Te Whanake - Our Blog
Funding provided over the years
As a Trust, our aim is to provide opportunities, and make education accessible to all of our owners, including tamariki, rangatahi and adults too. Over the past 22 years, we have provided our owners with funding to help them along their education journey, with our education funding programme.
We have continuously developed our education funding programme to ensure our owners are employable adults with skills that will benefit not only themselves, but the wider community.
With a recent focus on STEM subjects, we have seen many owners enter into study, pursuing careers in fields such as health, science and construction. Rather than just focusing on tertiary education, we also offer grants towards trades training, adult education, and study assistance for primary and secondary students.
We are pleased to be able to offer this support to our owners, and over the past 22 years we are proud to say we have assisted over 193 owners on their education journey, through 341 grants and scholarships, totaling $422,000.
Throughout the years of our education funding programme, we have seen owners reach their goals, learn new skills, and begin their careers. We’ve been keeping up with some of these owners in recent years, to see how their journeys are going. You can read their kōrero here.
We’re looking forward to seeing even more of our owners succeed in whatever path in life they have chosen, and we are proud to support them along the way.
Applications are now open, and can only be done online. These must be completed by 31 August 2018. If you have questions about the application process, please contact info@nrait.co.nz.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Āwhina Marae
As a Trust, we aim to encourage our owners to get involved with cultural activities such as kapa haka, as it only strengthens understanding of our history and our tūpuna. Knowledge from owners is passed down through storytelling, and kapa haka is one of many ways we communicate our kōrero.
Te Kapa Haka o Te Āwhina Marae is a kapa haka group made up of 36 members aged 14 through to late 50’s, including NRAIT owners. They currently practice twice a week for up to 7 hours, as well as holding a wānanga every 3 weeks, where they practice Friday through to Sunday. They are training hard for the Te Tau Ihu Regional Senior Kapa Haka Te Matatini Qualifying Competition, on Saturday June 30.
The competition, taking place in Nelson, will be the last qualifying event in the country. One team from this event will qualify for the 2019 Nationals, which is held in Wellington at the Westpac Stadium.
Maihi Barber, one of the tutors and leaders of the group, says that nurturing members is a priority as many are first time performers. Facilitating effective trainings and aids that enable the performers to be prepared as well as possible for their June 30 outing is a big part of it. Performers who go on to stage under prepared don't enjoy the occasion and that will be disappointing for themselves.
Overall, they hope that all performers come off the stage feeling excited and proud of their contribution to the performance of the rōpū (group), and from their performance they hope to inspire others to join in preparation for the 2020 regionals.
Take a look at some clips from their practices earlier this month. Throughout the performance, you will hear waiata about Te Āwhina Marae and Motueka. These waiata have been specifically written about the marae and the whenua by Pohe Stephens and Aunty Mere.
During Ohu Maatu weekend, members from Te Kapa Haka o Te Āwhina Marae worked with the Trust to raise money to help with costs associated with preparing and attending competitions. The Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust have also provided the group with a grant to assist them with purchasing their uniforms.
The Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust strives to provide owners with opportunities, and are proud to support the kapa haka group as they prepare for their next competition.
This Sunday, 24 June, the group are holding a dress rehearsal which is open to the public. You can head along to the Motueka High School Hall at 1pm to support them in the lead up to regionals.
Matariki – Celebrating the New Year
Matariki is the celebration of the Māori New Year. The cluster of seven stars called Matariki, also known as the Seven Sisters or Pleiades, reappear in the month of Piripi (June – July). June 15 marks the start of Matariki for most New Zealanders, with many celebrations across the country beginning this week, although some iwi celebrate Matariki at different times within this time.
How we celebrate Matariki
During Matariki we celebrate and give respect to the whenua, through different rituals and activities. Celebrations take place across the country, and include the creation and flight of traditional Māori kites (pākau) and lanterns, cultural performances and waiata from our tamariki, retelling kōrero to our whānau, as well as get togethers for hangi.
Kite flying is a special ritual that is closely linked with Matariki, as kites are seen as the connectors between Papatūānuku, the earth mother, and Ranginui, the sky father.
