OUR PEOPLE
He aha te mea nui o te Ao? Māku e ki atu. He tangata... He tangata... He tangata...
As this common Māori phrase so eloquently puts it: What is the most important thing in the world?
I will tell you, it is people... it is people... it is people...
An appropriate and fitting phrase to acknowledge all the people, present and past, that have contributed to the success of Te Herenga Waka o Orewa’s achievements and those yet to be conquered!
Ko Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi te waka, Ko Maunganui te maunga, Ko Kaihu te awa, Ko Ripiro te moana, ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi, ko Netana Patuawa te tangata.
I am committed to the establishment of a fully functional Community Marae located here, that will be accessible to the whole community regardless of race or gender. The kawa and tikanga will reflect the values of Ngāti Whātua. I am also committed to the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori me wōna Tikanga in this community and the future establishment of a Kōhanga Reo, Kura Kaupapa, Whare Kura and Whare Wānanga.
I te taha o tōku pāpā. Ko Ngāti Kōtarani te Iwi. Ko North Sea te moana. Ko Tilt te awa. Ko Minerva te waka. Nō Ahitereiria āhau. Ko Amanda tōku ingoa.
Kia ora whānau, I have recently taken over the role as kaitakawaenga here at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae. I am originally from Australia and have been living here on the coast for the past 3 ½ years with my partner and our 2 children. I have been committed to learning te reo Māori since I arrived. What a wonderfully rewarding journey it has been.
My goal for the future is to help the marae achieve its full potential. I am currently part of Te Puna Reo. This is a weekly immersion reo session based at Silverdale Playcentre, which was created to normalise te reo Māori and te ao Maori for our tamariki. Ka mau te wehi, tamariki mā!
Ko Taupiri te maunga, ko Tainui te waka, ko Waikato te awa, he piko he taniwha he piko he taniwha, ko Tainui te iwi. Nōku anō he taha nō Ngāti Whātua.
I am fully committed to realising the dream of building a marae here on the Hibiscus Coast where our reo me ōna tikanga values are respected and taught. There are numerous benefits to having our own marae, whare rongoā, educational facilities, māra kai and a place where we can all gather together as a community. Our name means simply “the mooring place for all waka”, regardless of origin but resident in this community. Moor your waka here at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa and you will be welcomed.
I te taha o tōku māmā Ko Tainui te waka, Ko Taranaki te maunga, Ko Opunake te moana, Ko Oeo te awa, Ko Taranaki te iwi, Ko Te Horo Muri Iho te tipuna. I te taha o tōku pāpā Ko Fritz Reuter te waka, Ko Taranaki te maunga, Ko Ngāmotu te moana, Ko Ngātoro te awa, Ko Ngāti Porana te iwi, Ko Mathius Dodunski te tipuna.
I’m a mother of three adult children who were home-schooled. I own my own business manufacturing natural skin care, and am a qualified homeopath and rongoā Māori practitioner. The establishment of a truly multicultural marae will be a huge asset for our community. Education, health, whānau and community support are just some of the work already undertaken by Te Herenga Waka Marae. I feel blessed to be part of this organisation and to be working amongst such good people.
I te taha o tōku Māmā, Ko Te Arawa te waka, Ko Tongariro te maunga, Ko Whanganui te awa, Ko Taupo-nui-a-kiwa te moana, Ko Rotoira te roto, Ko Otūkou te Marae, Ko Ngāti Tūwharetoa te iwi, Ko Pakau te tangata.
After many years of wanting to learn and speak my own language of Te Reo Maori, I embarked on the journey with Te Herenga Waka o Orewa. Over these past 3 years that i have been a tauira (student) with THW, in addition to the reo (language), I have had my eyes, mind and heart opened to the richness and teachings of Te Ao Maori. What was once only a want of learning, has now become a passion to share this richness and knowledge with others, starting with my 4 young tamariki (children).
I am committed to this Marae and fully embrace and tautoko the vision/purpose of it being a Community Marae for all people of every background or culture, and believe in the principles, teachings and services it offers.
I feel privileged to be involved and look forward to engaging with our community to further beneficial relationships and partnerships, while seeing the Marae flourish as it truly deserves.
Ko Whakatere Manawa Kaiaia te maunga. Ko Waima, ko Moehau ngā awa. Ko Hokianga Hakapau Karakia te moana. Ko Ngātokimatawhāorua te waka. Ko Te Mahurehure o Ngāpuhi-nui-tonu te iwi. Ko Tuhirangi te marae.
