Te Ururoa Flavell - Daily Post Column

Published 26 June 2012

Tēnā tātou katoa.

I start this column on a sad note - acknowledging the recent passing of Tauranga Council CEO, Ken Paterson, who died suddenly last week.  I had just recently been working closely with the Council on a local Bill, so it came as quite a shock to hear of his passing.  I send my condolences to his whānau and colleagues.

I also acknowledge the passing of Bob Low, who has been a well-known figure in Rotorua, particularly through his mahi at ACC over the years.  Bob has a wide whānau, and I send my sympathies to you all at this time.   

I also must mention a brave young battler, Chace Topperwien, who passed away last week after suffering from leukaemia for over a year.  Chace's whānau were so brave in sharing their battle and his with the public who had come to know and love this little boy.  He certainly captured the hearts and minds of the public who, for many, made efforts to assist the whānau financially by way of various fundraisers in the community.  My heartfelt condolences go to Keri and Ryan and their wider whānau.

On my mind lately has been the issue of cancer - it seems to be a nasty disease that takes hold of anyone no matter the gender, age, or race.  It seems to not matter who or when it will strike.  I am often encouraged when I see or hear about small communities rallying together to raise money for individuals who are suffering from some form of cancer, like the Ngongotaha Relay last weekend to raise money for another young battler, Cory Josephs.  It's really awesome to see whole communities come together in this way, for someone they don't even know! 

Another organisation that comes to mind is Aroha Mai Cancer Support, run by Bubsie MacFarlane.  Aroha Mai are currently running a number of fundraisers to simply help keep their organisation ticking along - such as a Netball tournament held a few weekends ago, to the Matariki Ball, just this past weekend.  I hope that the fundraising is going well, because I know that they offer a wonderful and much needed service.

If anyone would like to donate to Aroha Mai, or contribute to Cory Josephs or Chace Topperwien whānau, please contact my office on 07 3503261 for the details.

On to other matters now.  Tangatarua Marae at Waiariki Institite of Technology recently hosted the 2012 Manu Kōrero competition for the Te Arawa rohe.  This is always a wonderful opportunity to showcase some of our best and brightest upcoming young speakers, whether they are competing in the Te Reo or English sections.  Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this year, however, I understand that the calibre of speakers was very high, and I am pleased to acknowledge the efforts of all those who entered, and in particular, I congratulate the winners Te Kaiamo Rogers (Junior Māori), Georgia Stiles (Junior English), Tairoa Morrison (Senior Māori) and Eruera Bidois (Senior English).  I am sure you all whakapapa to Ngāti Rangiwewehi, so I have no doubt you will do well in the National competition in Nelson later this year.  My best wishes to you all.

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Tēnā tātou katoa.

Ka timata aku korero i raro i te kapua pouri me te tuku roimata ki a ratou kua hinga ki tua i nga rā kua pahure ake. Ko Ken Peterson tēra nō roto o te Kaunihera o Tauranga. Ka mutu, ko ia tēra e mahi tata mai ana i runga i te kaupapa o tetahi o nga pire o reira. I runga i tēra, anō nei te ohorere. Ka tuku oku whakaaro ki tona whānau whānui.

Me tuku mihi hoki ki te whānau o Bob Lowe. Tōna rongonuitanga i tēnei rohe he tohu o tana kaha ki te mahi i nga tau kua pahure. Tē taea te karo, moe mai e koro.

Mai i te hunga pakeke, ki te hunga taitamariki, he tika kia tuku mihi hoki ki te whanau o Chace Topperwien. Anō nei te maia o tēnei mokopuna i noho māuiui i te mate pukupuku. Kaore e kore he āhuatanga i pā tata ki ngā tangata maha o te motu, ā, i rongo katoa tātou i te mamae o tōna whānau, ka mutu, e hia kē nei ngā tangata i tautoko i te whānau, ā-whakaaro, ā-wairua, ā-putea hoki. Ka tuku mihi hoki ki a Keri, Ryan me te whānau whānui.

He ngārara nui tēnei te mate pukupuku, kaore he paku whakaaro ki te momo tāngata - Maori mai, Pakeha mai, pakeke, rangatahi. Heoi, he mea akiaki te kite i ngā roopu e whakakotahi ana ki te whakapiki i te mōhiotanga e pā ana ki tēnei mate, i ngā pūtea tautoko hoki, pēra ki a Ngongotaha i kohi pūtea mo Cory Josephs.

Ko Aroha Mai tētahi roopu e tino ngana ana ki te whakapiki mōhiotanga ki tēnei mate. A, ko Busbie MacFarlane tēra e whakahaere ana i te roopu. I tēnei wā tonu kua whakatū tāwhainga netipōro rātou ki te kohi moni mō tō rātou roopu, ā, anō hoki, nā rātou te pō whakangahau Matariki i whakarite i te wiki kua pahure. Kia kaha koutou ki te whai pūtea, ko te tumanako ka tau pai ō koutou mahia i nga rā e heke mai nei.

Mena e hiahia ana koutou ki te tuku pūtea ki a Aroha Mai, ki a Cory Joseph, ki te whanau o Chase rānei, tēna waea atu ki taku tari 073503261, mā taku hekeretari koe e arahi.

Ki take anō inaianei. Katahi anō ka mutu nga whakataetae Manu Kōrero mo te rohe o Te Arawa i te marae o Tangatarua.  Ki taku i rongo nei he pai nga mahi, me te pai ki te kite i a tātou kākā wahanui e whakaputa ana i o rātou whakaaro ki te minenga. Kaore au i tae atu ki te whakataetae i tenei tau, heoi, i rongo au i te pai o nga kōrero. Me mihi ka tika ki a Te Kaiamo Rogers, Georgia Stiles, Tairoa Morrison, ki a Eruera Bidois hoki, kāore e kore ko Ngati Rangiwewehi koutou, nō reira, kāore he paku āwangawanga nōku mo tō koutou haere ki nga whakataetae ā motu.