100 Years on and ANZAC Back at Pōhaturoa

100 Years on and ANZAC Back at Pōhaturoa


Whakatāne RSA, Whakatāne District Council and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa are working together to turn back time for ANZAC Day this year.

One hundred years ago, Whakatāne held its first ANZAC commemorations at Pōhaturoa in the town’s central business district and this year the plan is to do same and pay homage to that part of the civic history.

Whakatāne RSA President Victor Hape said this year’s Dawn Service would be held at Pōhaturoa, however Te Whare o Toroa Marae in Wairaka would still host breakfast afterwards.

“The first records at the RSA show that we held a community ANZAC Day service in 1923 at Pōhaturoa Rock. Back in 1923 they used to have it at about 2pm. Over the years, the dawn service commemorations have moved between Pōhaturoa, to the Heads, where the wreaths were floated out into the sea, and then eventually it moved to Te Whare o Toroa Marae where it has been ever since.”

“The Dawn Service will return to Te Whare o Toroa Marae next year but when I realized that our records showed that the first one was at Pōhaturoa in 1923, we thought we needed to do something special to mark the anniversary.”

Mr Hape brought representatives from Ngāti Awa and the District Council together to help pull off the plan.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chief Executive Reuben Araroa said Ngāti Awa had always supported ANZAC commemorations in Whakatāne and in other townships across the district.

“Our support is to recognise the service and sacrifices that many of our Ngāti Awa service people undertook during our past and present. More importantly the commemoration provides the opportunity for iwi to come together in a different way to reflect on such matters related to iwi whether we had served or not.

“It’s equally important our future generations recognise the importance of remembering our Iwi members who served and gave their lives for the future wellbeing of Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Whakatāne District Mayor Dr Victor Luca said the council was pleased to support the services at Pōhaturoa.

“I’ve attended the dawn service at Wairaka in previous years and appreciate Ngāti Hokopū and Ngāti Awa welcoming the wider community. It’s great to see so many families and young people turning out to honour those who served. I think this year’s dawn service at Pōhataroa will be very special.”

The community is asked to gather near Pōhaturoa before 5.30am with formalities to start shortly after that time, beginning with a small mihi from Ngāti Awa.

A full Dawn Service will follow including the flying of the National flags of New Zealand, Australia and Turkey, the readings of the ode and laying of the wreathes.

ANZAC breakfast, with the traditional roll call, will be held at Te Whare o Toroa Marae on Muriwai Drive following the service and buses will be available for transport.

Whakatāne District Council will also hold its traditional Civic ANZAC Day Memorial Service at the Whakatāne War Memorial Hall later in the morning.

Pōhaturoa Rock

Events focus for Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae, Not Tourism

Events focus for Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae, Not Tourism


A house built fit for Royalty or more specifically a queen, the Mataatua Wharenui will become the home for events of significance rather than focusing on a tourism visitors experience at Te Manuka Tūtahi marae.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Chief Executive Reuben Araroa said a decision had been made to review the operating model for Te Manuka Tūtahi marae and as a result it would cease the Mataatua Visitor Experience and no longer be providing a tourism offering for people walking in off the street or for those who are visiting the area as tourists.

Mr Araroa said after conducting a financial analysis of Te Manuka Tūtahi, it became clear that the original model was significantly challenged given how the tourism sector was performing across Aotearoa, which required the Rūnanga to adapt in a climate of rising costs and low revenue.

“As a result, a decision was made to change the focus on how people and the general public would interact with Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae. The well-known wharenui narrative was that it was built fit for a queen and this new approach will enable us to concentrate on allowing Mataatua Wharenui to be the place for events of greater significance from now on.

Mr Araroa said the Rūnanga was still working on the details of the new model, but Te Manuka Tūtahi marae would no longer be taking tourism bookings as of March 1, however, would be available to Ngāti Awa.

He said the Rūnanga was working with those who had already had bookings for later in the year to communicate the change and its impact on them.

