Iwi to expand training courses
The courses are open to anyone, and iwi leaders hope they will boost capability generally across the district.
After a year dominated by the Covid-19 response, Te Ru¯nanga o Nga¯ WairikiNga¯ti Apa iwi is looking to branch out in 2021 to offer more training courses, employ new social workers and start new ventures.
Communications adviser Kiri Wilson said Covid-19 made for a lot of time contacting kauma¯tua and working with the Rangitı¯kei community this year.
“We are really looking forward to 2021,” she said.
In 2020 courses in te reo Ma¯ori, Samoan language and carpentry were offered at the iwi’s education, training and employment hub, Te Puna. It is based in the tribal headquarters in Marton, Te Poho o Tuariki.
In July it received funding of $864,000 over three years from the Provincial Growth Fund’s Te Ara Mahi programme, which is aimed at preparing people for employment.
The courses are open to anyone, and iwi leaders hope they will boost capability generally across the district. About 100 people took part.
Most of the courses were offered by Ucol, and this year computing, driver licensing, civil works and manaaki marae will be offered, with carpentry continuing. Forestry and horticulture may join them.
One of the courses, in whaiko¯rero, is being offered at Tini Waitara Marae.
On the health and social services front, ru¯nanga provider Te Kotuku Hauora is looking to take on two new social workers and a new wha¯nau ora worker.
A 10-week summer internship with the iwi’s research team, for a recentlygraduated tertiary student, is also beginning.
On the agriculture front at Te Hou
Farms, 2ha of blueberries have been planted in tunnel houses to add to the beef, dairy, cropping and lamb finishing done there. The ru¯nanga is in a one-third partnership to operate the 1224ha farm.
It is also looking for a horticulture manager, who will turn 5ha that was formerly a corner of Harakeke Forest into a strawberry farm. It has honey investments with 500 hives, and forestry interests.
Environmental manager Chris Shenton has held a wa¯nanga for the hapu¯ of Tini Waitara, with a view to them monitoring and caring for Lake Koitiata.
Schools have been visiting Te Poho, with Whanganui’s Te Kura o Kokohuia learning the history of the area, and Palmerston North’s Manukura learning traditional Ma¯ori sports.
The iwi’s AGM on Sunday finished with the graduation of six young people from its Maripi Tuatini leadership programme. The programme takes 10 secondary school-aged young people from each of its four marae and hosts them for a week in three school holidays every year.
Usually the stays are on marae, and the youths learn a range of things including first aid, business development, tribal history, waiata, tikanga and water safety. Six are graduating this year, and will talk about their experience.
The occasion ends with a Christmas lunch for wha¯nau and kauma¯tua.