Past News

Published: 20 May, 2019

Two new Whānau Ora Directors appointed to Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu

Two new Whānau Ora Directors appointed to Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu

Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu Taumata (iwi stakeholder board) has appointed two new board directors to the governance board, the General Partner Limited Board (GPL).

Today the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency for the South Island, Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu, held a whakatau to welcome Tā Mark Solomon and Sally Pitama who have been appointed as directors to the GPL Board.

GPL Chair Trevor Taylor says, “Our new directors bring significant expertise to their roles. Their contribution to the governance of Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu will be invaluable as we endeavour to extend reach and coverage right across Te Waipounamu, in serving the interests of whānau.

“We look forward to a strengthened GPL with our full contingent of five members, as we continue to work with the Minister for Whānau Ora to influence and grow the significant impact of Whānau Ora which needs to happen within the wider Government and philanthropic sector”.

Tā Mark Solomon (Ngāi Tahu, Ngati Kurī), was born and raised in Christchurch where he lives there with his wife Maria, their children and extended whānau. Tā Mark served as kaiwhakahaere (chairperson) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the tribal council of Ngāi Tahu, for approximately 18 years, from 1998 until December 2016. Solomon continues to act in various directorship roles including as chair of the Canterbury District Health Board.

Tā Mark is also the South Island representative on the interim, Te Roopu, The Māori advisory group to the Government’s joint venture on family violence and sexual violence. Tā Mark has been a strong advocate in Te Waipounamu for Tū Pono: Te Mana Kaha o te Whānau, a whānau-driven movement that has a focus to explore ways of enabling a stronger Māori response to reduce and eliminate family harm/violence.

“Our moemoeā back in 2013 was for all the tribes of Te Waipounamu to come together as one, for the single-most important pursuit of our time, investing in our whānau. We always knew that we were stronger together. I am so pleased to be back doing what I love best, serving the aspirations of our whānau”.

Sally Pitama (Hotu Mamoe, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa) works as a Te Runanga o Ngāi Tahu Refugee and Migrant Sector Advocate. In her role as multi-cultural advisor, Sally has played an integral part in the establishment of the Migrant Inter-Agency group, set up in 2011. She has also worked in advisory roles offering insights to a wide range of groups such as Canterbury Family Violence Collaboration and in social impact projects such as Kai Baskets.

“The experiences we as Ngāi Tahu, as Waitaha, as Aotearoa have been through over these last weeks has been both harrowing and unifying” said Taua Sally. “The common call for kotahitanga has extended across ethnic, cultural, religious and national divides, and instead brought us all much closer together. In the sphere of Whānau Ora, the expression of manaakitanga is a vital platform for change. I am so proud to be part of this movement forward”.

Published: 20 May, 2019

Tuia te Matangi Iwi Communications 2019

Tēnā koutou e ngā pakoko whakahaere tikanga o Te Tauihu,

It has been a number of months since our last hui at TKKM o Tuia te Matangi. In humility I do apologize for the lateness of my updates and communication, as iwi communications are in my care.

I would like to schedule a hui for the 5th of June at 3.30pm at Tuia te Matangi to talk about the status of iwi on the Kura’s Board, a Purutanga Mauri, an Alternative Education idea, the Haerenga of our Ākonga in general, and a time for iwi to kōrero to listening ears.

I would like to give some background about the four kaupapa listed so that the hui called is constructive and that the hard questions can be asked with solutions already ready (if possible) to those hard questions, as I may not have the answer to them.

Kuras Board

Currently we have 5 parent vacancies this can be increased to 7 or decreased to 3, this is excluding the representation of the tumuaki, staff, and student.

The Kawanatanga has not yet officially recognised iwi in this education system that shapes the mines and the voices of our nation by seating an iwi board rep on school boards.

The question has been sent to Runanganui to see whether it is possible to adjust our kuras constitution to see if an iwi rep can be officially seated, keeping in mind there is still only a maximum of 7 parent representatives.  An answer to this question will come to this scheduled hui.

Purutanga Mauri

A Purutanga Mauri (The Keepers of the Mauri) was mentioned in our last meeting and another possibility of iwi involvement. 

Te Wānanga o Raukawa have these keepers to give advice and guidance around the mauri of TwoR.

An Alternative Education Idea

There seems to be nothing that binds a school or a Kura Kaupapa to iwi, so that the iwi can hold a school or kura accountable if cultural practices, boards, staff, or tamariki are not meeting an environment conducive to local iwi expectations.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangis current board is more than open to the iwi of Te Tauihu and will aim to align as best as possible to iwi needs. I do state the current Board, however the next Board, or the Board after that may feel differently.

As a Professional Leader of TKKM o Tuia te Matangi ko ahau ko Te Tauihu, ko Te Tauihu ko ahau and my grandparents have instilled that in me.

In this educational Journey of Māori Medium as a student, parent, teacher and now tumuaki I still believe that there is a key element of an education system missing.

This is a kura that is based on the foundations, pedagogies, practices and philosophies of Te Tauihu Iwi who cater for all tamariki Māori from all walks of life.

This education system is the daily foundation for iwi Whakarauora Reo that helps our tamariki and their immediate whānau to feel success in an education system while they are learning to be Māori again.

Yes this is a different kura from TKKM o Tuia te Matangi however it’s generational feed in the future will provide more possible prospects for TKKM o Tuia te Matangi and to also compliment what we are currently receiving from our Kohanga and Puna.  

This compliment will come through the first and second generations progeny because Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Tuia te Matangi's goal is to provide a full Te Ao Māori immersion environment that stems from both Mātauranga Māori which is in Te Reo Māori.

The Haerenga of the Tamariki

We are currently under the review of ERO and their official findings will be disclosed in a few weeks time.

Our student numbers have increased this year, because of this increase we are now looking for a bigger bus to eradicate the need of two daily Motueka van runs. Our first pick up begins at 7am and the last van run can arrive after karakia

We are seeking funds from the Rata Foundation, part of the application is sourcing funding from other agencies such as iwi.

In regards to the ākonga the list goes on, however it might be easier to bring questions to the hui.

Heoi ano rā koutou again my sincere apologies for my late reply, if you do have pātai before the hui, please feel free to send those pātai to me, so that I may better answer them at our hui.