Kia Ora E hoa and Happy New Years to all our Eastside community and whanau.
We trust you all had a safe and enjoyable break while on holiday and making the most of the beautiful lakes we have around us I'm sure to cool us down from the heat this summer.
In this months' newsletter we highlight activities that were run over the school holidays; the Mokoia Island Biosecurity programme and our Tamariki Activities and Kai in Parks. January also signalled that physical work can now commence on the SH30/Te Ngae Eastern Corridor roadworks and we had some changes to our team this month that we will update on.
On behalf of Tatau Pounamu as we look ahead to 2022 we want to wish our Eastern communities a safe and prosperous year, there is no doubt that the past two years have been intense and pressured for many of us, and it has shown the need more than ever for us ALL to stand together and work together as a Collective to Connect, Nurture and Care for each other.

Kotahingia te hoe, Kia kore ai te waka titaha ra

Paddle in unison so that the waka does not capsize

Ngā manaakitanga,

Tatau Pounamu Collective - Collectively Nurturing Our Future

Mokoia Island - Biosecurity Trapping

Tatau Pounamu in conjunction with Horizons offered our Eastside tamariki and whanau the opportunity to go to Mokoia Island these Christmas/New Years school holidays and assist with our Biosecurity trapping programme. The kaupapa of our trapping programme is to eradicate all pests that prey on our endangered native birds such as Kiwi, Tieke and Kokako we are blessed to have on Mokoia Island. Our tamariki are our future and this kaupapa helps us find and nurture our tamariki who show a keen interest and possibly be one of our future kaitiaki (guardians) for Mokoia Island. Our day started at Katoa Jets where we all got picked up and transported over to Mokoia Island where we all got split up into teams to cover a specific trapping zone. We learnt about the three different traps Mouse, Rat and Stoat traps, how to check and rebait each trap in our zone and learn some of the history and flora and fauna of Mokoia. A lunch back in our main hut was provided for all the whanau before we were picked up by Katoa Jets and delivered back to Rotorua (with a few spins thrown in for fun). Certainly a great fun day had by all.

Tamariki Activities and Kai in the Parks

Tatau Pounamu with our Piripoho team and Mokoia Community Association worked collectively to provide whanau activities and BBQs in some of our local parks during the Christmas holidays - Pohutukawa Drive, Aspen Place, Scott Place and Bronte Place. Tamariki had a chance to to ride bikes, learn BMX skills, do colouring and craft activities, slip and slide on water slides and play sports in the park as well as have a BBQ lunch. Parents and care-givers were able to join in or relax together in the shade of the trees...
Our whanau enjoyed the chance to come together and socialise in small neighbourly groups and the trial was successful so we look forward to doing more of these activities in future. These events were made possible with Rotorua Lakes Council, Kylie and the team from Library Youth and Early Learning Team, Aaron and his team from Lakes Council "Bikes in Schools" programme, Senila and Lakes High staff and the Rotorua East Lions Club. Ngā mihi Koutou.

If you have any ideas about creating a park or neighbourhood event near you please contact Sheree at piripiri.tataupounamu@gmail.com or ph 021 246 7217.

SH30/Te Ngae Road Eastern Corridor - Stage 2 Roadworks

On January 11 at 630am at Puketawhero Park a karakia/dawn blessing was held with Tatau Pounamu, Waka Kotahi and Eastern hapū Ngāti Uenukukopako and Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi for the SH30/Te Ngae Road Eastern Corridor - Stage 2 Roadwoks. The karakia was the successful result of an ongoing working relationship between Tatau Pounamu and Waka Kotahi and signalled that the physical work for Stage 2 can commence and is expected to start early-mid February 2022. Waka Kotahi are committed to addressing safety and connectivity, and see Stage 2 as an exciting project for the Eastside community, to improve safety for people walking, cycling and driving; making intersections more efficient; providing better travel choices and accommodating for future growth along one of the main gateways into Rotorua.

Pou Awhi - Team Changes

This month we take the opportunity to farewell Esther Keyte Beattie who has left the role of Pou Awhi to follow her travelling passions and pursuits. Esther was an amazing Pou Awhi, ever efficient and always organising the team, the Collective will miss her greatly.
We also would like to welcome our new care-taker Pou Awhi Molly Konui who will remain in the role until Karamea returns from Maternity leave.

A message from Esther: Kia ora koutou, as I am leaving the Pou Awhi role I just wanted to say ngā mihi to everyone who I have met and had the chance of connecting with in the last few months, thanks for your support and it was great working with you all. A big welcome to Molly who will be stepping into the Pou Awhi role, I am excited to see what the Collective can achieve in the year ahead.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Esther

A message from Molly: Ko Te Arawa, ko Māmari oku nga Waka, Ko Tongariro, ko Whakapounagakau, ko Taiao oku nga maunga, Ko Rotoaira, ko Rotorua-nui-kahumatamomoe, ko Whangape oku nga moana, Ko Ngāti Tuwharetoa, ko Te Arawa, ko Te Rarawa oku nga Iwi, Ko Ngāti Hikairo, Ngāti Uenukukopako, Te Roro o te Rangi, Ngāti Whakaue, ko Te Uri o Tai oku nga Hapū. Ko Molly Konui toku ingoa. My whanau and I have relocated back to my kuias rohe of Te Arawa after living in Tāmaki Makaurau for many years. We am enjoying being close to whanau and whenua and I look forward to being able to connect and awhi our Eastside whanau and community in the Pou Awhi role.
Mauri Ora,
Molly

Are You and Your Whanau Prepared?

COVID-19 is now in our community and sadly, some of our people have tested positive.

With the Omicron variant at our border, it’s only a matter of time before it reaches our community too.

If you haven’t done so already, prepare yourself and your whānau and take the necessary precautions to keep yourself, your whānau and your community safe from COVID-19 and this new variant. Click on this link for more information from the Te Arawa Covid 19 Response website.

Collectively Nurturing Our Future - Our Team

Sheree McKenzie Molly Konui
Piripiri / Community Connector Pou Awhi / Support & Coordination Lead
Phone: 021 246 7217 Phone: 021 246 5576
piripiri.tataupounamu@gmail.com pouawhi.tataupounamu@gmail.com

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