Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi has hosted its inaugural Mātauranga Symposium at the Toitoi Conference and Event recognising and celebrating their champions.
The January 31 event was to support the educational strategic objectives of the iwi and to advance the educational aspirations for Kahungunu whānau.
Leading into the Symposium, a special ‘Ngāti Kahungunu Mātauranga Awards’ evening was held to acknowledge Kahungunu people who were great examples in living the educational objectives highlighted in the strategy.
The evening started with a speech from renowned Māori health advocate, innovator and researcher, Dr David Tipene-Leach, and eight awards were presented to Kahungunu Iwi Champions.
The recipients of these awards came from the six Taiwhenua/regions in Kahungunu and the kaupapa of the awards were created from the priorities of the Kahungunu Mātauranga Strategy.
The Kahungunu Rangatiratanga Award went to the Wairoa Taiwhenua Tai-Awhi Alternative Education Programme for their outstanding work in assisting up to seven Wairoa youth at a time who were struggling in mainstream secondary schooling.
Pōrangahau man David Tipene-Leach received the Kahungunu Mātauranga Award.
He had spent his entire working life passionately promoting Māori health through general practice, public health and research
The Kahungunu Te Reo me ona Tikanga Award went to Te Korou Whangataua an experienced subtitler, kapa haka exponent, and dynamic te reo Māori kaiako at various kura reo throughout Aotearoa.
He translated the Kings song ‘Kei Aro Atu Koe / Don’t Worry Bout’ It’, featured in the 2019 Waiata Anthems, and a Marvel Avengers vs X-Men graphic novel.
Mereana Pitman took home the Kahungunu Whakaputanga & Tiriti o Waitangi Award. The Māori activist’s legacy included her pivotal role in DOVE Hawke’s Bay, the national Mauri Ora framework, and the Ministerial Task Force on Family Violence.
The Kahungunu Tipuria te Aroha Award was presented to Evelyn Ratima - a distinguished Kahungunu leader and community advocate.
She has been instrumental in various community initiatives, notably co-founding Whakatu’s beloved ‘Christmas in the Park’ in 2002 with her late husband Des Ratima.
The event was established to address rising domestic violence and suicide rates following the closure of the Whakatu freezing works.
Marei Apatu was awarded the Kahungunu Whakawhanaungatanga Award. He has dedicated his life to fighting for Māori rights, te taiao, whanaungatanga, collaboration, innovation, and Kotahitanga (unity).
Apatu was the first employee of Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga and now serves as Te Kaihautū, Te Manaaki Taiao, leading over 400 staff in working with whānau to achieve their goals and hauora.
Ngatai Huata received the Kahungunu Lifetime Achievement Award honoured for her outstanding contributions to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Māori music.
Hauata’s life has been dedicated to creating spaces for kaupapa Māori, and advocating for “Mana Māori Motuhake.”
She has been instrumental in movements such as the Hikoi Movement Te Tiriti o Waitangi - Tino Rangatiratanga and Te Kākano o te Whānau, which later evolved into Tautoko Wāhine Māori Records (TWM Records).
Through TWM Records, Ngatai composed over 150 waiata, himene, haka, and wānanga, and produced 24 albums and a film soundtrack.
Māori leader and community advocate Hayden Hape was awarded the Kahungunu Champion Award.
Hape has been instrumental in advancing the vision for his rohe, which included Pure Heart Aotearoa, a company based in Dannevirke that sells ready-to-drink hemp milk and other hemp products.
His leadership was also highlighted when Kahungunu ki Tāmaki-nui-a-Rua Taiwhenua invested a million dollars in the HIDDEN experience, a fast growing Singapore-based social enterprise specialising in immersive games.