IMPORTANT EVENTS
It’s evident that Waka Ama Nationals and Te Matatini are the most popular events in the Maori calendar alongside the annual pilgrimage to Ratana and then Waitangi.
Several hundreds of kapahaka performers have been sacrificing weekends and personal time leading up to the premier event Te Matatini to be hosted by Ngati Kahungunu, in Hastings this month.
I amdelighted that Te Iti Kahurangi, Te Pou o Mangatawhiri, Nga Pou o Roto will be joined by 44 member strong group Te Kaaheru Matarau o Hauaa. The Tainui Waka region will be well represented as a testament to the growing popularity portraying culture, language, history and political discourse through kapahaka.
We have talented tutors who are proponents of te reo Maori and adept in musical and performance composition. We have so much to be proud of in our rohe.
I wish them all well when they take the stage. Overall Tainui waka has been elevated because of the tireless commitment of performers, supporters and whanau.
Mauri Ora! Foundations ‘Love Your Heart’ campaign on Friday, February 10.
The response at the collection tables proved once again that the people of Matamata are responsive to the needs of others. Thanks again Matamata.
A campaign of this type requires more person power than you know so we would like to give a special thanks to David Wheaden and Graham Gilford for their constant mentoring and the foresight to introduce the street appeal to the use of eftpos machines.
Thanks to Tainui Press for the constant supply of heart posters and stickers and Dale’s personal support at our meetings.
Thanks to the guys and girls from Rotary as they brave the elements for us each year rattling the plastic cans on Matamata’s streets.
Even the press plays a useful part with its editorials on the part that the Heart Foundation plays in our community.
Where would we be without the strategic positions of New World, Countdown and Life Pharmacy plus the generous gifts that we are able to raffle, who knows when you or I need the hospital that these funds go to. Thanks again New World, Countdown and Life Pharmacy.
And last but not least our army of faithful volunteers, thanks.
As usual the winners of the three raffles will be notified by telephone.