Featured in this edition • pp. 12-13. More photos from Sir Hekenukumai Busby’s investiture at Waitangi. • pp.14-17. New marae delegate profiles. • pp. 20-21. Te Rarawa purchases Bell’s Produce. • p. 23. Retirement of CEO, Kevin Robinson. Investiture of Sir Hekenukumai Busby at Waitangi Te Rarawa kaumātua Sir Hekenukumai Busby was honoured at Waitangi before this year’s Treaty commemorations where he received his knighthood. Tā Hek, as he is known, is credited with being the leading figure in the restoration of the art of celestial navigation for Māori. A master waka builder and carver he was honoured on the Treaty grounds, with hundreds of people from across Aotearoa and the world gathering for the ceremony. Addressing the crowd, Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy said that “he had had helped to reconstruct an earlier chapter of New Zealand’s history, helping make sure it will be part of the story yet to come”. Sadly Tā Hek passed away three months later. 2 Tā Hekenukumai Ngaiwi Puhipi 1932-2019 Whetūrangitia, kua whetūrangitia hei kaiārahi i te pō, hei tāwharau i te ao. Nei ō uri e mōteatea tonu nei ki a koe kua hoea, kua hokia ki te Hawaiki-nui o ō tātou tūpuna. E heke tonu ana ngā roimata i te nuku o tō whenua. Mai i ngā kamo o ngā iwi o te motu. Otirā o tō whānau i konei. Ko te pō ki a koe e te pāpā, ko te ao ki a mātou e whai tonu ana i ō tohutohu i te poho o te rangi. It is with a heavy heart we acknowledge the passing of Sir Hekenukumai Busby, an es- teemed kaumatua, a master carver, waka builder and navigator. He leaves behind a leg- acy that will not be forgotten. Te Rarawa has lost a great taonga of many accomplishments, including Knight Companion of the Order of Merit, New Zealand Commemoration Medal, MBE, Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a life time member of Matatini, and a successful businessman who founded a prof- itable bridge building company in Northland for over thirty years He is possibly most well known as a leading figure in reviving traditional Polynesian navi- gation and ocean voyaging through wayfind- ing techniques. He was passionate about creating relationships between indigenous nations throughout the Pacific and was an Te Uri o Hina Marae Ko Taumatamahoe ko Kokohuia ngā maunga Ko Tangonge te moana Ko Tīpaki ko Wairoa ngā awa Ko Te Uri o Hina, Ngati Te Ao, Te Tahāwai ngā hapū inspiration to many around the world. Laid to rest at Te Rangihaukaha urupa, in his home of Pukepoto. On behalf of Te Uri o Hina Marae, we would like to acknowledge the many mourners that came to pay their respects and also the many hands that made Sir Hek’s final journey one fit for the great leader he was. We would like to pay tribute to the whānau for bringing him home to be with his tūpuna. We woud also like to thank Papa Joe O’Connor who has upheld the responsibility of kaikōrero at Te Uri o Hina for many years, as well as all of the kaikōrero and kaikaranga who wel- comed the masses onto our marae. We also thank our whanaunga at Te Rarawa Marae for your support, mahi and manaaki and all the hard working kaimahi from all our kura, and rōpū kapa haka; Muriwhenua, Te Rangi Āni- waniwa, Pukemiro, and Pukepoto. You are the future not only as kaikōrero, kaikaranga, and kaimahi but our future navigators and world leaders. To quote our Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, "I will never forget the passion and love on display for him. He gave so much to the next generation and in turn, they honoured him. May the waters be calm and the stars guide the way to your final resting place." Crowds gathered on the marae ātea before Hek’s service. 3 Te Akau Roa - Kaupapa Hii Ika On a sunny weekend in May, Te Tao Maui me Te Hokokeha fisherman Nore Martin led a wānanga where he shared his skills and knowledge regarding fishing; West Coast Surfcasting to be specific. Around 25 people attended the wananga held on our marae and Te Akau Roa. As Nore pointed out – “there’s a reason why you see the same people catch- ing the most fish, all the time and it’s got noth- ing to do with luck. It’s all about knowing how, where and when to fish”. The wānanga covered all aspects of fishing from gear, rig making, casting techniques, reading the beach and tides, pulling in a fish correctly through to cleaning and filleting the catch and cooking and eating it! Importantly, tikanga around fishing and the coast and our roles as kaitiaki were