“These retreats have been a major contributor to the confidence, unity, and leadership we are seeing from the group.
“From this kaupapa, the wāhine have organically developed the Waikirikiri Enterprise Market, which runs every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.”
Keenan said the wāhine were fundraising for waka ama sports fees, next year’s school uniforms, stationery, and other essentials.
“They operate as a true sisterhood – using the school’s commercial kitchen, barbecue, maara [garden], and chiller.
“They support each other and stay connected over the holidays by running barbecues and holding other activities together.”
The Wai Market, or Waikirikiri Enterprise Market, officially began just before Christmas. The fundraiser, for individual stall holders and the school, recommences on January 24, from 8am to 11am.
A popular seller at the Wai Market is the school’s home-produced venison, skinned, deboned and processed into popular “venny burgers” by wāhine to feed students during the school day.
The Wahine Hood Mīti Mama team, selling venny burgers, were in high spirits when the Gisborne Herald visited the Wai Market.
“We skin, debone and process the deer [during the school week], and come to the Wai Markets every second Saturday,” Kelton Ratapu said.
She paid tribute to “our mean kitchen hand ladies”, Te Ringamau Ritchie and Karolyn Johnson, for cooking the burgers that morning.
“We’re here to support Tui’s kaupapa,” Ratapu said.
“We’re all in, we’re all committed.
“Persistency is the key.”
School teacher Josie Morete and Pani McClutchie, who has two mokopuna attending Waikirikiri School, said their stalls had been successful.
“I’ve done alright,” Morete said.
‘It’s been steady,’ McClutchie said.
The stall selling venny burgers, which can be pre-ordered, had “had a very good day”, Morete said.
The two women said they would have a stall at each fortnightly Wai Market.
Keenan said she planned to bring students into the kaupapa in the new school year.
“They will be introduced to trading in ways that align with our values – learning about the environment, food systems, local economy, community responsibility, and practical financial skills through hands-on experience.
Keenan said the kaupapa was grounded in the idea of mana motuhake (self-determination) and decolonising the local economy.
“In simple terms, this means rethinking how we define wealth and abundance – focusing on our relationships to place, food, and each other, and supporting a more localised, community-driven approach to trade.
“It’s about ensuring everyone has enough and taking collective responsibility as a community to make that happen.”
The Wai Market on January 24 will feature butchery lessons, baking, second-hand goods and “crop swap” (an exchange of homegrown goods), Keenan said.
