The Te Rawhiti Newsletter—Fortnightly

Pipiwhar Prepare for a stress free Xmas!

auroa
Volume 1 Issue 6 21 December, 2008
The Herald of Spring
Prepare for a stress free Xmas!

Christmas is upon us once again - to most of us it is a time for giving, being with and
enjoying whanau...for others it is a time when we buy things we can't afford and give
them to our children who don't appreciate them as they want the techno gadgets and
gizzmos that all their mates have.
For me, this Christmas is extra special as my mokopuna and I are lucky to be able to
celebrate it. Last week we faced death - in the form of a vehicle travelling
sideways(drifting) at us at great speed and out of control. Now the driver may beg to
differ on this last point - maybe he thinks it was a controlled 'drift' as he still had
his elbow out the window - but I had no where to go to get out of his way....so it was
pure luck that we weren't wiped out. I actually thought that it was all over and took a
look at my mokopuna, grabbed her leg and called out her name. I was more worried
about her being hurt than me.
Further along I saw tyre marks all over the road and I was so thankful I hadn't met the
vehicle there.. to say I was traumatised is an understatement... I still have flashbacks
of it in slow motion. Russell went to have a word
with the young man - but he wasn't home. He must know what he did, but he hasn't
even been 'man' enough to come and apologise to us or to see if we are ok.. Different
people in the community I told suggested things I could have done - but all of those
options involved violence of the sort that my whanau and I don't condone or
specialise in....oh and there were some who asked if they could do it on our behalf! In
the end, I chose to ring the Police...not because I'm a nark and not because I have a
personal hate against that young man - but I want him to be told by someone that the
road we all travel on should be a safe place for us all. If he had come to see me I
would have told him that instead of getting the Policeman to tell him for me.. Drunks
are another worry but maybe I will have a rave about that in another issue...others
may want to share their near death experiences with drunk drivers at the wheel...there
are many more of those loose on our roads.........
Happy Christmas...........

He Pitopito Korero

*Annual Community Day Sunday 4th January 2009

*Powhiri -10th January 2009 – Judith, (who was found shipwrecked by Sid Hepi and
Steve Willoughby at Deep Water Cove) wants to come and meet every-one and
familiarise her self with the area.
Two Maori fullah’s were discussing the recent turmoil in India.

First one says, "Hey boi! What's a Hindu?"

Second one replies, "Lays eggs bro”!!
(Our jokes come ‘courtesy of Wisconsin’). Thank you Uncle Paddy

Whakatauki
He toa takatini toku toa
E hara I te toa takitahi
(My bravery is of many, it is not the bravery of one)
An acknowledgment of being one person amongst many and a tribute to having
received knowledge and skills from the people around one; this saying expresses the
strength of tribal kinship ties.

There have been enquiries regarding the borrowing of equipment from the Marae. To
clarify the situation, here is an extract from the trustees meeting held on Saturday 12th
September 1987:
7 (a) Lending of Marae gear;
It was a unanimous decision that the present 439 Trustees make it Marae policy
not to lend or hire out any gear belonging to the Marae for personal use in homes.
This does not apply to other Marae. Reminder to everyone using the Marae, including
tangihanga. Each whanau is responsible for removing their rubbish bags and their
kaimoana shells from the Marae. Also the concrete at the back is to be hosed down
after use.
From the Diary of Ihaka Mita Te Tai
Italics are comments from M Hook.

12 November, Sunday

Fine day. After an early breakfast rode over to Hauai to await the arrival of Tawaka
Wiki’s body who died at Kawakawa yesterday. Body arrived about noon with those
in charge. (Can anyone tell me who he was, and to whose family he belonged??)
Monday
Fair to dull and fine afternoon. Scarcely a sleep, yarning all night, last mihi to dead
body before being buried at 11 am at Opourua. When body was being conveyed to
graveyard, a heavy shower occurred, Apotoro Wairua Wirepa Hetaraka officiated.
Wednesday
Beautiful day. After breakfast went out netting with Sue and Bessie, caught plenty for
our use. Bill Hakaraia (Arthur’s brother) turned up about dinnertime and cleaned our
chimney out. The stove hot as anything now after being cleaned!
Friday
Fair day though looking a bit dull, but cleared up in the afternoon.
Rowed out to Kaingahoa by the 5 pm tide. Slept at Kei’s, (Kei Ahitapu and Turei’s
sister) went to plant kumaras, Iti, Mita, Marara, Waihuka and myself.
Saturday
Dull looking morning. Puti and Barney ((Moka’s parents) were down early at Kei’s
to get on to planting kumaras by the incoming tide, About an hour after planting it
started to shower intermittently all day. In the afternoon when it cleared up
sufficiently, Barney, Taute and I went out fishing – caught a few.

