# Team Te Hono: A Story of Dedication, Commitment, and Resilience

This weekend, I had the privilege of witnessing one of the most inspiring moments of my life. Our team of three amazing wahine, competed in the True West Adventure Race in Hokitika, New Zealand. This was not just any race, but a gruelling test of physical and mental endurance, involving mountain biking, trekking, and rafting across our own stunning landscape.

Team Te Hono was not the most experienced or the most prepared team in the race. They had never done anything like this before. But they had something that no other team had: a bond of friendship, a spirit of adventure, and a determination to get out there and complete it.

They trained hard for months, sacrificing their time and energy to get ready for the challenge. They supported each other, motivated each other, and learned from each other. They faced their fears, pushed their limits, and discovered their strengths.

On the day of the race, they gave it their all. They worked as a team and helped each other out. They enjoyed the scenery and the thrill of the adventure. They did not give up, even when they faced setbacks, they crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces, pride in their hearts and the pride of their whānau and our team/community.

They came third in the race and won so much more. They won the respect and admiration of whānau, and our community and we even have a whole new younger team for 2024! You won the confidence and satisfaction of achieving something extraordinary. They won the knowledge and wisdom of learning something new. They won the joy and gratitude of living a memorable experience.

Team Te Hono, you have inspired us all with your dedication, commitment, and resilience. You have shown us what it means to be a team, to be adventurous, and to be resilient. You have shown us how to live life to the fullest, to challenge ourselves, and to grow as people. You have shown us how to be Te Hono.

Congratulations on your amazing achievement and thank you for letting us be a part of your journey. I can't wait to see what you do next. Bring on 2024!

Last week, six of us wahine were lucky enough to get to spend a day at equine therapy with the Anzac therapy horses from Christchurch.

Equine therapy is a form of animal-assisted therapy that involves interacting with horses to improve mental and emotional well-being. The horses are specially trained to be gentle and responsive to human emotions. They can sense our feelings and offer comfort, support, and feedback.

We spent the day grooming, feeding, walking and riding. The horses were amazing, they were calm, friendly, and playful. They made us feel relaxed, happy, and connected.

We learned a lot from the horses and from each other. We learned to trust, communicate, and cooperate. We learned to be present, mindful, and grateful. We learned to laugh, enjoy, and appreciate. We had such a great time, lots of laughs, connections, and feelings of happiness together.

We are so thankful to the Anzac therapy horses and their handlers for this wonderful experience. We highly recommend it to anyone who needs a break from stress and wants to reconnect with nature and themselves. It was a day we will never forget.

As the year 2023 comes to an end, we would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Jack and Jerry, our dedicated and talented Mau rākau kaiako. They have been working hard to teach and inspire our rangatahi in the schools around Te Tai o Poutini.

Mau rākau is a traditional Māori martial art that uses wooden weapons such as taiaha, patu, and mere. It is not only a form of self-defense, but also a way of preserving and celebrating Māori culture, values, and identity. Jack and Jerry have been sharing their knowledge and skills with our young people, helping them to develop confidence, discipline, and respect.

We have loved watching their work and seeing the progress and achievements of our rangatahi. They have learned about the history and significance of Mau rākau, and how it connects them to their ancestors, their land, and their people.

We are very proud of Jack and Jerry, and we look forward to continuing our mahi with them in the next year as they continue to spread the spirit and the beauty of Mau rākau to our communities and beyond. Thank you for all your hard mahi, Jack and Jerry. You are amazing!

“I can’t express in words how much Jack’s work has been appreciated. Our DP communicated to me after briefly observing Jack tutoring the other week that he was very impressed with both the depth of Jack’s knowledge and the sincerity, commitment, and passion he showed in the way he was talking to our students. We are keen to have him back next year. Me mihi ka tika hoki ki a Jerry mō tōna kaha ki te kawe mai i tēnei kaupapa ki ngā rangatahi o ngā kura tini o Te Tai o Poutini. Nāna anō i whakahikohiko i ngā mōhiotanga me te māramatanga o wēnei āhuatanga o Te Whare Pū Rākau mō te hunga taiohi e pōkea nei e ngā whiu o tēnei ao. Nei rā te mihi maioha ki a koutou mā o Te Hononga o Ngā Waka, e hāpai ana i te tokorua nei e whakapau kaha ana ki te mahi i ēnei mahi whakahirahira (feedback from one of the kura).”

Last weekend, our whānau had a great time joining in at Waka ama at Roto Kaniere. It was fun and a challenging way to connect with the water, the land, and the culture.

We arrived at Roto Kaniere, also known as Lake Kaniere, on Saturday morning. The lake is located in the West Coast region of New Zealand, surrounded by native forest and mountains. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy nature and relax.

We practiced a few times on the shore before we got into the water. We learned how to synchronize our paddling, somehow to steer the waka, and how to communicate with each other. We also learned some Māori words and chants that helped us to keep the rhythm and spirit.

We spent the other time enjoying the lake and the company. We swam, played games and shared stories, songs, food and laughter with other whānau. We felt a strong sense of connection and belonging. We had a great time to be had by all!

We look forward to the next event together. We hope to meet more whānau and learn more about Waka ama and Māori culture. Waka ama is more than a sport, it is a way of life.