At Matariki celebrations around Aotearoa, various kites are flown in the sky, just as our ancestors did. Some celebrations encourage tamariki to decorate their own kites with traditional decorations such as feathers and shells, and fly them among the stars. Other celebrations have more modern styles of kites and hot air balloons that represent how our ancestors flew kites from the hilltops.
Find Matariki in the night sky
To find Matariki in the sky, check out this video. It shows you how to find the cluster, as well as other constellations in our sky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ETD3rPnFQ
Events in the rohe
There are many events around the rohe to celebrate and recognise Matariki. There’s a lot to be learned so we hope you get the chance to get along to something nearby.
Celebrate Matariki with Taonga Pūoro – Nelson Provincial Museum, 15 June, 5pm – 6pm
Matariki Celebrations – Ngāti Koata Trust, 16 June, 9am – 7pm
Matariki Lantern Parade – Victory Community Centre, 27 June, 3.30 - 8pm
Matariki Open Day – Te Āwhina Marae, 13 July, 9am - 4pm
Keep up to date with these events through their Facebook pages.
Education Funding - Applications now open
The Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust’s education grant and scholarship funding programme for 2018 is now open for member applications. As with each year, applications are open for three months to NRAIT owners who meet the criteria for each grant.
As a Trust, our aim is to provide opportunities, and make education accessible to all of our owners, including tamariki, rangatahi and adults too. We aim to support our children and young people to become employable adults with skills that will benefit them and society. To ensure all owners feel supported through their education journey, rather than just focusing on tertiary education, we also offer grants towards trades training, adult education, and study assistance for primary and secondary students.
An important focus area for us is developing people to work in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas. We aim to encourage our owners who are about to enter tertiary education, to consider these areas of study, as these are key industries where there is high demand for young, skilled workers.
As well as STEM subjects, we want to continue the entrepreneurial legacy of our tūpuna, and encourage owners to look into business management and other related subject areas. These are important skills that will not only benefit the community, but also the Trust. We are always looking to bring new talent, with the right skills and experience, on board to drive the organisation forward.
We also understand the importance of supporting those already on their journey, and have grants to help you achieve this whether it’s learning a trade, or any other adult education programme.
We are proud of the successes of our previous education funding recipients - you can read their stories here - and we look forward to supporting more of our owners in their studies.
Applications are now open, and can only be done online. These must be completed by 31 August 2018. If you have questions about the application process, please contact info@nrait.co.nz.
Rōpata Taylor
Hoki Mai Ra – Our 25th Anniversary Celebration
Ohu Maatu is a special and significant time of the year to remember our tūpuna, reconnect with whānau, learn and celebrate, and 2018 was no exception. It was a huge milestone for the Trust, celebrating a quarter century.
It was outstanding to see the support from the hapū from all across Aotearoa, who joined us for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Trust on 27 – 29 April in Motueka.
One of the great things about Ohu Maatu this year, was the variety of activities that our families participated in.
The weekend began with a pōwhiri at Te Āwhina Marae on Friday evening, followed by sharing kai together. We then enjoyed whakawhanaungatanga, where we could talk and connect with each other.
Early Saturday morning before the sun rose, we visited our lands at Te Kūmara on the coastline of Motueka, where we unveiled and blessed the newly installed interpretation panel. This panel shares the kōrero of the Trust, of Te Maatu, and our relationship with the whenua (land) as the mana whenua families of Motueka.
Hui-a-tau
The most important part of the weekend is the hui-ā-tau, where registered owners gather to address the governance requirements of the Trust. The AGM engaged us all in really important discussions about how we’ve performed as a Trust this year, and what is of most importance to our owners now and in the future.
We had a great turnout at this year’s AGM, and thank all of our owners for their input and sharing what matters to them.
Hākari (Gala dinner)
The gala dinner on Saturday evening was definitely a highlight of Ohu Maatu 2018. We celebrated the 25 year milestone, as well as reflect on the past 25 years as a Trust. It was also another opportunity during the weekend to catch up and reconnect with each other over great kai.
