Issue 62

A vibrant presence

Renowned artist Cliff Whiting had a huge influence on Ngāi Tahu, says Tā Tipene O’Regan, who tells the story of how Cliff came to work for the tribe.

Enduring values

Taiaha wānanga have been run at Awhitu Estate, on the edge of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere for the past 25 years. The wānanga are open to boys and men who want to learn the ancient art of mau rākau, not for combat, but to carry traditional knowledge forward into the changing world. The three-day workshops have…

At sea/welcoming Haunui

“Having some of our whānau from down here on board is a very significant thing. As years go by I think people will come to understand that. I don’t think that it has kicked into the mindsets and the thinking of many people that the arrival of a canoe like this is actually a huge event – something that hasn’t been done for hundreds and hundreds of years.

“I’m not too sure yet if the significance of that effort – in trying to emulate what our ancestors did – is fully realised yet.”

The struggle for Takahanga

Today Takahanga Marae stands proudly overlooking the ocean on an historic pā that has been occupied for generations. Kaituhi Tony Bridge reports on how the long-standing vision for the marae was finally realised. Hariata Manawatu, of Kāti Kurī, vividly remembers those early fundraising days for Takahanga Marae. “You know, we must have been fundraising since…