“Our strategic development plan, Te Ara Poutama o Ngāti Awa, acknowledges the importance of Mataatua Wharenui in enhancing the mana of Ngāti Awa and uplifting its people.

“This thinking has helped galvanize the change in focus for Te Manuka Tūtahi marae and so we are also working with our iwi and other stakeholders to understand how they can support the new approach.”

Mataatua Wharenui, Te Manuka Tūtahi Marae

Tertiary Education Scholarships and Grants 2023

TERTIARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS 2023

Applications for the Ngāti Awa Tertiary Education Scholarships and Grants will open on MONDAY, 6TH MARCH 2023.

The application forms are available online at www.ngatiawa.iwi.nz. to print, complete and email to runanga@ngatiawa.iwi.nz

For enquiries, please contact Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa on 073070760 or email runanga@ngatiawa.iwi.nz.

APPLICATIONS WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY, 14TH APRIL 2023 AT 4:00PM


2023 TERTIARY EDUCATION
SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS ARE NOW CLOSED


2023 TERTIARY EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

Applications Open: 6 March 2023

Applications Close: 14 April 2023

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa is committed to supporting lifelong learning and excellence in education.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa Tertiary and Scholarships are awarded to full-time Ngāti Awa tertiary students registered with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa who are enrolled to undertake study at a recognised New Zealand Tertiary Institution.

Background Information

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa represents the interests of more than 26,000 registered descendants of Ngāti Awa.  Based in Whakatāne, the Rūnanga was established in 2005 to receive and manage the Ngāti Awa Treaty Settlement assets.

The Rūnanga is governed by an elected Board of Representatives from each of the 22 hapū of Ngāti Awa.

The Rūnanga undertakes a range of activities, including commercial investments, environmental management, research and archives and hapū and marae development.

TERTIARY GRANT

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be registered as a member with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa; and
  • be enrolled as a full-time student in a recognised New Zealand Tertiary Institute and in their second year of tertiary study; and
  • ALL applications and documentation must be received on the closing date.

Information Requirements

  • Confirmation of enrolment
  • Fees receipt for 2023
  • Verified copy of bank account details

TERTIARY SCHOLARSHIPS

Terms and Conditions

The Ngāti Awa Scholarships are awarded to full-time Ngāti Awa tertiary students registered with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa, who are enrolled to undertake diploma, bachelor, masters or doctorate study at a recognised New Zealand Tertiary Institute.

Applications from those students who are enrolled in second year Trade or Apprentice training in the fields of study may be considered.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be in their second year of tertiary study; and
  • be registered as a member with Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa; and
  • be registered as a full-time student at a recognised New Zealand Tertiary Institute; and
  • be studying in the fields of
  • Law
  • Commerce
  • Health Science
  • Applied Science
  • Mātauranga Māori
  • Environmental/Agriculture
  • be achieving academic excellence; and
  • be engaged with and participating in hapū, marae or iwi activities and events; and
  • complete and submit the application form and all required information and documentation on time.

Scholarship recipients will have achieved grades of at least a “B” average and participate in hapu or iwi activities. Other extra-curricular activities will also contribute to a successful application.

Information and Document Requirements

  • Confirmation of Enrolment
  • Fees Receipt for 2023
  • Academic results for 2022 or previous years’ study
  • Kaumātua endorsement
  • Personal Statement

Scholarship Terms

  • Scholarship will be for one year.
  • Only one scholarship will be awarded in each of the six categories per annum.
  • Successful applicants will be required to attend the Annual General Meeting of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa in November/December 2023.
  • Termination of or withdrawal from the programme of study for which the scholarship has been awarded shall constitute immediate termination of the scholarship. Any subsequent applications will consider the applicant’s prior termination and withdrawal from study.
  • Where an applicant withdraws from their course of study either prior to receiving the scholarship or during the academic year, they shall provide a written explanation of their withdrawal to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa.