Te Ururoa Flavell: Community tribute to Nia humbles

The Te Koutu community remember Nia Glassie, who died eight years ago. Photo / Supplied

It was humbling to attend the recent candlelight ceremony in honour of the memory of Nia Glassie.

In the past year or so, the Te Koutu community have rallied together to help move forward from this tragedy, and to honour Nia's memory eight years after her passing with a ceremony at the skate park, as a reminder that our children need to be cherished and kept safe.

I want to acknowledge Lauren James who was the key organiser, Rotorua Safer Families, E Tu Whanau, and the community who all supported it. This has been just one of a number of initiatives that they have worked on over the past 18 months to ensure that Te Koutu is a great place for whanau and tamariki/rangatahi to thrive. Some of those initiatives are;

- Safe as Houses - Te Pou Kapua o Te Koutu; ACC, Police, Fire, and Neighbourhood Watch distributed information about keeping the home safe, and crime prevention.

- Te Koutu Ahunga Matariki; a Matariki celebration involving manu tukutuku, astronomy and a cosmodome in the wharenui.

- Ministry for Women discussion on the report "Wahine Maori, Wahine Ora, Wahine Kaha - Preventing Violence against Maori Women" at the marae.

- The Community Action Group identifying "Sheriffs" in certain areas of the suburb.

- The blessing and launch of two new waka ama purchased by the marae, appropriately named "Te Koutu" and "Waikite".

- Initiatives to come such as taking local kids on a hikoi through the suburb to identify "safe houses" to go to if they need help.

While I don't necessarily have whakapapa ties to Te Koutu as such, I will always support a community that takes on the responsibility of tackling violence head on, leading initiatives from the front, and not waiting around for someone else to tell them what to do. This is probably why the events have been so successful - they are being driven from the ahi kaa, from those who are born and bred in Te Koutu. Ka nui te mihi kia koutou katoa.

Local rugby star

It's not often we can boast about one of our own reaching the dizzying heights of rugby stardom, so I want to take the opportunity to do that today.

The talented Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi began with club rugby and league here in Rotorua with Ngati Pikiao and Rotorua Boys High, but left his whanau and friends to pursue provincial rugby in Taranaki. This year the hard work and sacrifice has paid off.

He stood out in the Under 20 World Cup rugby, as halfback and by leading the squad with the haka, including an emotional tribute to the late Jerry Collins.

Most recently, he has signed for two years with Super 12 franchise Wellington Hurricanes. It's an amazing feat for someone so young.

I take my hat off to his whole whanau for their commitment to him, supporting him to follow his dream alongside his young son and partner.

I am reminded of this whakatauki "Tangata ako ana i te whare, te turanga ki te marae, tau ana", meaning "a child raised with home values, will be able to stand strong in the world". Kia kaha e tama.