Te Aurere Newsletter April / May 2005
Kia ora,
April was a very satisfying month for Hekenukumai as all the logs were extracted from the forest. Other times we have been held up by wet weather but not this year. The two logs that were dead trees and also the heads from other trees that were cut down a few years ago are now on the property at Aurere. So, if you want a waka made you know where to come to!
The weekend of 15, 16, 17 April the first wananga in a series of four was held at Ruaihona Marae, Te Teko. These wananga are being held to instruct the Kaihoe (canoe paddlers) in the art of Mau Rakau, Hoe, Taiaha and Patu (paddling and weapon training). This was a very successful weekend thanks to all the hard work of Tepene Mamaku. All the men have a lot to learn before departing for San Francisco in August so practice will be the key. The next wananga is on the weekend of 20, 21, 22 May at Te Ruaihona Marae, Te Teko.
Work has commenced on the construction sight for the Hawaiian Marae to be built at Aurere as part of The Kupe Waka Centre. This is a tourism venture that will centre round Waka and Hekenukumai. The Hawaiian Marae is to be completed by December 2006 in time for the arrival of Hokule`a and is to be opened by the Hawaiians. Plans have been drawn up and a price worked out and construction will commence as soon as all the necessary resource consents are obtained. This has been a long time dream of all of us and it is good to see some movement at last.
Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka Inc. in association with Ma Te Reo held the second of its wananga for 2005 on the weekend of 29, 30 April and 01 May. Once again concentration was on waka construction and lashing of Te Ika a Maui was continued to ready her for her trip to San Francisco later in the year. The waka tewai (river or fishing canoe) which was started last wananga was launched and paddled up and down the river. Saturday afternoon some of the students took Te Aurere out for a sail and the general consensus was that it had been a very good weekend. It was good to have our Kaihoe from Tauranga here. The dedication and effort they put in is much appreciated.
The next wananga will be held on the weekend of 17-19 June 2005. This has the promise of being a very busy weekend as we will be involved with the Tai Tokerau (Northland) celebrations of Matariki (The start of the Maori New Year). This wananga will be open to the general public and the fee for the weekend which includes Marae accommodation, food etc. will be $75.00, for Tarai Waka members the fee remains at the usual cost. Also on that weekend there will be a Waka Regatta at Taipa. This will include several Waka Taua, Waka Tete, Waka Ama and Waka Hourua (including Te Aurere). Activities planned are an East-West rugby game, netball, stalls, kapa haka and several other activities. We are working on selling rides on Te Aurere with special prizes over the two days. We will let you know more as the time gets closer. Also present will be Maori Television. This is being held as a fundraiser for the Kaihoe (waka paddlers) to get to San Francisco and also for the upkeep of Te Aurere.
Keep this weekend free and mark it in your diary as we would like to see you there on Sunday 19 June. I will give you more information on this great weekend as it comes to hand. If you would like to participate in the Wananga, please contact me. If you would like to take part in the Regatta by holding a stall or any other activity contact Pereniki Tauhara at mack3959@hotmail.com or myself.
Hector arrived home from another trip to the International Festival of Canoes held in Maui, Hawai`i. Accompanying Hector this time were James Eruera and Eru Tepania. John Harding also got to go this year and for that we have to thank Ray and Yoli Hutaff of Ekahi Tours, Maui for sponsoring and accommodating him whilst he was in Maui. Also assisting again this year was master carver Takirirangi Smith. They managed to carve a 40 foot canoe in just two weeks, wicked!
Well, that"s about it for this time. Lots of good things happening in our neck of the woods. Take good care of yourselves. Ka kite ano. Mike Harding.