Ngā Hau E Whā ki Murihiku marae, which provides a marae for iwi who don’t whakapapa to Ngai Tahu, is working with Healthy Families Invercargill as it embarks on a journey to strengthen understanding and knowledge of Māori tikanga.

The marae is collaborating with a range of organisations to develop a community garden and share a nearby facility to support its kaupapa.

Kaiwhakahaere Metiria Light talked to us about why this mahi is so empowering.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kii atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”.

“As mokopuna and decendants of Ngā Hau E Whā ki Murihiku, we have always understood that people are the most important thing. From our tupuna, we were taught to do whatever it takes to uplift and uphold the mana of others. To do the things we need to, for the betterment of our whānau, hapu and iwi.

“We were happy to have made connections with Healthy Families Invercargill who also have the same vision of strengthening opportunities for whānau and community to live and thrive in Murihiku.

“Through the maara initiative, it has provided an opening for mahi tahi, working together and collaborating with others from Ngā Hau E Whā to come together to share knowledge that will help our people to reconnect to traditional mahinga kai and mahi maara.

“This will include kai, rongoa, maaramataka, caring for the land and tai ao.

“Learning about maara and applying tikanga Māori to this makes it very exciting for us who are leading and for the whānau who have been involved with this mahi.

“Our marae (Ngā Hau E Whā ki Murihiku) is for all people and we live by values such as manaakitanga and aroha. Our tupuna were great role models who were great examples of what it means to live out tikanga and kawa on a daily basis. They have also paved the way for us so it is only right that we do our part and the maara initiative is just that for us. Ngā Hau E Whā whānau have many taonga that can be shared with others and this kaupapa will ensure that our people and taonga have a safe space to do so.

“We have had many hui with the Y, including talking about utilising its building at Teviot St after hours, to allow some of our kaupapa to take place and to bring together all those different kaupapa that our whānau want to bring out.

“We are not only members of the marae but members of other groups and organisations, and wear a few different hats, for example; Huiarau Learning Limited, Taku Mana Wahine, Ngā Wahine Māori Toko i te Ora, Te Kohanga Reo, Taku Mana Wahine are just a few roopu involved. So instead of being in lots of different roopu we have decided to bring everyone together.” 

“The community garden at Aurora college, established as part of Healthy Families Invercargill’s Murihiku Maara initiative is another kaupapa we are happy and willing to tautoko.

“The process and collaboration with Healthy Families has been amazing. We have felt as though our voice has been heard and we were able to recognise that Healthy Families Invercargill really upheld our mana and the mana of our marae.

“We look forward to what eventuates and as long as people are our focus, e kore e maroke i te rā, the aupapa will never die out.

“Mā whero, mā pango, e oti ai te mahi.”

Article added: Wednesday 22 June 2022