News

Tuna surveying

By Tegan Ramage

The tauira, along with facilitator Matt Dale, set hīnaki in multiple areas stretching from the Mataura Mātaitai through to Wyndham and Edendale, where they caught tuna to investigate. The tauira said that they caught both Perch and Tuna on the day.Kaloni Taylor releasing tuna after surveying.

There were two separate buckets, one was a mix of water and clove oil, which was used to sedate the tuna, so they were easier to handle.

The tauira estimated that they had caught, measured, and weighed around 300 tuna.

Josh Aitkens said that for the larger tuna, two people are required, one to support its head and the other person to support its spine. After the tuna were weighed and measured, they were then placed into a second bucket, where they were able to readjust before releasing.

In terms of water safety, Sentre Harden shared that they were to walk up stream and then based on your size and weight would determine how a person would cross. Sentre shared that he was to walk across the river on a diagonal, in comparison to Kaloni Taylor who shared that he felt like he had an advantage, because based on his size he was able to go straight across the river, set the hīnaki and retrieve the hīnaki first in comparison to the others in the group.

The tauira were taught pawhara, known as the cleaning and preparing of tuna, and Vincent Leith directed this process.

Kaloni Taylor said that he enjoyed setting the hīnaki and the highlight for all the tauira present was eating them (tuna).

Josh Aitkens shared that a highlight for him was catching the biggest tuna on the day.

Posted: 10 May 2022

Minister Jackson visits Hokonui Rūnanga

By Tegan Ramage

On Wednesday 27 April, we were very lucky to have the Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson join us at the Hokonui Rūnanga with his amazing Te Puni Kōkiri team.

Group photo of tauira, staff, Minister Willie Jackson, Dr Liz Craig, and Te Puni Kōkiri colleagues.

During their visit, the Hokonui Rūnanga Taiao team presented the different projects happening in partnership with Toitῡ te Whenua (Land Information New Zealand) and other funders. This presentation spoke to capacity building, the Hokonui Hill biodiversity kaupapa, the Kaitiaki Whenua programme and seed collection.

Abby-Lee Evans presented the outcomes and future aspirations for the tauira of the Kaitiaki Whenua programme, while sharing experiences that would not only benefit the tauira Presentation from Abby-Lee Evans about the Kaitiaki Whenua project.educationally, but also their wellbeing and individual growth. This was then reinforced by Raniera Smyth who spoke about his experiences in the programme. He shared his experiences as the team leader and he believed that the programme was helping him to develop necessary skills for work and for them individually. He continued to share how everyone was like whānau and he felt very supported, by his peers and facilitators. His experiences have helped him to grow and develop a definite pathway for himself.

Other presenters for the evening were Riki Parata, who spoke to the other important environmental projects while Ivan Hodgetts and Terry Nicholas spoke to the Murihiku Regeneration Riki Parata gave an overview of all other projects within Te Taiao Department.Projects which involve developing educational programmes to encourage positive transitions for rangatahi from education into work or into higher educational settings. Terry Nicholas spoke to the six key priorities of the project and what this will look like for iwi, including up to date progress and where to next.

The evening finished in the dining room with kai and kōrero about projects happening in and around Hokonui. It was great to hear the conversations of our tauira with the Minister and his colleagues about their journey and where they hope to be when they graduate from the programme. We are so very proud of all the tauira who were there and shared their experiences and thank you to all the staff, Minister Jackson and colleagues for being a part of such awesome kōrero.

Posted: 4 May 2022

Minister Jackson visits Hokonui Rūnanga

By Tegan Ramage (Hokonui Rūnanga)

On Wednesday 27 April 2022, we were very lucky to have the Minister for Māori Development Willie Jackson join us at the Hokonui Rūnanga with his amazing Te Puni Kōkiri team.Group photo of tauira, staff, Minister Willie Jackson, Dr Liz Craig, and Te Puni Kōkiri colleagues.Abby-Lee Evans gave a presentation about the Kaitiaki Whenua programme.