Doug Kidd, the Minister of Māori Affairs, in 1993 who sponsored our bill 25 years ago, attended our gala dinner to help celebrate and commemorate the special occasion.
We were treated to a kapa haka performance from the tamariki that attended the wānanga workshop during Saturday, which was precious to see. Our children learning more about their culture, and embracing Te Reo is so important. Tom Alesana the kapahaka tutor, and his assistants Dayveen Stephens, Maihi Barber and Tania Corbett, did an amazing job teaching our tamariki.
A special mention to the chef, Travis Martin who donated his koha for his mahi to Te Āwhina Marae. Based on feedback from our owners, it was definitely a favourite part of the weekend.
“Thank you to everyone who helped bring to life the sensational weekend that was Ohu Maatu. Our whanau appreciate how much time and energy was put into it and are grateful for the many insights we can all take away from this kaupapa.”
- NRAIT owner
Thank you again to all of those who joined us in Motueka, our homelands to celebrate, learn, and connect over this very special weekend. We enjoyed our time with you all, and were pleased to see so many new faces. Check out the video below wrapping up Ohu Maatu 2018.
Preserving our history - sharing our kōrero
Storytelling is an important part of Māori culture, where history, art, mythology and local knowledge come together. The preservation of tikanga, te reo and our history relies heavily on kōrero being shared and passed down through generations.
As there was no written language in Aotearoa before Europeans arrived, Māori primarily verbally told the stories, although this is not the only way stories were communicated. Haka, waiata, karakia, and poems were all different ways that kōrero was shared.
Traditionally, kōrero was shared in the marae. It was important to gather as a community to listen, watch and learn the stories of our iwi. Today, we retain this tradition by gathering as a community, whether it’s in Motueka or online, to share stories of the Trust, our history and our people. We also continue the tradition of gathering with the hapū to hear these stories during Ohu Maatu, where we recite the heke (migration) and our story after settling in Te Tau Ihu.
For the future
Storytelling is vital in how we pass on information and knowledge, and only survives when it’s passed on from one generation to the next. These stories share valuable insight into the land around us, like how Riuwaka got its original name of Turi Auraki, or how our maunga (mountains) were used by our tūpuna to communicate.
As a Trust, we want to continue to share the stories that make us who we are, such as the history of the Trust and how it was established, as well as the efforts from tūpuna like Hohaia Rangiauru, who worked to ensure the land taken was returned to its rightful owners.
These stories serve a purpose, as they retain the Māori language, as well as our identity. So, for the future we are focused on preserving the stories shared amongst our whānau, so they are not lost. We are working with kaumatua, owners and whānau to put together the stories of our history and tūpuna in written form here on the NRAIT website.
We already have a lot of information about our whenua, our people and our history, but will be adding more. Head over to the ‘Our Stories’ section to read some already written.
If you have information or kōrero that has been passed down to you about our tūpuna, whenua, or history, that you would like to share, please contact us at info@nrait.co.nz.
Motueka Kai Fest - Celebrating the abundance
Motueka has a strong reputation of being one of Aotearoa’s great food baskets, and it’s something the community is proud of. The soil beneath our feet in Motueka is unique; its rich nutrients and nourishment from the Motueka River makes our whenua (land) ideal for growing food crops. It’s something worth celebrating.
So we do! Motueka Kai Fest marks the beginning of the summer harvest, and brings not only Motueka’s gardeners together, but brings the whole community together to celebrate and enjoy the abundance of kai that grows in our rohe.
Last year’s Kai Fest was a great success, and the Trust got right behind it. Not only did the festival share the rich range of kai from home-based gardeners, commercial growers, and food producers in Motueka and surrounding areas, it also reflected on the first gardeners (our ancestors).
Members of our whānau opened the inaugural event through a welcome and karakia blessing ceremony. As part of the celebrations, tamariki from various kura and members of the community dressed up in costumes for the parade and pageant. The pageant was an opportunity for our whānau to share the kōrero of our atua (gods) through performance and costume.
We had many members of our whānau dress up as characters and atua related to each of the four elements, and perform to the wider community and communicate the importance of these elements and their relationship to how kai is produced. This year, Kai Fest will also host another pageant, where students from Motueka High School will perform for the audience.
