Author: Tracey Harkess

Pulled from Matai O’Connor, The Gisborne Herald. 

Kura kaupapa students across Tairāwhiti have been benefitting from the new Te Kura o Te Ahupoo programme, which promotes physical activity and wellbeing.

Te Kura o Te Ahupoo cluster comprises Te Kura Kaupapa Māori (TKKM) o Horouta Wānanga, Ngā Uri a Māui, Whatatutu, Hawaiki Hou, Te Karaka Area School, Te Kura o Manutuke and Tūranga Tangata Rite.

It is part of Sport NZ’s Active As programme, which supports secondary schools and wharekura in providing positive and inclusive active recreation and sports opportunities.

Sport NZ has invested $14.2 million into 50 secondary schools and wharekura to design and implement their Active As initiative through to December 2026.

“It is centered around the voices of rangatahi and is underpinned by Mana Taiohi, the principle-based framework that supports those working with young people,” Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti youth development adviser Iti Kahurangi Takurua-Keelan said.

“It acknowledges the mana young people bring or carry and actively work to enhance that,” Takurua-Keelan said.

Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti kaihautu rangatahi Tūhakia Stewart said they had seen a significant shift between inactive and active rangatahi.

“We aim to create opportunities for our rangatahi to bridge the gap through their own whakaaro and vision,” Stewart said.

“This is not a one-off event; it’s just the beginning.

“Te Kura o Te Ahupoo is a kaupapa driven by rangatahi voices. Through multiple wānanga and hui with the rangatahi, we have successfully brought this kaupapa to fruition and now we can build on the foundation that is now set.”

They aimed to connect all the students in a setting shaped by their imagination, Takurua-Keelan said.

“It’s important for every tauira [student] to recognise their inherent value and the significance of their whakapapa. By incorporating Ruapani into this kaupapa, we have fostered a shared sense of belonging through our tūpuna.”

The first day began with a whakatau (welcome ceremony) at Te Karaka Area school, where pūrākau (stories) was shared about tūpuna (ancestors) Ruapani, and the students played sports and games to promote whakawhanaungatanga (connection) among the cluster.

The second day was held at the House of Breakthrough in Gisborne where they learned more about Ruapani by creating skits that emphasised the importance of their tūpuna.

The final day was a round-robin of activities at Waikirikiri Reserve focused on movement and being active. These included a blind maze, popular North American game corn hole and a twist on rock-paper-scissors.

“While our rangatahi are very competitive, the focus was on participation as a group rather than on outcomes,” Stewart said.

The tauira said they would like more hui and kaupapa like this to continue building connections and relationships with kids from other kura.

“The direction of this kaupapa is firmly rooted in the voice and vision of the rangatahi,” Takura-Keelan said. “Their input drives this initiative, and what excites me most is seeing what our kids create and where they want to take it.”

A similar event is to be held at Tolaga Bay Area School and Kahukuranui in November. The two-day wānanga, titled Whakapaupakihi, will involve several East Coast schools.

Whakapaupakihi is the name of one of Hauiti’s fishing nets.

“The fish caught within this net was the catalyst for events that precipitated the divide between Hauiti and his tuakana Mahaki Ewe Karoro and Taua,” Stewart said.

“Hauiti remained in the Ūawa area, the descendants of Taua moved up the Coast to settle and establish Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, and the descendants of Māhaki settled in the Waiapu Valley, sometimes referred to as ‘Ngāti Porou tūturu’.”

Nga Taiohi a Hauiti invite the uri (descendants) of these tīpuna to participate in a sports and cultural exchange to celebrate whanaungatanga, whakapapa and tīpuna.

Pictured: Tamera Nelson – Eastern Central Community Trust Funding Advisor

Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti (previously Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti) are working in partnership with Eastern and Central Community Trust (ECCT) to better support community organisations across Te Tairāwhiti, and in particular, rural communities.

“Our region is expansive and having a dedicated resource on the ground in Tairāwhiti, allows for a more hands on approach with funding support and the opportunity to build stronger relationships” said ECCT Chief Executive David Clapperton.

