Tairāwhiti multicultural council, music, museum and more supported by nearly $200,000 in grants
The Haven Senior Citizen Association will receive $25,230 to help replace its current van.
'The van transports pakeke [mature people] from Tokomaru Bay to essential services, medical appointments, social events, and community gatherings in Gisborne and along the coast,' Trust Tairāwhiti wrote.
'The van has served the community for over 20 years, but has experienced significant rusting and general deterioration, making it no longer fit for purpose.'
Other recipients in May
Gisborne International Music Competition: $23,500 for its annual programme, which focuses on rangatahi education and empowerment in music.
East Coast Museum of Technology: $15,000 for heat pump installation to help preserve artefacts while improving comfort for visitors and volunteers.
Manaaki Tāngata | Victim Support: $15,000 to support the recruitment and specialist training of local kaimahi, providing free, 24/7 support for people affected by crime and traumatic events
Te Aitanga a Hauiti Centre of Excellence Trust: $15,000 for a series of community events in Ūawa, including ANZAC Day commemorations, a Matariki festival and other gatherings, activities and events that enrich and foster community and cultural pride.
Te Ha Ora – the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation: $15,000 for 15 school vape education workshops and a Train-the-Trainer programme equipping local educators to deliver vaping education to rangatahi.
Braemar Dancing Club: $5,000 to support the delivery of the Braemar annual competition, an inclusive dancing event that encourages dancers of all abilities to perform and grow.
Nona Te Ao: $5,000 for three wānanga across Tairāwhiti, engaging 237 rangatahi across 10 rural schools. These wānanga empower rangatahi Māori to overcome barriers associated with rural living by providing exposure to educational and career pathways.
Te Kura Poutama Charitable Trust: $5,000 to support Ngāti Porou Rugby League (NPRL), which seeks to build on its 2024 successes.
Gisborne District Council (on behalf of the Tairāwhiti Pasifika Leadership Group): $1,222 for venue hire to host a fono (gathering) for the Tairāwhiti Pasifika Leadership Group (TPLG), established after Cyclone Gabrielle to unite the diverse Pacific Island communities in Tairāwhiti.
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Preparation starts young, she said, whether it is picking up rubbish or placing a clean cup on the table - always with aroha. "Everything we did then, we had to do with aroha, so that our manuhiri would feel welcome, so they would feel the aroha of our marae, and of our people." She shared that moving as a collective during the pōhiri, with kuia at the front, tāne at the back and tamariki protected in the middle, is about keeping one another safe. "The kuia who are there to call for you, their backs need to be protected too." She said that karanga, too, is deeply connected to this spirit of preparation and aroha. "Sometimes when I stand there outside, I don't karanga to the manuhiri in front of me. I'm calling down to Tangaroa so he can hear me. I'm calling ki ngā maunga so they can hear me." "Karanga kia puta mai te aroha ki roto i a tātou nei mahi katoa," she said, meaning, let the call (karanga) bring love (aroha) into all our work (mahi katoa). Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Known affectionately as Aunty Birdie, Roberta Arahanga (Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Hine, Tainui ki Pare Hauraki, Tuhoe, Ngāti Rongomai, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Kahungunu) shared her experiences as a wahine Māori stepping into karanga. She stressed the importance of the voice of wāhine, and the power it holds. "That's your voice. That's the first voice that's heard out there on the mahau when you are from here. So they can't move until you use your voice. "You're not mucking around, you mean business." She encouraged wāhine to be proud of their whakapapa and to always ensure tikanga is upheld during karanga. "Make sure that you get your whakapapa right, where you've come from, what you're going to be doing, what it was all about... acknowledge your tīpuna." Tihi Puanaki (Ngāti Hine), shared her mātauranga at Tīhei Waitaha, and said to the wāhine in attendance that "karanga is yours to uphold." Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ A beloved figure across Aotearoa, Tihi Puanaki is known for her work in Māori education and her leadership of the award-winning haka rōpū Te Kotahitanga. At Tīhei Waitaha, she reminded wāhine of the sacredness of the kaupapa: "Wāhine mā, tai tamariki mā, kua huihui tātou i raro i te karanga o te kaupapa nei... He kaupapa tino tapu, he kaupapa tino nui. Horekau he mutunga. "No matter where you come from or what iwi you descend from, karanga is yours to uphold." She acknowledged the pressure that comes with the role as kaikaranga, and the humility. "Karanga is not just a performance. You're acknowledging the maunga, the iwi, the hau kāinga. There's real pressure in that. "You've got to look after your voice, and your wairua too." Puanaki also spoke candidly about protecting tikanga. "Karanga is not a course you complete. You don't get a certificate and become a kaikāranga overnight. You carry that responsibility for life. "Don't just bring new people onto the pae without letting the rest of us know... We overlook mana whenua sometimes, and we shouldn't. "There are some things we have to protect. Karanga is not for everybody." "Kaua koe ki tō hoa Pākehā, kāre. I say it with aroha... but this is for my people. "You might not be a kaikaranga for Rehua or Tuahiwi. But you might be a kaikaranga for your little job, your whā that's important too." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
