KŌKĀ KAHURANGI

He pakipūmeka i tiro atu ki ngā mahi me te oranga ā te Kōkā Kahurangi, ko Mate Huatahi Kaiwai.

Profiling Ngāti Porou kuia Mate Kaiwai.

Māori Television pays tribute to Mate Huatahi Kaiwai – a revered kuia of the East Coast tribe of Ngāti Porou – in KOKA KAHURANGI screening in the New Zealand documentary slot, Pakipūmeka Aotearoa (Monday February 13 at 8.30 PM).

Last year, despite flooding, washed out roads and dangerous driving conditions, Ngāti Porou celebrated the 90th birthday of Kaiwai, one of its most loved and respected elders. The birthday was to be held at Porourangi marae in Waiomatatini and by the night before the big day, her whanau had the tables set and the kai ready to prepare. But a heavy downpour and subsequent flooding washed the road out.

Rather than cancel the birthday, her family, with the help and support of locals, cut a new road over the Kainanga hill and carted kai, crockery and cutlery on tractors and trailers – anything they could find – to move the birthday to Uepohatu Hall. As one of the ringa wera (kitchen hands) proudly states: ‘We didn’t break any of the 36 bowls of trifle!’

KOKA KAHURANGI producer Erana Reedy says the family and the Ruatoria community were prepared to move mountains for Kaiwai which speaks volumes in terms of how she is regarded amongst her people. Within the past five years, her work in the community and in promoting the Māori language nationally has seen her receive a Queen’s Service Medal and Te Waka Toi Reo Award.

Kaiwai was born the youngest daughter of Sir Apirana and Lady Arihia Ngata. But at the age of four-days-old, she was collected by her Papa Iharaira and Nanny Te Waimatao Fox and sent off in the arms of her nanny on the back of a horse to trek to the back blocks of Rangitukia to Te Porahu, where she spent her childhood. Her parents had also sent along a cow and calf so she could have milk.

Reedy says this is just one of the lovely stories Kaiwai recalls in this one-off Māori Television documentary. The film crew travel back to where it all began at Te Porahu where she talks about the experience of being raised by a doting nanny and papa.

At the Ngata bungalow in Waiomatatini, she talks about being the daughter of one of Māoridom’s longest serving and most prolific politicians. Viewers also hear about the work she has done in the community including her role with the Māori Language Commission, Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori. The documentary ends with her 90th birthday celebrations.

“KOKA KAHURANGI or ‘precious mother’ is a tribute to this wonderful kuia,” Reedy says. “At the ripe old age of 90, she is still a very strong advocate of whanau and whanau responsibility to each other, a beautiful speaker and promoter of the Māori language, a committed educationalist and one of the morehu (survivors) of her generation who believes in loving all as you would your own.”
KOKA KAHURANGI screens in the New Zealand documentary slot, Pakipumeka Aotearoa on Monday February 13 at 8.30 PM.

http://home.xtra.co.nz/hosts/maoritelevision/latestnews/tribute_to_ngati_porou_kuia_on_maori_television.htm