“I am lucky to be part of both Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti and ECCT to help deliver and create positive impact in our community” said Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti/ECCT Tairāwhiti Funding Advisor Tamera Nelson.

“Our shared vision is to create transformational change in Tairāwhiti. We want to connect Tūranganui-a-Kiwa and coastal Not for Profit community groups that enhance equity, Māori aspirations, Kaitiakitanga and empower rangatahi, to funding opportunities so it made sense to work together.”

ECCT has several funding pathways available including the Community Support and Events Fund, and the Community Impact Fund. Support for youth-led projects and programmes is also available under its rōpū group, TiraRangatahi.

If you’re a registered charity or not for profit organisation based in Tairāwhiti wanting support with funding, contact [email protected]

Pulled from Matai O’Connor, The Gisborne Herald.
Photo Credit: Eruera Walker Media.

Te Huinga was a chance for kura kaupapa Māori tauira (students) to connect with others and aspects of te ao Māori through different activities over three days.

Te Huinga was born out of the original kaupapa called Hui Tōpū, which was an event for kura kaupapa to come together. The last event was in 2021 at Te Kura Kaupapa Māori (TKKM) Hawaiki Hou in Tūranga (Gisborne). The next host was set as TKKM o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti in Wharekahika.

Covid-19 restrictions and cyclones made it difficult to host the kaupapa, Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti manawakura adviser Shyla-Drew Taiapa said.

“But as a part of my role I gathered insights from the wharekura at the beginning of 2022 and Hui Tōpū was a hot topic and how the kura held the mauri to host the next kaupapa,” she said.

Iti Kahurangi and Shyla-Drew have been working with the rangatahi of the kura for a year and a half to plan, shape and bring Te Huinga to fruition.

Te Huinga o Ngā Kura Kaupapa o Te Tairāwhiti was the name the ākonga (students) of Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti came up with.

It’s a kaupapa that includes every wharekura Te Aho Matua ki te Tairāwhiti, schools that are guided by Te Aho Matua.

The kura that took part were TKKM o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, TKKM o Te Waiū, Ngā Uri a Māui, Hawaiki Hou, Horouta Wānanga and TKKM o Whātātutu.

“Magic happened at this kaupapa,” said Shyla-Drew.

“Māna Motuhake, Te Reo Māori me ō ngā tikanga te mātāpono o tēnei kaupapa, me te whakawhanaungatanga hoki.”

Tauira played a range of sports including ki o rahi, touch, netball, basketball, pickle ball and volleyball.

“The tauira of Kawakawa did not want the sports to be competitive but based more around whakawhanaungatanga (building connections),” she said.

So no points were taken during any of the games. Instead schools were scored on their use of te reo Māori. The more te reo Māori spoken, the more points each kura got. If students were heard using te reo Pākehā (English), they would lose points.

Tauira had the option to roam between each sport and play alongside other kura. It was not kura versus kura;  the teams were made up of students from different kura.

Shyla-Drew said there were many why this kaupapa was important.

“One of those reasons was whakawhanaungatanga. Te Huinga has allowed a platform for our tauira to value te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. This kaupapa allows our rangatahi to encapsulate all things te ao Māori.”

“The last three years Te Tairāwhiti has been hit by Covid, floods and cyclones. Our rangatahi deserved an exciting, motivating kaupapa to start their school year.

This kaupapa engaged hapū, iwi, kura, businesses and other organisations.

Rangatahi were able to connect with the taiao (environment) through other events.

“To witness over 100 rangatahi walk up their tīpuna maunga Hikurangi was absolutely empowering on so many levels.

“I challenge every uri of Ngāti Porou who can do so, to do this. You will be pushed mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally.”

Ngarimu Parata shared kōrero about it.

On the final day, they connected with Tangaroa. More than 100  rangatahi Māori experienced surfing in Te Moana Nui a Kiwa with the guidance of matua Raniera Proctor of Gisborne Boardriders.

“This kaupapa allowed our rangatahi to learn kōrero taonga tuku iho, manaakitanga, be physically active, pāngarau, prepare budgets, pūtaiao, tohu of the taiao, reading tides, planning, organising, communication skills via email or on the phone and whai kōrero.