covered. Tangaroa was kind and many people experienced the buzz of pulling in their first fish. There are plans to hold more wananga and the idea of starting a fishing club was mooted. Watch this space for further details. Mātihetihe Marae Ko Tarakeha te maunga Ko Moetangi te awa Ko Mātihetihe te marae Ko Tao Maui, ko Hokokeha ngā hapū Ko Te Rarawa te iwi Te Kura o Matihetihe annual clean up Students, teachers and whānau at Te Kura o Mātihetihe recently undertook their annual beach clean-up, a tradition that stretches back many years. A grid is marked out on the beach and the clean-up covers this area from start to finish. Each group is given a designat- ed area, rubbish is taken back to the marae where it sorted and recorded. This time there was a large amount of fishing tackle from boats including ropes, a buoy, bottles and plastic containers, many with foreign labels. Over the years Department of Conservation has provided support by taking the rubbish away either to landfills or for recycling. The kura has won first prize two years running in the Northland Regional Council beach clean- up programme. By helping to keep our taku- taimoana rubbish free, our tamariki are exer- cising kaitiakitanga and protecting and pre- serving the marine environment. Takutaimoana and toheroa Historical research has begun to provide evi- dence to support our hapū application for customary marine title and protected custom- ary rights under the Marine and Coastal Area Act. Research so far has uncovered a ‘tribal committee – Komiti Tiaki o Te Moana’ was established by our hapū leaders including Himiona Kamira, Wiremu Ratana, Atarea Martin and Tangirau Hotere in the 1940s. While this is going on, our toheroa beds are still being desecrated. Several holes of about 1m in diameter have recently been dug with a spade resulting in dozens of baby toheroa being unearthed and destroyed. The issues remain the same today as they were for our tupuna; protection of a taonga species for future generations. We have no knowledge of who destroyed these beds and whether they were from our community or not, however we give a warning that if caught these people will be prosecuted using both tikanga and law. If you're receiving toheroa from our coast for hui, feel free to say no. That's why we have rocks full of kutai, waves full of mullet and an ocean full of fish. 4 Tame Kahiti Mare 1938-2019 Tiwha, tiwha ki te pō, kakarauria ki te pō Ki te pō nui a Rehu, okioki mai e te rangatira Te kākā haetara o Te Rarawa, o Ngāi Takoto Te kai tititai, te whakamarumaru o te reo o Te Hiku o Te Ika Te kanohi kitea i runga i ngā marae maha o Muriwhenua puta atu ki te motu. Hoki atu e pononga o te Atua Te pou o te Pariha Mihinare, o Pārengarenga, Ahipara, Pēria, Hoki atu ki te kapunipunitanga o ngā wairua Ki tō whānau e tatari ana ki a koe Ahakoa kua whakangaro atu koe i te tirohanga tangata Kei konei tonu koe a-wairua i roto i au tamariki, mokopuna E kore mātou e warewaretia Moe mai i tō moengaroa, e te matua Tame. Tame Kahiti Mare died peacefully at his home in Ahipara on 10th July 2019 aged 81. Born 1st March 1938 Tame was the son of Tamati and Ngawini Kerehoma nee Awarau of Wai- nui. However he was given as an atawhai son to Sonny and Keeti Awarau of Waimanoni. Tame married Margaret Edith Waata who was the daughter of George and Hera Waata. The Rev Henare Brown officiated at the wed- ding in St Clement’s Maori Anglican Church, Ahipara on 29th July 1961. Tame and Margaret raised 13 children in the central North Island. It is here that Tame es- tablished a reputation as a hard-core union representative for the workers in the timber mills around Kawerau and Tokoroa. On his return to Ahipara, Tame soon found himself involved in hapū and iwi affairs and on numerous committees and boards across Te Hiku and Tai Tokerau. Tame was active in his support of the Labour Party. He was a well-known kaumātua on Muriwhenua marae and a daily contributor to Te Hiku radio talk back. Tame loved all sports. He played rugby for Te Rarawa and stood as their kaumātua. He was a regular at the TAB and a hustler on the pool table. Tame was a stalwart and kaikarakia of St Clements Māori Anglican Church in Ahipara, Holy Trinity in Wainui, and the Ascension Church in Pukepoto. He also held the posi- tion of Chairman of Parengarenga, Ahipara, and Pēria Pastorate for many years. With his passing our marae are bereft of his presence on our taumata and his cheeky and jovial personality. Canon Dennis Urquhart’s re- minded us of Tame’s favourite sayings, “I know!” and “Gotta go!” Go well on your jour- ney Matua Tame we will miss you dearly. Roma Marae Ko Whangatauatia te maunga Ko Karirikura te moana Ko Te Ohaki te whare tupuna Ko Roma te marae Above: Tame Murray was at the heart of hapū and Iwi affairs. He represented both Roma and Wainui Marae at different times on the Rūnanga and was actively involved with many marae across Te Hiku o Te Ika. He is remembered for his balance of tikan- ga and pragmatism and his common sense approach. He will be sadly missed. 