An emotional accolade
Nan Kahu Chadwick was overcome with emotion when she learnt she was Marlborough’s newest Living Cultural Treasure.
‘‘My heart was fluttering so fast and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I just put my head down and I cried – you don’t realise how much you have done until people come and tell you. I was very humbled by that,’’ Chadwick said.
Chadwick was formally named 2019’s Marlborough Living Cultural Treasure by Marlborough Mayor John Leggett on Friday.
A fluent te reo Ma¯ ori speaker, a kapa haka teacher, a composer and a choreographer, Chadwick has inspired generations of young people to reach their potential in cultural pursuits. She has devoted her life to the practice and preservation of te ao Ma¯ ori.
‘‘My ancestors always said; ‘Touch the lives of people and tell your stories to them, to shape the future and celebrate it’,’’ she said.
Chadwick continues to support and inspire the younger generation to speak Ma¯ ori and learn about their place in the community.
She said she had also supported many international students around the world and her modus operandi had always been being yourself, regardless of who or where you were.
She said everything she had done was to honour her tupuna or ancestors.
‘‘I like to help people, help their journey to be a good journey.’’
Chadwick was born Kahumariana-takutaioomoana Chadwick in Otukopiri on the Whanganui River.
After her mother died Chadwick moved to Blenheim and in 1987, seven years later, she started to work in Bohally Intermediate’s bilingual unit as a kaia¯rahi i te reo teacher. She was there for 30 years.
Many students discovered their identity as she supported them to research and recite their pepeha, their personal introduction. She exposed thousands of Marlborough students to te reo and kapa haka.
As a tutor and composer for the kapa haka group Te Rerenga o Te Ra - Flight Across the Heavens she has led kapa haka performances at many civic occasions in Marlborough.
Marlborough Museum ambassador Toni Gillan said she always broke the news to the winner in person.
‘‘This year was no different, and to see the the surprise and delight on Nan’s face was very humbling. The Marlborough Living Treasure award is a wonderful way to acknowledge the extremely creative people in our community,’’ she said.
Nine Living Treasure Awards have been bestowed. Other winners include: weaver Peg Moorhouse, director Duncan Whiting, author Joy Cowley, artist Triska Blumenfeld, artist Fran Maguire, carver Clem Mellish, artist JS Parker, weaver Margaret Bond and musical director Kevin Moseley.