“The learning was engaging, motivating, relevant and life changing,” she said.

“This kaupapa is life-changing not only for the rangatahi but also for the whānau who get involved.

“Te Huinga is created around ngā whakaaro Māori o ng rangatahi, the dreams and ideas of the rangatahi, and as long as it continues like this it will continue to engage and inspire our leaders of tomorrow.”

The mauri has been passed on to Horouta Wānanga to host the next Te Huinga.

Wāhine came together on Sunday to eat, connect, and celebrate their experiences of Well Wāhine Week 2024. 

“The Closing Celebration is a great opportunity for participants and providers to reflect on the week that was” said Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti Active Communities Advisor Sarah Pocock. 

“Well Wāhine Week is a time when women and girls, mums and daughters, carve out time to look after themselves, try new things, and maybe have a laugh as they step outside their comfort zones. The Closing Celebration applauds participants for taking time for themselves and connecting to activities in our community. It also thanks the providers. Well Wāhine Week doesn’t exist without their support of local women and girls.” 

Over the course of ten days, wāhine had the opportunity to participate in over 50 free events, ranging from waka ama, line dancing, various sports and wellness seminars. 

Workshops and activities were also held up the coast in Wharekahika, Tikitiki and Ruatoria. 

“The Closing celebration was such a great way to round out Well Wāhine Week” said Naturopathic Doctor and Women’s Health Expert Amanda Roe. 

“As Providers, it’s nice for us to meet each other and connect. It brings us together to see what more we can offer our amazing community when we combine our efforts, too. What’s also really cool is seeing former participants returning each year, trying new things, and some of them even hosting their own sessions!”  

Local businesses sponsored prizes for wāhine who had participated in events during the week. The combined prize value was over $2,000.  The sponsors were Akaia Blends, Functional Again, Louise Hansen Coaching, Aspiring Aesthetics, Women’s Native Tree Project, Petals Cafe, Tatapouri Bay, Far East Coffee, Kingpin, AM Espresso, Pharmacy53, Gisborne Boardriders Club, Lisa Murphy of Qi Gong, Gisborne Harrier Club, Kora Floral Boutique, Down to Earth Natural Health and YMCA. 

Plans to run Well Wāhine for its fifth year are in place for next year. 

On Thursday 21 March, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti officially launched its new name and brand, Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti – healthy, active, connected. 

The new identity reflects the organisation’s focus on not only sport, but active recreation, play and the wider well-being of the communities here in Te Tairāwhiti. 

“We love sport, and it will always be a critical part of what we do” said Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti Chief Executive Stefan Pishief. 

“However, it is only one part of what we do. Our previous name of Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti created confusion, and could act as a barrier, with people believing we were only focussed on sport delivery. We’ve been on a significant journey of change in recent years, and we wanted our name to reflect that, and to ensure the breadth of what we do as an organisation is better understood.” 

The name Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti was born from engaging with a range of community members and from the board and staff examining the roots of who, and what their organisation was about. 

“When our board and staff got together to develop a new strategic plan it became more and more apparent that it was essential that we look at a change of name” said Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti Chairperson Steve Berezowski. 

“Not only to better relate our core functions but to also assist funders to having a better idea of what we did for our community.” 

Whiti is to shine/bring light, and Ora is wellbeing/health. Together, and for Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti, they interpret the new name to mean ‘radiate the joy of living’. To extend it even further, it’s to radiate the joy of living through sport, active recreation, health and play. 

“We considered a range of naming options, but we felt Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti best encapsulated what we are about as an organisation as well as symbolising this amazing region we live in,” said Stefan Pishief. 

Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti worked with local designers, Tai and Rina Kerekere, to bring the logo to life. 

“The rebrand of Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti offers an important reflection and approach around being healthy, being active, being connected” said Tai and Rina Kerekere. 

“Branding, design, art, anything and everything creative that wraps around Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti should be fun and bring to surface warmth and positivity – activating and illuminating notions of innovation, connection and exploration!” 

This identity has been developed with the help of staff, the Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti board, whānau and communities, stakeholders, and Tai and Rina Kerekere.