HE KUPU NĀ TE MANAWHAKAHAERE | Te Kōpua Marae Pānui
Updated: Mar 26
Friday, 27 Pipiri 2022
Tēnā tātou katoa, E Unu, e Kahu,
Ngā mihi o te Mātahi o te Tau ki a koutou, ki a tātou katoa. Kia tīramarama mai rā te whetū o Te Tau ko Matariki. The Māori New Year, our New Year has begun - A time for review, renewal, resetting of priorities, planning and looking towards the future of our Marae, our people.
In recent months, the Te Kōpua Marae Trustees met to discuss and progress many of our workstreams and projects. While reviewing the new (draft) of the Marae Hire Form, the Trustees considered a particular aspect, that being the consumption of alcohol on our Marae. This lead to much discussion, debate and pause as we considered the following question:
“What are the Mana-enhancing aspects of Alcohol consumption on our Marae?”
The discussions referenced our history, the change of character of our people and experiences of alcohol consumption our Marae. In the end, the Trustees unanimously agreed that alcohol consumption is NOT a mana-enhancing practice as it has no positive relationship to our Hapū tikanga, kawa and values.
With this in mind, the Trustees unanimously agreed to end Alcohol consumption on our ancestral home, our Marae.
As of Tuesday 21st of June 2022, Alcohol consumption on our Marae is now a thing of the past. We welcome a New Year, a new future where we celebrate through tikanga and Mana-enhancing practices for our collective well-being and benefit.
The date above aligns to the Te Pō tūtanganui o Pipiri, the winter solstice night, the longest night of the year which heralds the beginning of the Māori New Year.
We look forward to the Mana-enhancing activities this positive and exciting change brings for our whānau, our whenua, our hapū and our mokopuna.
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te kārohirohi, ā, ko tō tātou hoa haere, ko te Rangimarie.
Nāku noa nā
Shane Te Ruki – Manawhakahaere – Chair of Te Kōpua Marae Trust