Monday
Foggy showery morning. Still at Kei’s this morning. After an early breakfast and as
soon as it cleared up, we swagged up and rowed back to Te Kauri. Taute came to help
Iti to pull. Bessie and Kuia (Aroha Witehira) walking over, joined by Maggie
(Arthur’s sister) at Whiorau. A shower came down just as we landed, making things
uncomfortable to handle. However, we are at home once more. Taute attended to my
parcels at the Point for me. Kuia to Russell.
Next day: Bill Hakaraia came to put ring in pig’s nose.

Kauri Dieback

Kauri Dieback – is the disease that is affecting Kauri Trees across the
North Island. Kauri dieback is a microscopic ‘fungus-like’ plant
disease (pathogen) that only affects kauri and can kill them. Its
botanic name is Phytophthora taxon Agathis (PTA). So far there
appears to be no resistance to the disease and it can affect and/or
kill kauri of all ages and sizes - from saplings to long-lived trees.
This link below takes you to information about the disease what is
known and what is unknown. Please pass this onto anyone and
everyone you know will be visiting Northland over summer

www.nrc.govt.nz/kauridieback

Te Rawhiti Marae
Community Day
Sunday, January 4, 2009

11am – Powhiri for people who have not been to the marae-waetapu.
Update on Marae
The steps for next year
Community developments
Organised games for the children
Music
Lunch – bring a plate
Nau mai, haere mai – welcome.
Bring all the kids and visitors.
Helen Mountain Harte
Secretary
Te Rawhiti Marae Development Committee – Marara Hook
Te Rawhiti Marae Trust – Te Ringa Witehira, Joe Bristow, Blandy
Witehira, Alf Kareko, Wayne Erceg, Rahema Hook

Maori fullah standing on the bank of the creek with a bucket full of trout. Just behind
him comes this Ranger who says, " Gooday. Nice lot of trout you got there. You just
catch 'em ? "
Maori fullah says " No, not at all. These are my pet fish I keep in the pond up by the
house. Every two weeks I bring 'em down here and let them swim in the creek for 5
to 10 minutes then when I whistle they all come back to the shore, I put 'em back in
the bucket and then take 'em back to the pond. Change of surroundings you know "
Ranger thinks to himself, " This I got to see " Says aloud, " That's really great. Can
you show me ? "
Maori fullah says " Sure " and empties the fish into the creek. They stand there
talking, and after five minutes, the Ranger says, " Well Isn't it time to whistle for your
fish ? "
 Maori fullah says --- " What fish !! "
Thank you to all whanau who have been instigating our Marae policy -

PATU KORE – Smack Free

WAIPIRO KORE – Alcohol Free
TARUTARU KORE – Drugs Free
AUAHI KORE – Smoke Free

It is so important that we teach our tamariki that there is a safe place for them which is
free from these things!

Remember – IT IS NOT OK!

Marae Fundraiser T-shirts ready in time for Xmas! $30 adults and $20
children, contact:
Catherine Pullan Helen Harte
09 6252842 095211837
0272433096 021755553
Catherine.pullan@minedu.govt.nz
helen-harte@xtra.co.nz

If you have email and would like to have your ‘Pipiwharauroa’ sent via the internet,
please contact Barb with your email address. Please send on to your whanau.

Thank you to all who contributed to this issue of Pipiwharauroa

www.terawhitimarae.maori.
nz
www.patukeha.maori.nz
www.ngatikuta.co.nz