During their visit, the Hokonui Rūnanga Taiao team presented the different projects happening in partnership with Toitῡ te Whenua (Land Information New Zealand) and other funders. This presentation spoke to capacity building, the Hokonui Hill biodiversity kaupapa, the Kaitiaki Whenua programme and seed collection.

Abby-Lee Evans presented the outcomes and future aspirations for the tauira of the Kaitiaki Whenua programme, while sharing experiences that would not only benefit the tauira educationally, but also their wellbeing and individual growth.

Tauira (Raniera Smyth) sharing experiences about the Kaitiaki Taiao Tauira Programme.

This was then reinforced by Raniera Smyth who spoke about his experiences in the programme. He shared his experiences as the team leader and he believed that the programme was helping him to develop necessary skills for work and for them individually. He continued to share how everyone was like whānau and he felt very supported, by his peers and facilitators. His experiences have helped him to grow and develop a definite pathway for himself.

Riki Parata gave an overview of projects within Te Taiao Department.

Other presenters for the evening were Riki Parata, who spoke to the other important environmental projects while Ivan Hodgetts and Terry Nicholas spoke to the Murihiku Regeneration Projects which involve developing educational programmes to encourage positive transitions for rangatahi from education into work or into higher educational settings. Terry Nicholas spoke to the six key priorities of the project and what this will look like for iwi, including up to date progress and where to next.

Ivan Hodgetts spoke to the education and training Murihiku Regeneration projects.

The evening finished in the dining room with kai and kōrero about projects happening in and around Hokonui. It was great to hear the conversations of our tauira with the Minister and his colleagues about their journey and where they hope to be when they graduate from the programme. We are so very proud of all the tauira who were there and shared their experiences and thank you to all the staff, Minister Jackson and colleagues for being a part of such awesome kōrero.Terry Nicholas spoke to the Murihiku Regeneration projects - providing a more general overview.

Posted: 4 May 2022

Murihiku and Aotearoa energy leaders meet to develop Renewable Energy Plan

On 28 April 2022, Murihiku Regeneration hosted a half day workshop at the Great South offices - with local, regional and national energy leaders to continue with the process of developing a Renewable Energy Work Plan that can be presented to government and also the Murihiku Hapū later in 2022. Murihiku Regeneration has responsibility for both the Clean Energy and Worker Transitions workstreams.Attendees at the Clean Energy workshop on Thursday 28 April.

Murihiku Regeneration was also well represented at the workshop by Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga) and Dion Williams (Te Rūnaka o Awarua).

From an Iwi perspective, Dion Williams was very keen to ensure, ”that any actions recommended supported social infrastructure, with good community and whanau buy-in to support the introduction of new energy opportunities like green hydrogen”.

The purpose of the working group is to identify actionable new industries, identify opportunities around new energy generation and enable smaller supporting industries and amplifying technologies for the region that can be implemented in the near term.

During the workshop – presentations from expert members of the group – including Ross Copland (CEO NZ Infrastructure Commission), Dr Regina Eisert (Marine Energy), Anna Kominik (Edmund Hilary Fellowship) and Steve Canny (Great South) provided context around how they thought the Murihiku-Southland renewable energy ecosystem the potential goals, framework and priority projects should be considered.

Independent Chair, Eric Roy said, “I felt the group provided some really useful insights and contributions that need to be further developed to make them credible, actionable and support the region to embrace renewable energy and the opportunities it will bring to the whole community”.

The group is due to report back into the Just Transitions programme in late June, and to provide a final report in late August 2022.

Posted: 3 May 2022

Te Tapu o Tāne, Rangatahi Tumeke and Awarua Whānau Services receive Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation Grants

Te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation has donated $415,000 to eight community organisations across Southland (Murihiku).Te Tapu o Tāne crew with Jana Davis (CE) seated far right.

The Thriving in Murihiku fund is working to create positive outcomes for rangatahi, by providing funding and support to non-profit organisations focused on supporting youth to reconnect with culture, navigate pathways into high quality employment, and increase their connection to and understanding of the digital world.