We really enjoyed our training Building Awesome Whānau. This is a course that aims to help parents and caregivers raise their children in a way that is respectful, loving, and empowering. The course is based on the principles of mātauranga Māori, the indigenous knowledge and wisdom of the Māori people, as well as the best practices from the Toolbox Parenting Programme, a research-based programme that has been running in New Zealand for over 20 years. The course covers topics such as communication, aroha, whānau atmosphere, boundaries, and living in the big wide world. The course is designed for whānau with children aged 2-13, and can be delivered in different formats, such as weekly sessions or a weekend wānanga. The course is facilitated by trained and experienced facilitators who can tailor the content to the needs and interests of each group. The course also features videos from Pio Terei and other guests who share their stories and insights on parenting. The course is a great opportunity to learn new skills, connect with other parents, and build a brighter future for your whānau.

We can’t wait to bring it to you :-)

Whānau and staff have been really enjoying the opportunity to work with Miriama Mason trying really hard to get our language back! “He waka eke noa.”

Today we did our vote, 2 of us were brand new to voting! It is so important to vote and easy as! Voting is a way of expressing our voice and influencing the policies and decisions that affect our lives. However, some groups of people face various barriers and challenges that prevent them from exercising their voting rights. These include the poor, the homeless, the disabled, the minorities, the immigrants, the refugees, and others who are marginalized and oppressed by the dominant power structures. We should vote for the disadvantaged part of our community because they deserve to have a fair and equal representation in the government. They have valuable perspectives and experiences that can enrich our democracy. They are part of us and share the same planet and destiny with us. They are not a burden or a threat to us, but an asset and an opportunity for us. By voting for the disadvantaged part of our community, we are not only helping them, but also helping ourselves. We are creating a more inclusive and equitable society that can foster social cohesion and harmony. We are enhancing our democratic quality and legitimacy that can strengthen our civic engagement and participation. We are advancing our common good and well-being that can improve our quality of life. We should vote for the disadvantaged part of our community because they matter.

We had a great time celebrating te reo o te wiki with the community.

Bringing back te reo Māori in Aotearoa is not only a matter of justice and recognition for the indigenous people of this land, but also a benefit and opportunity for all New Zealanders. Te reo Māori is a beautiful and powerful language that can enrich our lives and society in many ways. Let us embrace it with respect and enthusiasm. Kia kaha te reo Māori!

We are thrilled to announce that we have partnered with Te Hā o Kawatiri and Whare Manaaki to deliver the Healthy Homes Initiative for Te Tai o Poutini. This initiative aims to provide warm, dry and healthy homes for low-income families with children, pregnant people, and those who have been hospitalised with housing-related conditions.

We recently attended a conference in Pōneke where we learned from the experiences and successes of other providers across Aotearoa. We were inspired by the stories of how our fellow kaimahi are making a difference in the lives of whānau by helping them access insulation, curtains, beds, heating, repairs, and alternative accommodation as needed.

We also had the honour of meeting Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the former Director-General of Health who led New Zealand’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He shared his story of being a leader for the nation during a challenging and complex time in relation to our now housing crisis. He praised our work and encouraged us to continue our mahi with humour and grace.

We met some amazing people who are doing incredible mahi for their communities. We are grateful for their support and guidance as we embark on this journey. We are eager to get started and to see the positive impact of our mahi on the health and wellbeing of our whānau.

We will keep you updated on our progress and achievements. Together, we can create healthier homes and happier families for Te Tai o Poutini.

We had a great team building day today, welcoming our new youth worker as well as all learning about personalities, including our strengths and vulnerabilities. It was a valuable opportunity to get to know each other better and to appreciate our diversity and uniqueness. We also had a chance to reflect on our work and our mission, and to share our feedback and ideas for improvement.

Another memorable activity was a beautiful stroll along the beach, where we remembered our Totara tree that has fallen today. The Totara tree is a symbol of strength, resilience, and longevity in Māori culture, and we felt a connection with it as we work with whānau who face many challenges and need our support. We also sent our love to the whānau at this time, as we know they are going through a difficult period. We expressed our gratitude for her being part of our lives and this community.

The day ended with a delicious Jamaican kai cooked for us by our hoa Jax. She prepared some amazing dishes, such as jerk chicken, rice and peas, scallops, and coconut cake, tino rika! We thoroughly enjoyed the food and the company and got to learn a little about Jamaican culture and history.

We are thankful for this opportunity to bond with each other and to grow as a team.

Last week, I had the opportunity to meet Heather Muriwai.

Heather Muriwia is a passionate and visionary leader who has dedicated her life to serving her people. She has over 20 years of experience in the health

One of the most memorable things that Heather said during our meeting was: “If your whānau is not engaging in your service, then there is something wrong with your service, not something wrong with the whānau!” She explained that many mainstream services fail to understand and respect the needs, values, and aspirations of whānau Māori. They often impose their own agendas and expectations on them, without listening to their voices or involving them in decision-making. This leads to poor outcomes and disengagement.

This session enforced our mahi of acknowledging the strengths and potential of whānau Māori, rather than focusing on their problems and deficits. We need to build trusting and collaborative relationships with them, rather than treating them as passive recipients of our services. We need to support them to identify their own goals and solutions, rather than telling them what to do or how to live their lives.

Nau mai, haere mai!

Weekly sessions coming soon.

Our language is key aspect of Māori identity and is central to the transmission of cultural knowledge and traditions from one generation to the next.