Te Arawa/Taupō

To all you awesome Ruku Ora peeps…thank you for your energy, your aroha and your commitment to this kaupapa and for keeping our whānau safe.

I am grateful for the food & self-care items we have received since the Covid lockdowns started. They are an amazing team of volunteers who provide for the people in need weekly. Nga mihi.

E mihi ana kia kotou ngā nehi e tū hai kaimahi I waenga I ahuatanga o enei ra ara te mate Koronā. Nui ana te aroha kia kotou katoa.

E whakamiharo ana ki te whakaritenga nei te taraiwa atu kia whai wero! He punaha pai mo te iwi Maori me te hapori hoki. He reka hoki nga hāngi! K whea mai! Poho kereru ana au i tenei whakaritenga. Love it! Pai hoki te hub i te taone! Nga mihi!

Ngā mihi to our Health Workers katoa! Ka mau te wehi!

Piiki mihi ki a Wairangi Whata who has coordinated the Pikiao Iwi “Get Vaxed” program. Wairangi has made the phone calls, visited the koeke and their whanau to ensure they are made aware of when the vaccination sites are up and ready to receive. She also followed up the whānau to get the second vaccination and is currently working up the plan for our Koeke to receive their “Booster’ shot. Thank you Wai for your service to Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Tarawhai, Ngāti Rongomai and Ngāti Mākino. You are an amazing star! Nga mihi.

Nga mihi to Angeline Tipu who is always available to support the whanau, the hapu, the marae. She is a a pukumahi in the kitchen at the pa and it doesn’t matter what the hui is about, Ange can be found most times in the kitchen. Other times she is found with the guitar singing her heart out with our kappa haka groups of Pikiao. Most recently Ange has been working with the Te Arawa Covid-19 Hub supporting the whanau to get vaccinated. Ange works with our whanau who experience challenges of all kinds. She has worked in the mental health environment, the whanau ora environment and of course at the marae. Ange thank you for serving our people. We love you. Nga mihi aroha ki a koe.

Rongoa Taupo Moana – huge mihi to all the volunteers who harvest and prepared Rongoa Maori, to the weavers who made kono and kete for Rongoa to be delivered, the many Koha from whanau, the Iwi, Marae, Whenua, Haapori, Roopu and Whanau to keep Rongoa volunteers mobilised. During a time