5 Taiao Marae Ko Taiao Makora te maunga Ko Awaroa, ko Rotokakahi nga awa Ko Kahi ko Mataatua nga whare Ko Te Uri-o-Tai te hapu Above: Earlier in the year the Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage visited Pawarenga to have a first hand look at the work being done by the Warawara Komiti Kaitiaki. She was wel- comed on to Taiao marae and was escorted up into the ngāhere by Komiti members. Healthy Trees Healthy Future programme A team from the Scion Research Institute visited Pawarenga recently to collect seed cones from 60 Kauri in Warawara. After re- ceiving permission from the Warawara Komiti Kaitiaki to collect the cones, the team took seeds from mature trees. The seed collection is part of a kauri dieback prevention initiative. The researchers are hoping to get a better understanding of the range of genetic re- sistance present in particular trees. Scion is the Crown research body responsible for for- estry research. Some of the seeds collected will be raised in a specially commissioned Left: The seed gathering team. Right: Rongo Bentson in on the action. kauri nursery, with strict hygiene precautions in place to ensure it stays free of kauri die- back. When the seedlings are 15 months old, they will be sent to Manaaki Whenua- Landcare Research in Auckland where they will be screened for resistance to kauri die- back and monitored for kauri dieback re- sponses. Seeds that are not used this year will be placed into a seed bank for mana whenua to use for research or restoration purposes. 6 Morehu Marae Ko Ōngaro te maunga Ko Rotokākahi te awa Ko Kurahaupo te whare tupuna Ko Waiomionga te wharekai Ko Te Uri o Tai te hapū Whānau achievements Congratulations to Frances Herbert for complet- ing a degree in Mātauranga Māori. On top of hav- ing to be a good grandmother, mother, auntie, daughter, friend and work colleague, she stuck to her study till the end. Naomi Waipouri, daughter of Graham and Don- nella, recently graduated through Whitireia Poly- technic with a Bachelor of Nursing. She was one of a group of Māori graduates who marched to their graduation ceremony flanked by their fami- lies and tutors to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter. She says ‘We organised our own proces- sion, not only for ourselves but for our whānau, hapū and iwi and those who come after us’. Jasmine Pirini and Shaylen Hemowai Rangi- Hill recently graduated through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi with a Bachelor of Edu- cation. Jasmine, daughter of Sid and Mereana Pirini, lives in Pawarenga and is an environmental educator and mother. She has a passion for ex- posing her students to the environment and learn- ing outside of the classroom. Shaylen is also from the Proctor whānau being a great granddaughter of Katie Proctor. We wish them both well. Congratulations also goes to Kapowairua Ste- phens for receiving the 2019 Royal Australasian College of Physicians Indigenous Congress Prize. Kapo is the daughter of Patricia (nee Herbert) and Hepa Stephens, who is the Chairperson of More- hu marae. She has been an integral part of the Moko Foundation and its operations since it be- gan in 2014. She is working towards the comple- tion of her degree in medicine. Left Kapowairua Stephens at her presentation from the Royal Austral- asian College of Physicians. Right Frances Herbert and her daughter Ruth on her cap- ping day. Above: Naomi Waipouri with her parents at her recent graduation. Above Jasmine and Shaylen on graduation day. 7 Pirikapa (Bob) Pirini 1941 – 2019 I raro i ngā maunga tapu mai Ōngaro ki Wha- kakoro, he nui te aroha, he taimaha te wairua, he hohonu te mamae i te ngarotanga o tētahi pou ārahi, tētahi kaumātua o te hapū o Te Uri o Tai. It is with great sadness we farewell Pirikapa Pirini or Bob as we knew him. Bob grew up in