Te Whare o Rehua 2020
Who’s involved
Tūhoe Tuawhenua Trust: Taawi Te Kurapa (Tutor and Trustee), Brenda Tahi (Project Director and Trustee), Karioi White (Project Support), Puke Tīmoti (Tutor and Researcher).
Te Whare o Rehua continued to develop in 2020 despite lockdown and Covid-19 risks closing the programme for much of the year. Just two programmes were completed before lockdown then another is planned as we go to print.
In January 2020, Te Waaka Howden led a programme that focused on pest impacts and control in our forests, with particular emphasis on possums. Participants learnt about different pests are how they are destructive to our forest bird life. This programme also completed a trap-line for possums, and collected fur that was then sold and the proceeds divvied up with the participants.
In February, Anthony (Chico) Te Kurapa led out a programme on tuna that made the journey to the head waters of the Waiau River. Participants learnt many aspects of eeling, including how to make a gaff and catching and preparing them for a meal.
And in December 2020, Puke Timoti led out a horse trek to Pukareao in “Nga Tapuwae o Nga Tipuna (Tracing the Footprints of Our Ancestors)”. The programme included horse preparation and riding, te kereru, te whakarapu tuna, making camp, and the history of the region.
Kaipupuri korero are the inspiration for Te Whare o Rehua and we salute you all for your leadership of our programmes in this time. This is what Te Whare o Rehua is all about—transferring korero from our experts and elders to the next generations so that the knowledge and practices of our forest way of life is never lost.
