Connecting Canterbury whānau to Tūhoetanga
Tūhoe ki Waitaha: Connecting Canterbury whānau to Tūhoetanga
Tūhoe ki Waitaha is an organisation supporting cultural connection for Ngāi Tūhoe iwi members based in Canterbury. The group hosts opportunities for local whānau to connect back to Tūhoetanga (all things Tūhoe) despite the physical distance from their whenua and marae in the North Island.
Kapa haka, waiata, te reo lessons, games, and whānau camps are all part of their kaupapa, educating whānau on te ao Māori and what it means to be Tūhoe. As Kaumātua Rangihau Te Moana explains, sharing knowledge and practical life skills with the next generation is an important role of the group.
“Whānau camps are very instrumental for our tamariki,” says Rangihau. “We take them out and do things hands-on.”
For example, Rangihau says that when tamariki go eeling or collecting kaimoana, it’s not just about catching kai but also about preparing and cooking kai and performing karakia.
“That’s what it’s all about,” adds Rangihau. “How to live without having to go (and) buy things. You go and do it yourself.”
Pani Kahukiwa of Tūhoe ki Waitaha says it is important his children have strong links back to Tūhoe, and passing on knowledge to empower his children is a big part of this. He acknowledges that one of the barriers for people wanting to engage with their kaupapa is their lack of connection to Tūhoe if they are born and raised in Christchurch. He wants to encourage people not to be afraid to connect and be proud to be Tūhoe no matter where they live.
“Our doors are open for those whānau that want to feel a sense of belonging back to Tūhoe,” says Pani.
Te Hui Ahurei a Tūhoe is a bi-annual Kapa haka festival founded to connect Tūhoe members from all over New Zealand to their iwi. For Tūhoe ki Waitaha, many of their 400 members have never set foot on their marae, so the event is about connection and taking Tūhoe people home.
“That was the biggest goal for us down here in Christchurch, was to take our whānau back who have never experienced standing foot on their own land or on their own marae,” says Pani.
“Our marae, our maunga, our awa, our whenua, our hapū – that’s Tūhoetanga to me and to all our whānau. That’s what grounds our kids who have grown up in Christchurch, that they still know their whakapapa and their pepeha, and they know their tūrangawaewae. They can go back home to their marae and call it theirs.”
For rangatahi, experiencing the connection back to Tūhoe for the first time can be emotional and empowering. “It’s definitely been a big journey for me,” says young Tūhoe ki Waitaha member Manu. “I grew up in Kura Auraki, so I haven’t really been on my Māori path for my whole life. It’s been really eye-opening and amazing.”
Amoroa adds seeing older members of his whānau back in their homeland after time away was “a touch on the manawa”.
For young māmā Anahera, the experience was an opportunity to reflect and reignite the bond with her iwi. “It’s had a big impact on all of us going back up there, as we walked on the footsteps our tīpuna did,” says Anahera. “They are watching on all of us.”
In future, Tūhoe ki Waitaha aims to have their own whare available to teach Māra Kai and have whānau plant and garden food.
Rātā Foundation has supported Tūhoe ki Waitaha through its Participate funding programme. “Tūhoe ki Waitaha encourages local whānau to embrace Tūhoetanga, fostering a sense of belonging and cultural connection through various events and activities,” says Rātā Foundation Chief Executive Leighton Evans.
“The group’s intergenerational approach to sharing knowledge and experiences enables a deeper understanding of te ao Māori, supporting Tūhoe whānau and future generations to thrive.”