Takina takina
Taki… takina mai
Ngā manu o te rangi
Haere mai, nau mai
Whakatau mai
Healthy Families Far North have started the new year in numbers, welcoming five new staff members and their whānau with a pōhiri at Te Ngaere Marae in Kaeo last month.
Achieving tikanga obligations are a large component of processes and procedures for Te Rūnanga o Whaingaroa, and despite moving back to the red-light setting, the team put on a hākari (feast) to celebrate the new connections being formed between Te Tai Tama Wahine me Te Tai Tama Tāne.
2021 was a year of change and transformation for Healthy Families Far North.
This year the team will continue its ahunga with guidance from Mātauranga Tūpuna and Kōrero Tukuiho Exponent Rereata Makiha (Ngāti Whakaheke, Te Aupōuri, Te Arawa).
Papa Rereata Makiha.
The renowned Kaikōkōrangi Māori astrologer is a leading authority on the maramataka and brings a wealth of knowledge handed down through generations.
Passionate about water preservation and dedicated to protecting and promoting the practice of ancient traditions in te ao Māori, Matua brings innovative solutions based on ancient mātauranga.
After returning home to the Hokianga three years ago, former Black Fern and Northern Mystics player Rawinia Everitt (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngai Takoto, Ngāti Kahu, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa Ngāti Kuri) has been moving mountains to get local rugby clubs off the ground again, inspiring rangatahi to stay active around the motu.
Her dedication to seeing people thrive in their natural environments coupled with her relationships with the community will see her tackle the Systems Innovator role head-on.
She joins Māori Systems Innovator Elizabeth Motu (Te Rarawa) who will transfer her knowledge and experience from He Oranga Poutama ki Tāmaki Makaurau, to empower communities and reconnect traditional practices.
Born and raised in Murihiku (Bluff and Ruapuke) before moving to Muriwhenua (Kerikeri) when she was 11, joining the Healthy Families Far North whānau is a lot like coming home for new Practice and Development Lead, Sophia Beaton.
With over 10 years’ experience working across government, local government and the not-for-profit sector as a design/project lead and community development practitioner, Beaton specializes in innovation models of community development and engagement, including whānau centered design and strengths-based approaches which she will continue to support in Te Tai Tokerau.
Talei Anderson (Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa) also joins us from RNZ as the new Communications Innovator.
Healthy Families Far North new Practice and Development Lead, Sophia holding her daughter (centre).
Systems Innovator Paul Condron (left) with Talei Anderson and her whānau.
E ao! Ko tau ngā manu ki te puku o Whangaroa, kia purea ngā hau o te kāinga.