Potaua Biasiny-Tule: Valuable life skills pass on

Kia ora Rotorua.

Thank you for all your messages and a special mihi to Uncle Paora whom I met at Hurungaterangi Marae recently.

Uncle Paora talked about attending trade training down in Otautahi along with my Uncle Junior, where they learned carpentry, painting and many other invaluable life skills together.

Over a cuppa, I asked him what he thought about the current drive to train our rangatahi into trade apprenticeships and he was very excited to hear that new opportunities were opening up as he personally was able to mahi for many years using the skills he had acquired.

He did have a few words of wisdom which I thought were interesting.

The first was to make sure that the right support was made available to all leaving home and looking to make a new life in Christchurch.

When they lived down south, they knew Te Arawa and Mataatua kaumatua, koroua, kuia who would provide spiritual and cultural support for all.

I remember koro Reo Katene being the pillar of strength during my time in the '90s.

The next was discipline, as everyone was a little concerned that the current programme seemed a lot shorter than the 4-6 years they had to commit to.

It was more than just learning how to swing a hammer. Listening to the poor practices followed with the planning and construction of the CTV building and with no one taking responsibility, it was important to make sure that the highest quality in professionalism was maintained throughout the length of the training provided.

The positive thing was that as well as learning skills for life, they made friends for life. Uncle Paora laughed as he recalled many of the fun times he, Uncle Junior and many others shared together, talking about the places they visited and how their experiences were seen in a similar fashion to the recruiting drive of Apirana Ngata when gathering support from Maori to fight during the war.

I could see the sparkle in his eye as he recounted his time in Christchurch and it warmed my heart to know a little bit more about the life of our Uncle Junior.

So to all of our 150 whanaunga who have joined the Tumahaurangi Trust to support the rebuilding of Christchurch, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui. Nga mihi nui ki a Ngati Whakaue i to mahi tautoko.