Pawarenga. His parents were Te Rairu and Pio Pirini and he was one of fourteen chil- dren; Manuel, Dick, Matilda, Sydney, John, Bella, Charlie, Bob, Emma, Elizabeth, Lena, Reginald, Mary Anne and Dennis. They were a hard-working family who supported all the sports of the day including rugby, tennis, net- ball, and table tennis. They also supported the priests and nuns with kai such as milk, eggs, meat and whatever was spare from the gardens. Bob attended Hātā Maria Convent, and he completed his secondary schooling at Hātō Petera College, North Shore Auckland. After he finished school he worked in various places around New Zealand and Australia. He returned to Pawarenga in the 1980s with sons Damien and Justin while his other son Aaron remained in Australia. Bob arrived back in Pawarenga when there was a lot go- ing on and he supported many community projects. He became a Katekita giving years of service and worked in a variety of other community roles both voluntary and paid. He was heavily involved with marae work includ- ing representing Morehu as a Rūnanga dele- gate for many years, only retiring in the last couple of months. He also contributed to vari- ous working groups and committees of the Runanga including the Scholarships and Wa- rawara Kaitiaki committees. For many years he worked as a social work- er for Te Rarawa until he retired around 2014 but continued to work in a voluntary capacity in social services. In later years he was very involved with the restoration of St Gabriel’s Church. In 2017 Pawarenga and the wider Hokianga community celebrated its reopening and rededication. Bob loved celebrating life and supported all the whānau and hapū events in the community. He enjoyed golf and fishing and Te Uri o Tai’s many social occasions. He is survived by his sons, grandchildren and great grand- children. Takoto mai rā e te papa, te karani papa, matua o tātou. No reira e Pirikapa haere, haere, haere atu ra. Moe mai ra i ngā ringaringa o te Atua. 8 Motutī Marae Ko Tamatea te hiwi Ko Waipapa te awa Ko Ngāti Te Maara te hapū Ko Ngāti Tamatea te taupoki Raiātea whare shaping up Raiātea is a cultural and archive resource centre on the marae at Motuti and was a moemoea of the late Pā Henare Tate. The purpose-built facility is to house Pa Henare’s important collections of Māori and Catholic material and artefacts. The two-level building of just under 200m² has display and re- search facilities and an office and reception on the upper level, and an archive storeroom and work-room on the lower level. It also in- cludes toilet and hospitality facilities. Te Rarawa Noho Taiao visit to Motukauri Motuti hosted the taitamariki Noho Taiao over the summer. We had over 50 young people and the dedicated crew who run the pro- gramme. Part of the Noho was a journey by kayak from Motuti to Motukauri. In three groups it took most of the day, some battling the mud and the outgoing tide. We were host- ed at Motukauri by Diana and Dave Mules and the tamariki were told of the historical significance of Motukauri. We ended the day with a fabulous BBQ dinner. 9 Waiparera Marae Ko Tauwhare ko Pukerangatira ngā maunga Ko Hokianga te awa Ko Nukutawhiti te whare tupuna Ko Ruamamao te wharekai Ministerial visit to Rangi Point In April Waiparera hosted a large hui where Deputy PM, the Hon. Winston Peters and Shane Jones came to talk to Hokianga about the One Billion Trees initiative and the Provin- cial Growth Fund. Many people came from across the Hokianga to hear the Ministers speak. The Rangi Point hui was partly a re- sponse to the protest at Waitangi this year over the quality of water in the Hokianga Har- bour. Minister Jones said that “the health of the Whāngāpē, Herekino and Hokianga har- bours depend on land use and one thing we can do is work with landowners and plant more trees, right tree, right place, right time." Mauri ora Mai Tawhito Hui Waiparera Marae is hosting the 5th annual Mauri Ora Mai Tawhito hui from the 22-24 November. The hui wānanga will focus on whenua and mauri and the importance it has in our everyday lives, to help us under- stand the importance of connection with everything around us, our interactions with our environment and with each other. One of the main purposes of the wānanga is to energise Te Rarawa people and build our understanding of our history and our when- ua. Registrations can be made using this link. https://forms.gle/T1Bjj7DbvRhwQJjk6 Next >