03 August 2022
“He tāwhiti kē tō koutou haerenga, ki te kore haere tonu
He tino nui rawa ō koutou mahi, kia kore e mahi nui tonu.”
“You have come too far not to go further
You have done too much not to do more.”
Nā Tā Hemi Henare
E mara, tēnā koutou katoa.
Ko tāku mihi tuatahi he reo maioha ki te Atua. Nāna mātou i āwhina hei tutuki pai i ā mātou take tini i te tau kua pāhemo ake. Nō reira, e te kāmaka, e pākū ana te whenua ki tō korōriatanga. Ki ngā whare taonga o te marae nei, Ko Hikia te Ao, Ko Manawa Reka ā-Rongo, ko Te Whare Aroha, Ko Manawaora, ko Emanuera, tēnā koutou. E ngā tūpuna, a Ruth Fox, a James de Thierry rātou ko Maddox Preston, kei te moenga roa o ngā mātua tūpuna koutou. Moe mai rā, moe mai rā, moe mai rā. Waihoki koutou katoa i mau i ngā kākahu taratara i te tau kua hipa, haere atu rā ki ō koutou ake Hawaiiki.
Āpiti hono, tātai hono, ko koutou ki a koutou te hunga wairua
Āpiti hono, tātai hono, ko tātou ngā mōrehu e kawe tonu ana i ō koutou waihotanga
Tīhei wā mauri ora!
Ngā Mahi i Mahia - Past Achievements
2021, another unprecedented year in terms of the COVID virus. Marae hireage income has been affected due to many organisations, continuing online delivery of programmes and service throughout the first term of this year. As a reminder, I remain committed to the ideal, that our own Māori healthcare service, should remain one of our highest, future priorities. Having said thus, finding the right timing, is definitely a challenge.
The previous year has seen some good progress in terms of our ongoing construction and maintenance. Our disabled carpark is 90% percent complete and will remain unfinished, (but usable) until the footpath crossing application challenges are alleviated. Regarding the proposed cultural centre, we are now in the final stages of building consent application. I will start pricing the full contact for the project with Harbour City Homes once the resource consent comes through. In this COVID climate we need to remain cautious in terms of starting a project of this size. Especially given the soaring prices and product shortages.
The marae continues to experience strong demand for our unique services. Weekly kura reo are set to return to the marae over the following two weeks. Wānanga, PD, social services, health services, consultation and marae experiences continue to dominate the main activities onsite. Succession of tasks has provided some relief on my time, and I am thankful to those of you who have helped to shoulder the workload. I have just resigned from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi to free up my time to focus more on progressing our organisational goals without having to fight the system all the time!
Janet Fitzgerald has decided to retire from the Local Board this year and both her and Julia Parfitt have supported the need for Māori candidates in the upcoming elections in October 2022. Both Trish and I have decided to stand as candidates in this year’s elections. We will be part of ‘Team Coast’ alongside Lia Shelford and Jake Law.
Understandably, due to ongoing COVID challenges our respective komiti portfolios remain at a status quo. Social Media platforms are progressing well with some new and innovative ideas being implemented.
Ngā mihi - Acknowledgments
At this stage I would like to warmly thank all our whānau whānui who have volunteered, participated and or supported our efforts this past year. A special thanks to Love Soup for their continued support to this marae and our whānau puku.
It is also important to acknowledge our funders who over the past year have assisted us financially to achieve our goals. COGS, whose grant contributed to the salary for our paid Administrator. Lottery Community Facilities, whose grant contributed to administrative and organisational costs of running a marae. ACC Cultural Initiatives Fund, whose grant contributed to the completion of our disabled carpark this year.
Kua Putaina te Mātau - The Realisation
Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae continues to prove its worth to this community and as COVID restrictions wane, demand for its services is once again gaining momentum. The marae continues to forge new relationships within the community such as, Whangaparāoa Āpōpō, Ahutoetoe and Nukumea Primary Schools, Kristin School, Kingsway Preschool, Steps Forward, AUT and several others. On the back of a fantastic Matariki celebration this year we need to continue to build on promoting annual Māori celebrations with a key role in Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Tū Māia and Waitangi Day.
He Anga Hakamua - Looking Forward
Some of us have started working on capturing video footage on the history of the marae. This is a work in progress but needs a good nudge along this coming year. Especially given the demand for stories regarding local Māori histories. I will be work collaboratively with local kura to apply for funding to employ a researcher to assist me in establishing a local Māori history narrative.
He Waka Eke Noa!
Lastly but not least, I acknowledge the komiti for your support, your dedication to your roles and your ongoing faith in the development of this invaluable community resource. As always, I look forward to seeing what we can achieve as a komiti in the coming year!
Nāku iti nei,
Kereama Nathan
Heamana Te Herenga Waka o Orewa 2021-22