Reclaiming Te Koutu, My Kainga

Te Arawa children outside Karenga Park

August 8, 2015, marks the eighth anniversary of the passing of Nia Glassie, a dark event in Te Koutu history. Next month, the Te Koutu community will come together to acknowledge Nia's death and also reaffirmTe Koutu as a community that cherishes families and a place where violence is not okay and one that refuses to allow the tragedy to define it.

Five generations ago, Lauren Jame's great grandfather Tuoro Akapita Pango moved from Ohinemutu to Te Koutu. He was one of the original Whakaue descendants to leave Ohinemutu due to over population of the village.

"My children are fifth generation Koutu, and if they had a choice between their father's whanau home in Auckland and our home here, they would choose Koutu."

Lauren says it's not only the Children in the community who proudly call Koutu home, there are still Kuia in their 90s who moved to Koutu Rd some 70 years ago and who still live in the same homes, proud of their community. They're all whanau, she says.

"For the most part 60 per cent of us are related, many of our families are still living in our community. It's still a very active community. While the community has been through some bad times we know who we are and we know where we've come from."

And this is what makes the Koutu community strong - A connectedness that brings together individuals from all over the community, Maori and non-Maori, to form the Te Koutu Community Action Group and reinvigorate the community. Adversity certainly does make this community stronger and next month on August 8 the community is holding a candle light remembrance evening at Karenga Park.

"The kaupapa around August 8 has come about because we as a community haven't been through a healing process, it's time for us to heal through that and not allow it to define us anymore."

Police who were involved in Nia's investigation have also asked to participate as part of their own personal healing.

"We will have a few guest speakers including the Mayor, but actually most of it will be a silent candle remembrance evening. When it happened all the services came out to investigate, but no one came and talked to the community or asked how they could support us."

"Eight years on and we believe here in Koutu we're going through some great changes. We have some great youth doing good things and kaumatua providing our community with leadership."

And it doesn't end there. Te Koutu have a whole range of activities planned before and beyond Nia's remembrance.

"We want to be responsible for redefining what Koutu means to us, not allowing all the bad things define that for our kids. Reaffirm the sense of pride and what it means for Koutu."

There are two wananga planned in the lead-up to the candle-light evening facilitated by Ricky Bishop to teach the Koutu haka as well as listen to key agencies they want to build positive relationships with. The first one is down for July 30 at Te Koutu marae.

"We've invited the police, Corrections and CYFs because we want our community to start engaging with these government agencies so they can see that there's another side to them. That they are also there to help us."

Whilst bad things have happened in Koutu, there is also a history which this community can be proud of.

"The first Kohanga Reo in Rotorua was started in Te Koutu, it was in operation for 32 years and was one of the first in thecountry. Te Kura o Te Koutu started out of the marae here. Te Papatakaro o Te Arawa are still at the marae, and the Waikite clubrooms always been a part of Te Koutu."

A recent purchase by the marae of two W6 Waka ama means the community has resources for the kids to teach them about water safety and how to paddle. "At the moment you can drive down Koutu Rd and can see a sign fundraising for
the marae. As a community we take on the responsibility for ourselves."

Asked if there have been any obstacles in bringing the community together, Lauren says not at all, "...that's a tohu in itself, people have been really keen to be involved right from the beginning."