Women’s Collective adds new name
Organisation launches te reo Ma¯ori name to mark 125-year suffrage celebration
Te Ha¯ o Hine-ahu-one — The Breath of Hine-ahu-one is the new te reo Ma¯ ori name that sits alongside the Palmerston North Women’s Health Collective.
The collective’s manager, Jean Hera, said they had talked about the rebranding to include a te reo Ma¯ ori name and launched the name yesterday to coincide with the 125-year celebration of Women’s Suffrage.
Jean said they relaunched with a dropin hui and open day.
“We wanted a more significant way for our bicultural identity,” Jean said of the rebranding.
“It has involved reviewing ourselves with outside input, and developing key documents such as our constitution. We were very fortunate to be assisted by some wonderful ta¯ ne and Todd Taiepa assisted as part of his role as Ma¯ ori adviser at the Palmerston North City Council.”
Jean said they approached Todd with some ideas and he also worked with the approved translation service He Kupenga Hao i te Reo.
“He Kupenga Hao i te Reo led by Ian Christensen gifted us our name suggesting ‘a beautiful name evident in our whakataukı¯’.
We were very excited to receive this gift, this taonga.
“We are also developing advisory Mana Whenua links through Roly Fitzgerald who is providing educational services in the city.
“It is very interesting that it has been ta¯ ne who have been crucial advisers and supporters in this journey of rebranding,” she said.
■ Te Ha¯ o Hine-ahu-one Palmerston North Women’s Health Collective, 53 Waldegrave St, (06) 357-0314 email: pnwhc@xtra.co.nz www.pnwomenshealth.org.nz