We’re looking forward to enjoying another day of celebrating our land of kai, and getting involved with the community this April at Kai Fest 2018. If you want to learn more about the kai from our rohe, make sure you head along to Kai Fest, Sunday 8 April, at Decks Reserve from 10am-3pm.
Ohu Maatu 2018
Every year we look forward to seeing owners returning to their ancestral homelands in Motueka. We are excited to invite our whānau and the descendants of the Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust, to join us for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Trust on 27 – 29 April in Motueka.
The weekend is an opportunity to reconnect, learn and celebrate with the whānau, stay on the marae, share your stories and ideas, and enjoy great kai!
Registrations are now open, so make sure you secure your place at Ohu Maatu 2018.
We have a weekend packed full of activities, as well as the most important part of Ohu Maatu, the hui-ā-tau (annual general meeting). We are looking forward to a great weekend full of activities. For more information on what we’ve got planned, have a look at our programme here.
Activities for the whole whānau
Events kick off on the Friday with a pōwhiri at Te Āwhina marae followed by kai. It is always a happy occasion where we reconnect with each other and welcome any whānau coming home for the first time.
On Saturday morning at dawn, we will gather at Raumanuka Reserve for the blessing of an interpretation panel that celebrates our connection to our lands.
We will continue the day with breakfast and then a hikoi around our homelands. Each year we visit special places in the rohe, to share the kōrero of our heke, whenua, and tūpuna. Some of the places we visit include the Riuwaka Resurgence and Te Uma.
After a morning of celebrations, we will gather for the hui-ā-tau (our annual general meeting).
Te hui-ā-tau
The most important part of the weekend is the hui-ā-tau, where registered owners gather to address the governance requirements of the Trust. It’s a chance for you to have your say, and to ensure your whānau is represented and connected with the business activities of the Trust.
As with last year, we’ll be having a live-stream of the hui-ā-tau, so any registered member that cannot attend in person, can still be involved in the decisions from across the country.
Kapa haka wānanga
During our morning celebrations and AGM, there will be a kapa haka workshop for tamariki and rangatahi. Here they can learn some of the waiata and later perform at the gala dinner.
We are looking forward to an exciting weekend where we can reconnect with our whānau, learn more about the kōrero of the Trust, and celebrate the past 25 years.
Make sure you register before 6 April 2018. You can register for Ohu Maatu here, or email info@nrait.co.nz
Registrations and accurate numbers makes it easier for us to plan the weekend.
How do I know: Am I an NRAIT owner?
Being registered with the Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust means more than just being a name on a list. It’s a sense of belonging, opportunity to access benefits like scholarships and grants, being part of the kōrero around how we work and our (the Trust’s) role in your story.
Every two months the Board gathers for a hui, where amongst other things, we review and approve applications for new registered members. For us to continue thriving as a people on our tūrangawaewae, we need to continue telling our story and continue our legacy, and that relies on an engaged next generation, and is why the growth of registered members is important to us.
So, who is an NRAIT owner and how do you become registered?
What do we mean by owner?
Being a registered owner means you have a shared ownership of the Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust and shared ownership of the land that we manage. As an owner, you have the opportunity to vote on what the Trust does with land and what it invests in. These opportunities to vote and have your say are at our Annual General Meetings held in Motueka each year in April.
Who is an owner?
The Ngāti Rārua Ātiawa Iwi Trust represents a unique group of descendants from two iwi. Our owners whakapapa back to one or more of 94 Ngāti Rārua tūpuna and 15 Te Ātiawa tūpuna, recorded in 1845 by Land Commissioner William Spain. These ancestors are the original landowners of our Motueka homelands. As a Trust today, we own, manage and nurture these land holdings on behalf, and for the benefit of the hapū.
If you are Ngāti Rārua or Te Ātiawa manawhenua ki Motueka, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are an NRAIT owner.
This diagram shows the relationship between four key Te Tau Ihu iwi, and how they relate to NRAIT.
