Our Stories

Oval Ball Travels

Rugby has taken Tamaha MacDonald from Blenheim to Mexico City, population 22 million. Kaituhituhi Ila Couch travelled to Mexico to discover how Tamaha has adapted to the language and culture of his new home.

Next Stop Ōtautahi

Crowds of up to 25,000 poured into Rotorua’s International Stadium for Te Matatini 2013, the world’s largest kapa haka festival.

From the Editor

From the Editor, Mark Revington
Calling all Ngāi Tahu creative writers. Yes, that’s you. We’re looking for submissions to be published in TE KARAKA. Poems, short stories, you choose the form and TE KARAKA will provide the waka

From the CEO

This whirlwind tour of iwi, kāinga, whānau and individual-led tribal activities showed me that we are far from being a passive bunch. It emphasised that we are a vibrant, passionate and determined lot who want the best for our whānau in every which way you could imagine – phew!

He Kōrerorero
Haere rā e Jude

I came back home.

There is the chitter of sparrows and the annoying activities of starlings, and the occasional squark from a gull or two and a bit of a tune from blackbirds in the morning.

Te Ao o te Māori
Songbirds on Waitangi Day

The official Ngāi Tahu commemoration of Waitangi Day at Ōnuku Marae was made more special this year with the launch of an Ōnuku songbook and a citizenship ceremony – the first time this ceremony has been held at a marae on Waitangi Day.

Ahakoa He Iti, He Pounamu
The comeback kid

Business appears to be in the bones of 10-year-old Jay Verry who moved with his family from Christchurch to Auckland last year.

Kā Ara Tūpuna
Up the Hurunui River

Before the migrations of Ngāi Tahu into Te Waipounamu from Te Whanganui-a-Tara and Wairarapa, the manawhenua (tribal authority) over…

Kā manukura o te reo
Everyday, everywhere reo

Hearing his two young sons speaking te reo Māori is normal to Jymal Morgan, and that’s just the way he likes it.

Manawa Kāi Tahu
Pūharakeke Tapu

Following Maru’s escape from the village of his brother-in-law, Tumapuhiaraki, both Kāti Kahukunu and Kāti Kurī prepared for battle. This included specific religious rituals that allowed some insight in to the possibility of success for either side.