Weekend reignites t¯ıpuna’s legacy
‘My name is Ma¯ori, we are one’ — Re¯nata Kawepo¯
On April 13-14 Te Piringa Hapu¯ comprising of Nga¯ti Hinemanu, Nga¯i Te Upokoiri, Nga¯ti Honomo¯kai and Nga¯ti Mahuika joined together for a weekend of events dedicated to Re¯nata Kawepo¯.
Re¯nata Kawepo¯ was a prominent Ma¯ori leader, who exemplified resilience and cultural pride.
Renowned for preserving Ma¯ori traditions, Kawepo¯ championed indigenous rights and environmental stewardship.
With unwavering dedication, Kawepo¯ empowered Ma¯ori communities, promoted unity and fostered a legacy of strength and cultural revitalisation for his progeny or descendants — Te Piringa Hapu¯.
The Re¯nata Kawepo¯ weekend commenced with a karakia breakfast, followed by a pop-up marketplace where stall holders were able to sell hot kai, baking, crafts, clothing and more.
A wa¯nanga dedicated to Re¯nata Kawepo¯ took place simultaneously with presentations and kaiko¯rero on the life of Re¯nata Kawepo¯ and a focus on hapu¯ unity and flourishing.
Wha¯nau had the opportunity to attend the wa¯nanga space, while others were able to focus on a visionary and hauora space workshop or join Re¯nata’s mokopuna enjoying fun activities.
It didn’t matter what event you took part in, the whole purpose of the weekend was to foster unity and celebrate a flourishing community through a year of hard work.
Everyone joined together on Sunday for a hapu¯ hikoi for unity and flourishing which started at Ru¯nanga Marae with a good walk to Te Awhina Marae then converging at Omahu Marae for a final karakia and hakari.
Omahu was badly hit by Cyclone Gabrielle 14 months ago.
The Te Piringa Hapu¯ Re¯nata Kawepo¯ weekend of events was a time to celebrate the unity and strength of a community that has come together, rebuilt homes,
May the seeds of our hapu¯ that were planted by our t¯ıpuna and watered by Gabrielle’s flood waters, continue to blossom Reverend Zhane Tahau Whelan
reinforced relationships, created a support network and each day, the community has worked together to show how resilient they can be through any trial, when you are unified in your approach.
“Positive events such as this hikoi has helped to reunite and reignite the community. Continuing to be strengthened by our whakapapa is the beginning for us to realise the dreams of unity and flourishing that Re¯nata Kawepo and our t¯ıpuna had for us all,” Reverend Zhane Tahau Whelan said.
“May the seeds of our hapu¯ that were planted by our t¯ıpuna and watered by Gabrielle’s flood waters, continue to blossom and may we be bold in joining together with Re¯nata in saying my name is Te Upokoiri, my name is Hinemanu, my name is Honomo¯kai, my name is
Mahuika and we are one.”
Nga¯ti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated (NKII) acknowledges the community of Omahu, Te Piringa Hapu¯ and all those individuals, wha¯nau, teams and organisations who are helping to lead the community to revive and thrive.
Nga¯ti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated chairman Bayden Barber attended the Re¯nata Kawepo¯ weekend.
“I was pleased to see a resilient community come together, guided by the legacy of their tipuna, united and reenergised through activities and wa¯nanga to further enhance the mana of Te Piringa Hapu¯. I commend the organisers for their mahi,” he said.