauaeroa sat down with Dame Aroha recently to discuss her Queen’s Birthday Honour for services to Māori and community.

He Apakura

Titiro kau nei ki waho
Ki te rae o Pūrehurehu rā
Ko Te Tuhimāreikura o Oho
Ko whakapao i a karu

The thrill of the game

There’s nothing that stirs the blood more than seeing the black jersey and silver fern excelling on the international stage – something about it just spells home. But many sports fans may not be aware that Ngāi Tahu has particular reason to feel pride in the All Blacks jersey – the design has direct whakapapa to whānau via Thomas Rangiwahia Ellison.

Nāia te Toa

Nā Paulette Tamati-Elliffe Tahu Potiki: 1966–2019 The evening Tahu passed, the sky had turned blood-red. I slumped down on the couch in disbelief, not wanting it to be true – the realisation in that moment of what Tahu had meant to us, not only as a whanauka and close friend, but to us all as…

Following in the footsteps of their kuia

Growing up with generations of extended whānau in the Blenheim Māori Women’s Welfare League, Sue Parish and Jazmine MacDonald didn’t give much thought to its future – that is until they became mothers. Seeing an urgent need to bridge the gap between senior members and rangatahi, they launched a succession plan for this important kaupapa.