Kaumātua Ball a chance to honour pakeke

Host of the evening, Archbishop Don Tamihere, with Mihi Turei, the widow of the late Most Reverend William Brown Turei, the former bishop of Tairāwhiti. Pictures supplied

Kaumātua of Tairāwhiti were able to connect with each other, celebrate and enjoy themselves after a few years of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and severe weather events that impacted on their lives.

The Anglican Kaumātua Ball was an opportunity for Te Haahi Mihinare to acknowledge the contributions that our pakeke/elders have made to Te Tairāwhiti, te iwi Māori and society as a whole.

“Kaumātua have limited opportunities that focus primarily on kaupapa for their age and their social wellbeing. However, the Kaumātua Ball created space for kaumātua to live and breathe together, to whakawhānaungatanga with each other, to wānanga and to celebrate each other’s achievements,” said organising committee member Sharlene Douglas-Huriwai.

“Putting all those negative statistics aside, te oranga ake o te kaumatua, the flourishing of our kaumātua is worth the celebration,” she said.

A total of 75 registered to be presented to the Bishop of Te Tairāwhiti, the Most Reverend Don Tamihere, and of that number 65 attended on the night.

Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz was invited to present the first medallion of the evening to the oldest recipient, Audrey Puhipuhi from Mihaia Church, Tolaga Bay. She was escorted by whānau, and supported by Padre Archdeacon William (Bill) Gray and other members from their congregation.

All kaumātua who were presented received a medallion and a floral posy.

The youngest recipient was Susan Dargie from  St Mary’s Church, Tokomaru Bay, who is 70 years old.

Other dignitaries included Bishop Ngarahu Katene of Te Hui Amorangi ki te Manawa o Te Wheke and his wife Kamana Katene, and Bishop Richard Wallace of Te Hui Amorangi ki te Waipounamu and his wife, the Venerable Mere Wallace.

“I rawe rawa atu te kaupapa me te harinui i koropupū ake ki roto i te ngākau tangata a taikuia mā, ā taikoroua mā me ō rātou whānau me ngā manuhiri. Koina te whakatinana mai o tēnei mea te oranga ake, āra ko te aroha, te rongo, me te kaupapa nui, ko te hari,” said Archbishop Don.

(“It was a brilliant occasion overflowing with the great joy of kuia, kaumātua, their families and guests; an embodiment of ‘oranga ake’, that is love, peace, and abounding joy.”)

At a church service the following day at Toko Toru Tapu, Manutūkē, Archbishop Don offered his thanks to the organisers and supporters of the ball.

The event was sponsored by Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou, Te Rūnanga o Tūranganui a Kiwa, Tūranga Health, Te Puni Kōkiri, Te Pīhopatanga o Aotearoa, and Te Hui Amorangi ki te Tairāwhiti, who were the hosts.