The last trip a couple of years ago was down the eastern side of the lake. Everyone had an enjoyable time and learnt alot.

Kia ora, please note the following from the Papawai marae trustees.

The Papawai Pa Trust is holding a planning wananga on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th September. Starting at 2.30pm on Saturday.

Your marae committee is holding a wananga for our whanau to look at the future.

There will be an opportunity for whanau who are unable to attend to put forward their ideas.

More information will follow, once our format is confirmed.

To register your interest please email the marae secretary on the address below. We ask that our whanau who live local make room for those that live outside of the rohe.

Email Chair Tia Tuuta or Secretary Michele Elliott
at papawai@marae@gmail.com ... See more

Kakahi

Kakahi were abundant in Wairarapa waterways many years ago and were an important mahinga kai species. But like so many of our unique and fascinating animals they are now in decline.

The following article belwo came from a Maori News item that screened yesterday afternoon. On Saturday a group of us joined Zealandia staff, Amber McEwen, Greater Wellington staff, Taranaki Iwi Whanui and interested folk to gather 50 kakahi so that after a special bath and tlc they could be taken to Zealandia.

The species we were looking for live beside the main species in Wairarapa Moana but at a rate of about 1-20 so it took six of us over an hour to find the required amount.

It was a great day filled with smiles and laughter despite the less than tropical weather. Although the two males in the water may have actually been shivering as they didnt wear wetsuits or thermals.

Our day ended with a very much welcomed hot drink and a couple of Amber's delicious kakahi ginger biscuits.

Thanks to Athena from Zealandia for organising the day and to the Zealandia team for future events that will welcome the kakahi to Wellington.

All photo credits to Pete Monk.

The beautiful kete were made by Te Patukituki.

200 Kākahi mussels are being translocated from Parangarahu Lakes and Wairarapa Moana to a sanctuary. Zealandia Co-Ordinator Pascale Michel says the freshwater mussel species are nationally in decline.
Kākahi is a freshwater mussel species that play an integral part in water quality.
Pascale Michel, Zelandia Co-ordinator says, “Today we're here for the Kākahi translocation, and it's to bring back the Kākahi to Zealandia, but it's also part of a bigger project which is looking restoring waterways in the Kaiwharawhara catchment.”
The Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary is relocating them with the help of Taranaki Whānui, Rangitāne o Wairarapa, and Ngāti Kahungunu.
Speaking on behalf of Taranaki Iwi Whānui, Holden Hohaian says, “We the mana whenua are working together with Zealandia to restore the quality of the Kaiwharawhara stream.”
Lead Scientist Amber McEwan says they are known as 'ecological engineers', with a single mussel filtering up to a litre of water per hour.
“They have an amazing filtering capacity so they filter feed and while they suck in the water the fix particles out of it so they can take dirty water and make it clean again,” says Amber McEwan.
Hohaia hopes it will one day become a food source for the people.
“Until a time when there are enough Kākahi for us all to gather as food,” says Hohaia.
Pascale Michel says this is the first step in a ten-year plan to restore the Kaiwharawhara catchment. ... See more

Ata Marie!

Firstly I would like to say, ngaa mihi tino nui to those of you in this email that I have not seen in such a long time.
Work has been full on and Id like to inform you all about the Matariki Movement that I have been working on for our whanau here in the Wairarapa.
This is a kauapapa to celebrate the Matariki, this is a kaupapa to encourage our whanau to start making some changes heading in to the Māori new year. This is a no cost event that will be running form out of The Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa (Who have Koha’d this to the kaupapa) Kahurangi hall every Monday & Wednesday starting on the 18th of June. The times are 5;30pm with a wide variety of people showcasing the work they do within our community delivering one off fitness classes for free.

This is a good time to start encouraging and motivating our whanau to come along and try these classes. So please see the attachment with times and dates of the classes, Spread the word, share the Panui & please encourage your whanau and friends to come along and give this a go,
Nau mai haere mai , I hope to see you all there

Heoi ano,
Katarina Te tau
Katarina Te Tau / Kaikōkiri / Ph: 06 3700818 ext 837 / Cell 0274590293
WHAIORA / 5 Park Street / PO Box 497 / Masterton 5810, Aotearoa/www.whaiora.org.nz ... See more

Please read the attached message and pamphlet for the Mauri Ora programme.