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A world strong with children

Paraone Pirika

I was born in “Te Takere o te Waka Te Arawa” Rotorua at a place called Owhata, under the watchful eye of my ancestral houses ‘Tutanekai & Hinemoa,’ into a family of 12 with me being the youngest.

I started my working life on a farm as a shepherd before moving to Wellington. Where, I worked in General Motors Car Factory for 5 years as a carpainter, before returning to Rotorua. Whilst in Wellington I met my wife, whom has since passed on, of Te Whanau a Ruataupare, Ngati Porou and Ngati Rongowhakaata descent.

We have 2 girls whom have given us 3 awesome mokopuna, all boys.

For the past 20 years I have been working in Education and Social Services, specialising in working with young people referred by CYPS and Youth Justice.

Maaka Tibble MNZM

Ngati Porou, Whanau a Apanui, MNZM

Maaka is a very wise and expert counsel. He has a particular passion for the development of initiatives that will lead to positive outcomes for Maori and the Disability Sector. In 1992 he was awarded the Sir Winston Churchill Fellowship. He completed research looking at a comparison of Maori access to disability services and First Nation people of America and Canada.

He has a business and management background and in 2000 completed a degree in Social Science (Human Services).


He has been a Manager of Maori Mental Services, a Disability Consultant, a Manager and Social Worker with the Royal NZ Foundation for the Blind. He has been the Chair of Family Farm Trusts, Board Member with the SWRB, Health Board member, Chairperson, President and reviewer with NZQA. He was awarded a MNZM in 2002 for services to the disability sector.

He has attended international conference as a speaker, presenter several times.


He is married to Roberta and has three adult children and two beautiful girl mokopuna. He ran the World Blind Marathon in Vancouver in 1982 and currently tandem bikes.

Ngati Wheke

Ngāti Wheke are the hapū that hold mana whenua and mana moana over Whakaraupō and the surrounding areas.

The takiwā of Ngāti Wheke reflects the events and deeds of Te Rakiwhakaputa (a Ngāi Tahu rangatira of Ngāti Kurī descent) and his sons, Manuwhiri and Wheke, who secured their descendants mana whenua rights to the area. Ngāti Wheke acknowledge Ngāti Māmoe and Waitaha whakapapa lines as well as Ngāi Tahu, due to the intermarriages between Waitaha and Māmoe who inhabited Whakaraupō upon the arrival of Te Rakiwhakaputa.

Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke Inc is the modern-day representative legal structure of Ngāti Wheke, and represents upwards of 8,000 whānau members. Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke is one of the 18 Papatipu Rūnanga that make up Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the iwi authority representing Ngāi Tahu whānui.

George Taipari

 

I was born at Mangamuka Hokianga Northland, fourth in a family of eight. After completing my school years I began a career with the New Zealand Post, a Telegraph Department and retired after 36 years.

 I shifted my focus to working with and for my Maori people in: Iwi Social Services, Child Youth and Family Services, Health Promoting Schools, Justices Dept. (Courts Periodic Detention Warden: Community Supervisor), Vice Chair Manurewa Marae Building Committee, Health Services, Auckland City Hospital Kaumatua, Health Camp, Coach, Manager and Club Captain Manurewa Rugby League Club.

 I am married to Ripeka Taipari nee Shedlock for 53 years and had three sons. Peter lives in Melbourne and has given me four mokopuna. George sadly died as a result of a motorcycle accident. Haere atu ra eTama. Moe mai ra. Our youngest son Douglas gifted us with four mokopuna and our oldest moko Sheridan gave to us our first mokopuna tuarua Waimirirangi Taipari.

Rakauoteora Te Maipi QSM

 

Tiihei Mauriora!

E ooku Rangatira koutou e Whakakiki ana i ngaa tuuna a kui maa a Koro maa, 

kua ngaro weetahi ki te tirohana kanohi

Teena koutou.

Ki ngaa Pou o te Whare Tuu Maia Whaanau ki ngaa tini mate kei teera, kei teena, kei teenei o taatou

Teena koutou, teena koutou, teena ra taatou katoa.

 

E kii ana te koorero kaaore te kumara e koorero mo toona reka.

Hoiano, eehara au i tu kumara. No reira, aanei ooku reka.

 

I was born in Gisborne on 18th February 1944.  My name is Rakauoteora Te Maipi.

My mum was of Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Rongowhakaata.  My dad was Tuuhoe Te Arawa.

 

I attended Whatatutu Primary school, and Te Karaka District High School. 

I finished school, and came to Wellington and worked for Ford Motors. I then decided to do a senior apprenticeship in Panel Beating, and in Wellington I met and married my wife, Patricia.

Eventually myself and my wife Patricia owned our own business. However due to a very serious car accident, we had to sell this in 1983. After lots of rehabilitation, in 1990, I went to University. 

From there, I went on to Training College, under the scheme of Te Ataakura, which allowed a very select few people only onto the programme; eight in my year. 

Following this, I taught in schools, and then went on to Tutor at Whitireia Polytechnic for four years as a Preschool Education Tutor.

Over the years, I have been privileged  to receive many different awards;

·         Tohu o Te Au Kori 

·         Tohu Maatauranga Maaori

·         Tou Ataakura

·         Civic Award of Kaapiti Coast District Council

·         Life Membership of Wellington Schoolboy Rugby League and Kaapiti Bears

·         Fellow of Association of Physical Education of New Zealand

·         Te Tohu Maatauranga Whakapakari Tino Rangatiratanga o Te Kohanga Reo

During this time, I have also been Kaaumatua of many organisations;

·         Seventeen years with Kaapiti District Council

·         Twenty years with Hora Te Pai Health Services

·         Twenty eight years with Tararua ki Paraparaumu Kohanga Reo

·         Thirty six years on  the pae tapu at Waikanae Marae as one of the Kaumatua 

And in 2006, I was privileged to receive a Queens Service Medal. 

Hei Whakapi. To Close there are proverbial sayings that still ring loudly in my ears, of my Ancestors;

Waiho ma too Wairua koe hei arahi

Let you be guided by your Spirit

 

"He toa takitini taku toa

Eehara i te toa takitahi"

My achievements are of many, but not of one.