Issue 94

NGĀ HAU
E WHĀ FROM THE EDITOR

Mānawatia a Matariki!

It was with an enormous sense of pride that I, like many others, watched live coverage of the Hautapu ceremony on top of Treble Cone to celebrate Matariki.

The event provided a moment to reflect on our incredible language revitalisation journey since the inception of Kotahi Mano Kāika (KMK) almost 25 years ago. To see the next generation standing with such confidence was really special – the future is in good hands!

Amid the current challenging political landscape, it’s been very reassuring to watch the growing number of New Zealanders leaning into Matariki and valuing its true significance – beyond just being a day off. We are delighted to be able to share a collection of photos from the Hautapu with our readers (see page 8).

Our cover story, What dreams are made of (page 12), features Taiko Torepe-Ormsby who recently qualified for the Olympic Swimming team. Taiko’s story is one of dreams and aspirations of a different kind, but like those who have brought KMK to life, it’s one of tenacity, determination and focus on the end goal. We will be watching Taiko at the Games with great interest later this month.

There is nowhere in the world more breathtakingly beautiful than Piopiotahi and, as a result, it’s a much coveted tourist destination. Given its rich whakapapa and history for Ngāi Tahu there is an irony in the iwi only recently gaining agency to make decisions for the region. The Milford Opportunities Project re-imagines the future through a new masterplan that fully embraces the significance of Ngāi Tahu culture and identity (see page 20).

And finally, I would like to welcome new TE KARAKA editorial assistant Sascha Wall (Ngāi Tahu – Awarua). Young, creative and with a huge heart for whānau along with a love of art, Sascha is a perfect addition to our team. Check out HE TAKATA for a brief glimpse of her life and loves.

Nāhaku noa, nā
Nā adrienne anderson Waaka