Tēnā koutou,
I am delighted to welcome Sally Neal who starts as our Kaiwhakahaere Taiao this week. Sally comes from a local family and has worked for the last 14 years as a Resource Consent Consultant for Smart Alliances in Blenheim. The Taiao role is important and allows us to actively protect our environment so that it is sustainable for generations to come. There are some important heritage and environmental issues coming up for this region, including the consent for the sewerage ponds outfall. Our wider input into Te Tauihu environmental planning and decisions will ensure adherence to the requirements of the Tiriti o Waitangi. In particular, we will ensure the concepts of mauri, whenua, mana, manawhenua, kaitiakitanga, rāhui and tapu are part of the planning processes for this region. Sally lives in rural Wairau, with her husband, two children and enjoys fishing, hunting and riding horses. Nau mai haere mai Sally.
Despite the poor weather at the weekend, Takahi Whenua went over to Te Pokohiwi to carry out grounds maintenance. Rangitāne will be hosting a Hikoi to Te Pokoiwi for the waka hourua crew staying at Ūkaipō during the Tuia 250 ki Tōtaranui commemorations. We will be meeting at the Wairau Bar carpark at 9.45am Thursday, 28 November. Registrations are essential as there are limited spaces, so please call the office if you would like to come along. We will be returning to the Pilot House on the Orchard’s property at the Wairau Bar at around 1pm for lunch.
We will be focusing on assisting with the upcoming Tuia – Encounters 250 commemorations for the next couple of weeks. This starts on Thursday, 21 November with a Haka Pōwhiri at Meretoto. Due to location access and to reduce the impact on our whenua, this is an invitation only event.
Paora Mackie and Suz Tawaka have started their journey aboard the waka hourua (double-hulled waka) Ngāhiraka Mai Tawhiti last Sunday. You can track their progress here . The plan is to sail from Russell up around Cape Reinga and down the West Coast to Meretoto, Tōtaranui. The trip should take about 10 days. On Friday, 22 November, the flotilla will be welcomed into Waitohi (Picton) Harbour. Please join us on the foreshore to welcome our whanaunga Paora and Suz back home after their strenuous journey.
On Saturday, 23 November, from 3-8pm, the Kete Kai street market will take place on High Street and along London Quay in Waitohi (Picton). There will be a free concert by Fly My Pretties on the main stage on the foreshore, as well as the Star Navigation sky dome and Tuia 250 Mātauranga roadshow will be set up for public viewing.
There will be a pōwhiri on Tuesday, 26 November, at 6pm, to welcome the waka hourua crew who will be staying at Ūkaipō. We would like to encourage as many whānau as we can to come along and manaaki our manuhiri. There will be a dinner to follow so please let the office know if you can make it.
Subject to weather, we are anticipating the waka hourua to visit Te Whānganui (Port Underwood) on Wednesday 27 November. There may be an opportunity for Rangitāne iwi to have a closer look at the vessels. We will have more details on this nearer the date.
Finally, there will be a Poroporoaki at Ūkaipō at 9am Friday, 29 November, to farewell our manuhiri. This is open to everyone so please come along to tautoko if you can.
Mā te wā
Nick