Lani Evans, head of Te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation, says “We are thrilled with the outcome of the funding, and it’s a privilege to support organisations that are doing such meaningful mahi in Murihiku. As part of our long-term commitment to Southland we want to support local people, creating local solutions. We hope these grants will enable these organisations to trial new, innovative solutions to support their rangatahi, and amplify already successful programmes.”

One of the recipients, South Alive, is a community-led development organisation based in South Invercargill, aiming to revitalise the most under-resourced part of Invercargill. The Vodafone Foundation is providing a $25,000 grant to support a pilot programme testing a range of initiatives to enhance connections, pride, and skills in South Invercargill.

Courtney Ellison, community development and operations manager at South Alive says the community in South Invercargill has been wanting to do more for their young people for some time and the funding will give them the kick start they need. “We’re really excited to get started. The work we do is community-led, but with this funding we can appoint a youth co-ordinator to focus on developing more youth-led and youth-focused programs.

“We know transport is a barrier for young people to access services and programmes, so that will be a focus for us. We’d also love to improve digital connectivity in our community facilities so these spaces can be used more often and for a wider range of activities, along with a tech club to provide more digital learning opportunities.”

Another Thriving in Murihiku fund recipient is Te Tapu o Tāne, a new iwi-owned native tree and plant nursery that are undertaking catchment rehabilitation services across Murihiku. The Vodafone Foundation is donating $65,000 to support their pilot program, which is focused on engaging rangatahi in employment, skills development and connection to te taiao (our natural world).

Jana Davis, chief executive, Te Tapu o Tāne says, the program is designed from a te ao Māori perspective. “This exciting kaupapa is rakatahi focussed, the aim of this pilot is to empower the next generation and equip them with the matauraka of our tūpuna with a focus on mahika kai and taoka species. We are excited to be enabled by te Rourou, Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation to impact the next generation alongside Te Wharekura o Arowhenua and the YMCA at the Ōmaui youth camp. Delivering a 12-month pilot means we get to engage multiple times per year, build capabilities and tell an amazing story. I believe we are building projects that will impact our rakatahi long after they have left school, every time they pass these small forests it will act as a constant reminder that they have positively made an impact on te taiao.”

The other recipients of the Thriving in Murihiku fund include:

• Mihāro Murihiku Trust is a Māori and Pasifika cultural arts trust. The $45,000 grant will support their work to extend and strengthen the Polyfest and the Whakamanahia te Rangatahi work, providing structured volunteering, NCEA accreditation and cultural engagement for young people.

• Murihiku Young Parents Learning Centre is the only teen parent unit in Southland. The $20,000 grant will provide transport support for young parents based in rural Southland to attend the school.

• Rangatahi Tumeke provides camps and leadership programmes for rangatahi Māori, imbedded in traditional skills and te ao Māori. The grant of $55,000 will ensure their continued contribution and engagement.

• Awarua Whānau Services is a Kaupapa Māori service and a subsidiary of Te Runaka o Awarua, one of the 18 Papatipu Runanga of Ngāi Tahu. The $75,000 grant will support the implementation of a six-month individualised after-school programme helping rangatahi gain employment skills.

• Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop provides a range of free health, well-being and support services to young people. The $60,000 grant will provide group mentoring and group programmes to support a wide range of rangatahi.

• Lighthouse Southland is a specialist family violence agency providing support and services to the victims/survivors and users of family violence and abuse. The $70,000 grant will support the delivery of an Adolescent Behaviour Programme for rangatahi in Murihiku whose behaviours are causing harm to them, or those around them.

Te Tapu o Tāne, Rangatahi Tumeke and Awarua Whānau Services have direct links to Te Rūnanga of Ngāi Tahu, strengthening the Vodafone Foundation’s partnership with the iwi.

For more information about the work of the Vodafone Foundation, please visit: https://foundation.vodafone.co.nz/

Posted: 14 April 2022