The extended Ngai Takoto whanau once again came together to celebrate past and present achievements as well as strengthen tribal identity at the Ngai Takoto Sweetwater Festival at Waipapakauri last month.
The annual event was held on Boxing Day and saw various field sport events - including basketball netball, league nines, kids rippa rugby league and softball, along with various kids fun activities (such as sack racing, etc) - held from 8am to 2.30pm at Waipapakauri Domain; followed by the water sport events - including waka ama and kids' splash'n dash - at nearby Lake Ngatu from 3pm. The festival was wrapped up in fitting fashion with a dinner, awards ceremony and entertainment from Majic Paora and Tribal Connections, at Lake Ngatu later that evening.
As the CEO of the Ngaitakoto Runanga, Rangitane Marsden, said the festival has been held since 2012 to mark the occasion of the iwi's treaty settlement with the crown and which, more recently, included the return of ancestral lands at Lake Ngatu and surrounds. He added the event was designed to rebuild the tribe's identity, and allowed NgaiTakoto descendants from near and far to come back home to reunite with their whanau, their lands and celebrate being "themselves,"
"Everyday people don't just want to watch iwi leaders signing formal documents as a means of progress or success, this event allows us to celebrate our people through sports, whanaungatanga, and being ourselves in a fun way."
The prizegiving aslo a sportsman and sportswoman for the year named: Kawana Marsden (who is currently trialling with the Warriors U21 team) and Hinerangi Waikai (who recently completed the Iron Man with husband Carlos and also took part in the annual boxing fundraiser at Te Ahu in November amongst numerous other events she participated in during 2015) respectively. As well, seven educational scholarships were granted to continue the iwi's investment into its people and their future while the top marae at this year's festival was Mahimaru.
