Our Stories - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

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.

A journey of ambition

Earlier this year, Ngāi Tahu Holdings announced its investment in GreenMount Advisory, a firm specialising in the complex field of private equity, family office, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. GreenMount founder and executive chairman Ryan Davis says the partnership seems like a natural fit as he had always known his career would ultimately lead him to work for his iwi. He speaks to kaituhi Anna Brankin about the upbringing and mentorship that led to his successful accounting career and in turn the establishment of GreenMount.

Talent Runs Deep

Tucked away in an idyllic rural setting in North Canterbury, the talented Malcolm whānau have created their own world brimming with music, laughter and even their own secret language. Now, the creative talents of three teenage girls are set to launch the family to stardom.

He Ōhākī a te Rakatira

Tahu Potiki (1966-2019) was deeply versed in the traditional history of Ngāi Tahu and a recognised authority on our treasured manuscripts, many of which were published in translation in TE KARAKA. Tahu was Chief Executive of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (2002-2006) and subsequently served as the Ōtākou Representative on Te Rūnanga until his death. From 2007 onwards he regularly contributed articles on Ngāi Tahu and wider Māori questions to the Christchurch newspaper, The Press.

Reviving an ancient scent

In Ngāi Tahu traditions, taramea is renowned for its exquisite fragrance, a highly prized perfume that was once presented as a prestigious gift, or traded for food, ornaments, tools and such precious resources as pounamu. Historical references record hinu taramea as a key ingredient in the manufacture of “the grand Māori perfume”, yet in its natural alpine environment on the eastern flanks of Kā Tiritiri-o-te-Moana (the Southern Alps), few people get close enough to have a sniff.