Thursday, October 18th 2007

Kia Ora whanau,

Firstly a huge congratulations to the senior roopu who won the Senior Open Section of the Mana Ariki Competitions last weekend in Waikanae and brought back to Ngati Toa the Te Rauparaha Trophy. It was a wonderful two days with the roopu and whanau at Tukorehe Marae, at the competitions and the afterglow celebrations afterwards at the chairman’s whare! The feedback from whanau on the hospitality extended to the Mana Tiaki whanau by Ray’s family at Tukorehe was incredible .. there is no doubt that our young people learnt much from being able to noho at a whanau marae such as this – a first for many of them.

Thank you to all the whanau who supported this trip – especially at late notice. To all the van drivers, cooks and supporters – we could not have done it without you !! My thanks especially to Ray, Matt and Leah who prepared this group for competition in my absence.

Having won this regional competition the group now qualifies to enter the national Mana Ariki competition against all other regional winners to be held in Taumarunui at the Mana Ariki Marae on March 7th and 8th, 2008. We are holding an important hui next Thursday evening at the centre following the senior practice to discuss this trip to the nationals and how we propose to raise funds for this trip should whanau decide we are heading up for it. It is really important that as many parents of rangatahi in the senior group as possible attend this hui please as we want the ‘buy in’ from you all before we undertake what becomes a major fundraiser for us all. This hui will be from 6pm – 7pm, October 25 and will also look at the current structure of the senior roopu. The Mana Tiaki executive hui will follow this hui at 7.30pm. Look forward to seeing you all there and hearing your feedback.

Kapahaka Organisation
It is wonderful to have so many new whanau on board the waka for kapahaka – the Mana Tiaki Festival has generated a lot of interest in kapahaka and we welcome you all into the Mana Tiakia whanau. I have been thinking for sometime that we need to form another group as the range in the junior group has grown and the range of ability increases in there also. I want to arrange the groups so that all children can move through at a pace consistent with their age. I was going to reshuffle and change these groups next year but given the growth this change will happen now with the new practice times starting next week. I have also changed the names of the groups to reflect their whakapapa to Mana Tiaki. The groups have been organised according to competition qualifying ages as it is my intention to enter all the groups into Mana Ariki next year with the two younger groups participating in the Junior and Midget sections.

Here, therefore are the new groups and ages for inclusion and their suggested new names.

Te Iti Kahurangi o Mana Tiaki ( ‘Small but treasured of Mana Tiaki )

Aged under 10 @ 31.03.08

New practice time : 3.15pm – 4.00pm Afternoon Tea – 4.00pm – 4.15pm

Nga Taitamariki o Mana Tiaki ( ‘Young Ones of Mana Tiaki )

Aged under 14 @ 31. 03. 08

New practice time : 4.00pm – 4.45pm Afternoon Tea – 3.30pm – 3.45pm

Te Poutokomanawa o Mana Tiaki ( ‘The Centre Ridge of Mana Tiaki )

Aged 14 and over @ 31. 03. 08

New practice time : 4.45pm – 5.45pm Afternoon Tea – 4.30pm – 4.45pm

Each group will now have their own administrator who will deal with registrations, money collection, noho consent forms, organise afternoon tea roster for the group and any other administration that needs to take place. They will do the check off and tally and pass all info on accordingly. The group is now becoming too big to be managed administratively by one person. This helps to spread the load and ensures a point of contact for all parents. Please if you have any queries regarding anything that is happening in the roopu contact the administrator for your child’s group.

The three administrators for the three groups and their contact numbers are :

Te Iti Kahurangi - Hinetai Parekura 232 2485 / 027 429 6425

Nga Taitamariki – Justine Ropata 232 0265 / 021 490 905

Te Poutokomanawa – Lynette Te Paa 232 0633 / 027 433 2659

The new times will start next week. For now the adult group will run from 5.45pm – 6.30pm on the Thursday evenings when there is no Mana Tiaki or college hui on. Parents of new tamariki are most welcome to join this strictly social group – most of whom are learning kapahaka for the first time !!

Registration Forms
All new whanau on board are required to fill out a registration form as we are an incorporated society and as such are required to keep a register of all our members. Please contact the administrator of your group to do this with. They will also collect from you the $30.00 per whanau, per term fees for kapahaka that helps us with the hireage of the studio and with the provision of afternoon tea. Please also indicate your availability to help with afternoon tea. Thank you.

We welcome you on board the Mana Tiaki waka and look forward to a long association with your family. Please contact your group administrator or myself if you wish to know anything further.

‘Crack me Off’ – Laughing with Samoans
Is being held on Saturday, October 27th. If we can get a group of ten the cost will be $20.50. Please let Leah Gifford know if you are interested in tagging along to what promises to be a great night.

Mana Tiaki Hui
Next Thursday, October 25th. Tawa Community Centre.
6pm – 7pm : Mana Ariki Nationals Hui with parents of the senior roopu.
7.30pm – Mana Tiaki Executive Hui

SOCIAL – 60’s and 70’s Night !! – Saturday, November 3rd – Linden Social Centre
Hurry and buy tickets to this year’s Mana Tiaki social fundraiser – last year we had an Island Night – this year is 60’s and 70’s Night – come dressed for a night of disco and flower power .. Tickets are now available at $25.00 a head from Hinetai – 2322465 / 027 429 6425. Ticket includes supper, entertainment .. Bar available. All proceeds to the kapahaka roopu.

Nga mihinui,

Whaea Karen 027 458 4119 / 021 026 12170