Tīmatanga hou.

Today is our first week in our new tari. We had a great morning tea with croissants, bacon & eggs, blue cheese and pear paste as well as jam a cream cheese, tino reka!

I want to say thank you so much to all the West REAP staff for putting up with us.  We arrived slow and steady and then got fast and loud and have remained that way!

I want to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for your generous and continuous support of Te Hono O Ngā Waka. Without your help, we would not have been able to launch and grow our organisation.  On that I say a special thank Whare for inventing Te Hono and his ongoing support and guidance and to Julia for her ongoing support. Yous believe in Te Hono as much as me which has been so amazing for my confidence and growth!  I thank you for your unwavering support and dedication.

Yous have been more than just a sister organisation to us. You have been a true partner, a mentor, and friends. You have welcomed us into your Tari, shared your vehicles, resources, and expertise, and joined us in our events and activities (biscuits and milo). You have also provided us with financial assistance, which has enabled us to cover our operational costs and invest in our programmes and services.

We know that we have not always been easy to work with. We have been noisy, messy, and demanding at times. We have asked for a lot of extra support from each of the staff members, who have always been patient, kind, and helpful and we hope that you understand how much we value and respect you all.

We are proud and honoured to be associated with WestREAP, an organisation that shares our vision of enhancing the wellbeing and potential of our communities. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and friendship with you in the future.