I have been involved with this marae since 2017, firstly as a student and now as a committee member. From day one I knew his marae was unique and I really felt at hone in its inclusive philosophy. Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae is a place where I can practice my manaakitanga and uphold the values of my ancestors. This marae is a gift for us all.
Ko Māhuhu-ki-te-rangi te waka, Ko Maunganui te maunga, Ko Kaihu te awa, Ko Ripiro te moana, ko Ngāti Whātua te iwi, ko Netana Patuawa te tangata.
Born and raised on the Hibiscus Coast has seen me endeavouring to give back to my community wherever possible. I have been a quiet helper on Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae’s journey since the beginning. I teach Te Reo Māori at one of the local Secondary Schools and hold a Māori role within its Kāhui Ako. With this I feel that I bridge a gap between our Marae and our future leaders in mainstream education. This is with hopes to encourage our rangatahi to make deeper, cultural connections with our community – something I believe to be integral to their overall growth and wellbeing.
I wish to see Te Herenga Waka flourish in its longstanding purpose – to be a pan tribal, urban Marae which functions under and reflects Ngāti Whātua tikanga & kawa. A Marae that welcomes all who seek a hub, a whanau, a marae to call their own.
Born and raised in Whangaparāoa, I am committed to contributing to our local community and helping build the Aotearoa that I would like to see in the future. My mahi includes roles with several local environmental groups and community organisations, where I have worked closely with the Marae. Part of my work is to continue to foster these relationships. I began my reo Māori studies in 2016 and have completed three years of language studies with the marae. The inclusive philosophy that the marae holds is truly a gift to everyone who walks through the tomokanga, and I hope to be a part of the positive impact that this marae will continue to have.
He uri ahau nō Kōtirana, i takea ōku tūpuna i ngā paeroa teitei i reira. I te hainatanga o te tiriti, i tae mai rātou ki Aotearoa. No reira, he Tangata Tiriti ahau, ko Ngāti Pākehā tōku iwi.
I whakapapa back to the Scottish Highlands. My family arrived in Aotearoa shortly after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Therefore, I identify as Pākehā and as a Treaty partner. As a Pākehā, it is a unique privilege to be a member of a marae. This speaks to the special, inclusive character of Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae. As a committee member, I am afforded the opportunity to serve my marae community. My duties include coordinating social media, writing the newsletter and organising events for our marae.
I’m a self-confessed ‘reo geek’ with a passion for learning te reo Māori. My involvement with Te Herenga Waka started with kura reo and I return to classes and immerse myself in te reo Māori whenever I can - the learning journey is never ending. I work in education and am dedicated to promoting te reo Maori in school settings.
Nō Te Tai Rāwhiti ōku tūpuna. I te taha pāpā, Ko Papatu te maunga, Ko Te Arai te awa, Ko Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa te moana, Ko Ohako te marae, Ko Rongowhakaata te iwi, Ko Te Ota te tangata. I te taha māmā, Ko Hikurangi te maunga, Ko Waiapu te awa, Ko Horouta te waka, Ko Hinepare te marae, Ko Ngāti Porou tōku iwi, Ko Waikari te tangata.
Tēnā koutou, I am a ringatoi / artist and māmā of 4, born in Whangarei, but have spent most of my life here on the Hibiscus Coast. I restarted my reo journey in 2017 through my local Playcentre and marae. I am currently doing a Te Reo diploma through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Through my reo journey at THW, I have participated in numerous Māori kaupapa, things I never had the opportunity to do, at my own marae. I treasure these experiences as treasures I can pass down to my tamariki. I have seen Te Herenga Waka embrace this community and welcome all people, regardless of where they originate from. I feel lucky that I am a part of this kaupapa too. ‘Poipoia te kākano kia puāwai’ (Nurture the seed and it will blossom).
I te taha o tōku Māmā, Ko Kapowai te maunga, Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka, Ko Waikare te awa, Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi, Ko Te Kapotai te hapū, ko Rahiri te tupuna.
I have spent 3 years learning te reo Māori at THW, and have always felt passionate about and connected to te Ao Māori. I would like to give back to this marae in my rohe where I live, as it has given me so much, and in doing so begin my journey of giving back to te Ao Māori and honouring my tūpuna Māori. I feel privileged to be involved in this kaupapa, and believe the revitalisation of te reo Māori is paramount for a thriving Aotearoa.