Whakapapa
To register as an NRAIT member you must have a direct lineal descent (by birth or adoption including either formal legal adoption or customary Māori adoption) from one of the original 94 Ngāti Rārua tūpuna or 15 Ātiawa tūpuna who had rightful ownership of the Whakarewa lands in Motueka. You can view the list of the 109 original owners here.
During your registration process, you will need to select one of the original 109 owners that you descend from. You need to show your father/mother, and then the line of descent from the original owner.
Once you’ve submitted your application to become a registered owner, we will process and verify your details. When your application has been approved, you will officially be a registered NRAIT owner. You can now use the Members Only area of our website and apply online for benefits, such as our education grants.
If you descend from one of the original 109 owners, and you haven’t yet registered, make sure you complete the registration to become an NRAIT owner. We also encourage you to reach out to your whānau if they’re not yet registered with the Trust to start their applications.
If you are not in the rohe yourself and want to engage and deepen your connection with the Trust you can connect with us on our Facebook page, or check out this blog on other ways you can engage and connect with the Motueka homelands.
Learn more about the Trust and the work that we do here.
What’s happening in 2018?
2017 was a great year – with many activities for our whānau to get involved in. There will be another year full of events, activities and special occasions in 2018 to look forward to. This year is especially important to NRAIT and our owners, as it marks the 25th anniversary of our Trust.
Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6 February
178 years ago, the first signatures were added to the Treaty of Waitangi by Māori chiefs and the British Crown. On Waitangi Day, we recognise the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi and can reflect on the journey.
The English and Māori versions of the Treaty are very different, and so what each party thought it was agreeing to also differed significantly. For the next 150 years Māori were greatly afflicted as a result - including our own tūpuna who lost ownership of the Whakarewa lands in Motueka.
Learn more about the background issues of NRAIT relating to the Treaty here.
This Waitangi Day, head along to Te Āwhina Marae for their Waitangi Open Day.
It is an opportunity to learn more about Te Āwhina Marae, Turangāpeke, and the tangata whenua.
NRAIT Trustee Paul Morgan will also discuss The Treaty of Waitangi, constitution, citizenship as well as other topics.
Pōwhiri begins at 3pm and is gold coin koha entry.
There is also a takeaway hāngi available from 6pm, ($10 each). Make sure you have purchased your tickets prior to collecting.
Kai Fest – Sunday 8 April
A highlight of last year was definitely heading along to Motueka’s very first Kai Fest. With performances, great kai and beautiful weather, it’s the perfect way to celebrate the abundance of kai that is sourced from our rohe – the land and the ocean.
We’re looking forward to another exciting event, make sure you head along too!
Ohu Maatu – 27 – 29 April
2018 is a special year to the Trust, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary. We are pleased to have the opportunity to connect with you all, celebrate our achievements and share kōrero of our tupuna, during Ohu Maatu.
While the weekend is full of fun activities and plenty of chances to catch up with whānau, the hui-ā-tau is the most important part of Ohu Maatu. It’s a chance for you to have your say to ensure your whānau is represented and connected with the business activities of the Trust. During the hui-ā-tau tamariki will have organised activities to keep them busy, but they’re not the only ones having fun.
Every year we do a tour of the rohe to share the kōrero of our heke, our whenua and the struggles along the way.
We will be sharing details on Ohu Maatu 2018 soon.
Matariki – 15 June
As with each year, Matariki is a celebration of the Māori New Year. It is when we rejoice in new beginnings, remember the past and celebrate the present.
During Matariki we also take the time to look back at those who have passed and have been returned to Papatūānuku. Historically our ancestors would view the Matariki stars with grief and tell Matariki the names of those who had gone since the stars set. During this time of remembrance, we also celebrate the future through different rituals and activities. Celebrations include the creation and flight of kites and lanterns, cultural performances and waiata from our tamariki, and hāngi. We also celebrate the rising of Matariki by re-telling our kōrero to our whānau.
There are many events around the rohe to celebrate and recognise Matariki. We will keep you updated on Matariki events nearby.
We’re looking forward to a great year – and hope to see you at Ohu Maatu this April.