He kärere ki te whänau “Me he manawa tïtï. Like a muttonbird’s heart.” Whakataukï (proverb)

“Since the muttonbird is believed to have exceptional power of sustained flight, its heart is taken as a metaphor for a person with great endurance.” - Ngä Pepeha a ngä Tïpuna One needs endurance to meet significant challenges; the tïtï is a significant bird for Ngäi Tahu.

Our combined Otago Girls’ and Boys’ kapa haka, Wairua Pühou, have certainly had the heart of the tïtï with months of hard work. They have been preparing for the biennial regional secondary schools’ Mäori Performing Arts festival, Hautoka. Matua Mac Te Ngähue, tutors Te Rina and Kaharau Keogh and the whänau are to be congratulated for the huge effort in supporting our rakatahi.

Otago Girls’ High School is very proud of our manawa tïtï and look forward to seeing the progress of the group who this year have bonded so well together and really pushed themselves to achieve excellence. Kei runga noa atu koutou!

On Sunday 23rd July 19 girls and 11 boys from Otago Girls’ and Otago Boys’ High Schools competed at Te Hautoka 2017 - The Otago/ Southland Secondary Schools Regional Kapa Haka Competitions. This competition is held once every two years with the top two teams gaining entry into the national championships held the following year. Our rõpü and tutors have put in a lot of time preparing for Te Hautoka with many weekends, lunchtimes and after school hours being put in. We all met at Otago Girls’ High school on Friday night to have a noho before the big day. However Te Hautoka got postponed until Sunday because of the bad weather and flooding so everybody stayed in the VPA on Saturday night as well. This was a great bonding opportunity which brought everyone closer together and also allowed the group some extra practice time. Mrs Davidson allowed us to have showers in the gym and Matua Mac and Whaea Vicki made sure everyone was fed, looked after and that all of the students and helpers were safe. We would also like to thank all of the parents who visited us in the bad weather who brought in food and things that would help us, it was much appreciated.

Finally the big day had arrived everyone began preparation in the gym with hair and makeup with the help of Te Rina and her friends and the boys got their tämoko (Mäori stencil patterns) done thanks to Kaharau and his friends. Once everyone had their käkahu (clothes/ costumes) done, we made our way to the Dunedin town hall. We did really well this year by placing 2nd overall. However we were 1st in Whakawatea (departing the stage song), the Poi and the Waiata-a-ringa (action song), 2nd in the Whakaeke (entry onto the stage song/ haka), the Moteatea (song of remembrance) and the Haka which meant that we qualified for Nationals next year which are being held in Palmerston North. A special thanks to Mr Pickard for carving the new haka trophy and for making new tämoko stencils. We would like to thank all of the support we have received over the year from teachers, family and friends of Wairua Pühou, bring on Nationals!

Rachel O’Kane and Jen Marsh, Kähui Kõrero Mäori Student Council

Te Pae Tata, Te Pae Täwhiti – Immediate and future opportunities

A noho reo Mäori is planned at Kamau Taurua Quarantine Island 8 -10 September

Te Wiki o te reo Mäori with the theme of ‘Kia ora te reo’ 11-17 September

Manu Kõrero Nationals – a small group of students will travel to support Hannah Matehaere in Taranaki 20 – 22 September

Science Wänanga noho marae returns in October

Yamada O’Regan scholarships

Käi Tahu whänau of Year 10 -13 students are encouraged to apply,closing date 4 August.

The objective of the Ngäi Tahu Mätauranga Trust Yamada O’Regan Secondary School Scholarships is to advance Ngäi Tahu secondary school students to complete the school year and successfully attain a school qualification.

To be eligible for a Yamada O’Regan Secondary School Scholarship you must:

· Be registered with whakapapa Ngäi Tahu;

· Be achieving academic success in at least three subjects;

· Be participating in whänau, hapü or iwi activities;

· Be displaying leadership qualities;

· Be able to explain the difficulties that may prevent you from completion of the school year and/or successful attainment of a school qualification

http://ngaitahu.iwi.nz/whanau/opportunities/yamada-oregan-secondary-school-scholarships/

Please contact me for further information or help.