MIHI FROM THE CHAIR | Jamie Tuuta

Tena tātou katoa,

There's been a lot happening in Taranaki over the past month. Our Ngāti Maru whanaunga are working hard to ratify their PSGE, PKW held their half-yearly general meeting and Ngāruahine are preparing for their Ngāti Manuhiakai by-elections and Iwi Update hui.

The Taranaki Mounga Project team are releasing more Toutouwai next month in what has been an amazing year for our tupuna mounga with the successful reintroduction of birdlife that also includes Whio, our native duck. Negotiations that are happening in relation to the Maunga are ongoing and we'll have a detailed article out soon.

In this months pānui, we preview some of the great stories coming out in the next edition of our Mutunga magazine. We're proud of all the amazing kaupapa Ngāti Mutunga uri are involved with including reo revitalisation and retention in Australia, and marine life preservation.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Raymond Tuuta who has been a significant part of the Rūnanga for many years. Ray was on the Rūnanga Board before taking up the role as Office Administrator three years ago. His commitment to Ngāti Mutunga has been unwavering and we wish him all the best on his journey in Whanganui with his partner Rawiri.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Jamie

MUTUNGA MAGAZINE | Sneak preview

The next Mutunga magazine will be distributed next month, and is filled with lots of stories of what our whānau are doing across the motu and overseas. Here’s a sneak peek on some of the stories included in the Mutunga magazine.

Jen Tuuta, Kōhanga Ēkara director

When Jen Tuuta moved to Australia eight years ago, she felt one thing was missing.
“In New Zealand, I was emerged in the culture and being a part of te ao Māori,” she says. “Then I moved over here and realised, ‘holy heck, there’s nothing’. I wanted somewhere where my son would feel a sense of belonging because that was always a part of my growing up."
The qualified early childhood teacher is now director of the Kōhanga Ēkara programme at Mulberry Bush Nursery in Eagleby, Brisbane.
“We have a dedicated class where our kaiako speak te reo Māori throughout the day. We’ve had a good response from both Māori and Australian children."

Gilly Thorpe, Marine Mammal Observer

Gilly Thorpe works as a marine mammal observer, ensuring the ship she’s on abides by the 2013 Code of Conduct for Minimising Acoustic Disturbance to Marine Mammals from Seismic Survey Operations during seismic offshore operations.
“It’s taken me 20 years to secure an offshore role in oil – and I’m stoked to have secured the role that I’m passionate about. I love my job as a qualified marine mammal observer. Every day at sea brings more experience under my belt,” she says.

Raymond Tuuta, former Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga office administrator

After three years at the coal face of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga, office administrator Raymond Tuuta has moved down the coast to Whanganui – but he remains unwaveringly committed to supporting his iwi.
“I was able to get to know a lot of our families on a personal level through working in the office, as well as relationships with other iwi around the maunga,” he says. “It was an honour to be able to serve my people, and I’ll continue to actively contribute to the iwi.”

Te Pumaomao Indigenous Nationhood Wānanga

We had a great turn-out at the Te Pumaomao Indigenous Nationhood Wānanga at Urenui Marae this month. Read more about this kaupapa and other stories in the next Mutunga magazine coming out soon.

HUI | New Crown/Māori Relations portfolio

A hui is being held on Saturday 5 May at 11am at Owae Marae in Waitara to get your views on the new Crown/Māori Relations portfolio.
The purpose of the Crown/Māori relations portfolio is to focus on the health of the Crown/Māori relationship now and over time. A healthy relationship will assist the Crown and Māori to improve outcomes for Māori and the nation generally, and to help ensure the two parties meet their respective Treaty obligations.
Head along and have your say on the direction and priorities of this new government portfolio.

OUR PEOPLE | "Māori encouraged to embrace CPTTP" - Ward Kamo

National director of Tu Whenua – Bayleys Maori business division, Ward Kamo.

Ward Kamo, Ngāti Mutunga uri and national director of Tu Whenua – Bayleys Real Estate’s Māori business division,thinks Māori should embrace the CPTTP and shares his view in a NBR column this month. To read Ward's column click here

UPCOMING EVENTS | Toutouwai release

The partners of Taranaki Mounga Project, Department of Conservation, NEXT Foundation and Taranaki Iwi Chairs Forum, are planning a ceremony to release up to 50 toutouwai/North Island robins.
This significant milestone is happening on Saturday 12 May. Buses will depart from the Inglewood Railway Station at 8am. An alternative wet weather date is Sunday 13 May.
To RSVP and answer related questions important for this event, click here

COMPETITION| DIGMYIDEA Māori Innovation Challenge

Digital-savvy Ngāti Mutunga uri are encouraged to enter the DIGMYIDEA Māori Innovation Challenge.
The competition provides all Māori in Aotearoa the opportunity to submit an innovative digital business idea that has the potential to go global.
You can enter as an individual or a team, in two age categories - Rerenga o te Kora (15-24) or Muranga o te Ahi (25+). All finalists will be flown to Auckland for a weekend of mentoring to help them develop and pitch their idea and be in for a chance to win a business start-up and support package worth $10,000. Entries close 27 May.
For more information click here

HAVE YOUR SAY | National Māori Arts strategy

Creative New Zealand wants to hear from Māori artists all across the motu to help inform a new National Māori Arts Strategy, by Māori for Aotearoa.
Over the past two months, Creative New Zealand’s Ngā Toi Māori team have toured the country from north to south and across to the Chatham Islands to meet with as many Māori artists as possible. As they near the end of the roadshow, the team wants to provide those who were unable to attend a hui, with an opportunity to have their say by completing a simple survey.
All of the information you provide will be kept and used by Creative New Zealand to help develop the National Māori Arts Strategy.
To complete the survey click here

Pouwhakahaere | UPDATE

Tena koutou katoa!

I trust you've enjoyed this months panui which provides a snapshot of what's been happening over the past month. As you can see, we take huge pride in the mahi that whanau have been involved with and we're always keen to hear from others who have interesting stories to share.

Coming up later this year we’ll be reaching out to uri as part of the development of our new strategic plan for the next five years. It is important that the strategy reflects the aspirations of our iwi so we want to hear from as many uri as possible, and to do this we will be utilising different forums – from kanohi ki te kanohi to digital media. Stay tuned!

Nga mihi,

Paul Cummings, Pouwhakahaere

If you have any whānau stories you want to share with us please email us at comms@ngatimutunga.iwi.nz