Te Ururoa Flavell: Awards night great celebration

Te Arawa recently celebrated our own people with an awards programme arranged and co-ordinated by Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa - and what a night it was. All of those who had given their lives in dedication to academia and sports at school level were acknowledged, as were our most elite senior sportspeople. It is appropriate that we celebrate them all.

I was amazed at some aspects of the evening. Firstly we had some stunning entertainment, with fantastic singers. They were simply awesome - guitars were their only instrument and they were able to deliver such a sweet sound. Maisey Rika attended and did what only she can do. She can really stir the emotions. That aside, I found myself thinking throughout the night just how easy it is for our people to entertain - we really should celebrate that skill.

The rules of the night stipulated that the event was mainly for each school to nominate their own students, but in some categories there were very few students to be seen. Sometimes we suffer from that famous saying "the potato never talks about its own sweetness". Perhaps because of that, some people did not submit their names, tending to bow to embarrassment and humility. Humility, if you will. We should, I think, remember that if we do not celebrate our own achievements, perhaps no one else will either.

It was on that line of thinking that Rangikahiwa Muller and George Thomas were inducted to the "Hall of Fame". Rangikahiwa is well on in years now - she is a familiar face at hui in Ohinemutu but she is also a woman who has worn the famous Silver Fern for Aotearoa in softball. For George, he has achieved at the highest levels not just for Aotearoa, but for the world.

We also had the opportunity on the night to acknowledge Wetini Mitai-Ngatai for his many achievements in kapa haka and Te Whare Tu Taua.

So let me again pay tribute to Te Papa Takaro and all of the workers involved for the great job they are doing for the celebration of our people. Let me also salute Kingi Biddle, who was a top-notch Master of Ceremonies for the night.

We are indeed fortunate to have Kingi around, just as we are fortunate to have so many talented people amongst us. Let us turn our heads to the next year and the good things to come.

Nonatatanei i whakanuia e Te Arawa i ona tangata. Na Te Papa Takaro a Te Arawa taua kaupapa i whakarite, i whakahaere, ka wani ke tana po. Ko te hunga upoko pakaru nei ki nga mahi a kura me nga mea hakinakina te hunga i whakanuia i te reanga o nga tamariki i te kura, a, mote hakinakina te hunga i te reanga pakeke. Me mihi ki a ratou katoa ka tika.

E tino ohorere nei au ki etahi o nga ahuatanga o te po. Tuatahi i tu mai etahi manu tioriori ki te whakangahau i te hui, me te miharo ano hoki. Ka rawe hoki ta ratou tu me te rakuraku anake, a, he reka tonu nga waiata ki te taringa. I reira hoki a Maisey Rika, a ko Maisey ano a Maisey. Ka tu nga pihi i to rongo i a ia e waiata ana. Engari i te whakaaro ake, e hia ke nei nga mea, o te kainga e taea ana te kawe i tenei mea i te ngahau. Me whakanui tatou i tera ahuatanga.

Ko te tikanga ma tena kura, ma tena kura ona tauira e whakaingoa mo te rarangi ingoa, engari he ruarua noa iho i roto i etahi o nga wahanga. Ka mate tatou i tera o nga korero "e kore te riwai e korero mo tona reka". Na tera korero, e kore etahi e tuku i a ratou ingoa ka noho ke i te whakama, i te whakaiti. Me whakaaro ke tatou ki te kore tatou e whakanui i a tatou ano, me wai ke atu?

He whai haere i te ia o taua korero, i whakaurua a Rangikahiwa Muller raua ko George Thomas ki te "Hall of Fame". Kua pakeke noa atu a Rangikahiwa a, he kanohi e kitea ana i Ohinemutu i nga hui a marae nei, engari ko ia tetahi i kawe i te rau hiriwa mo te poiuka (softball) i ona ra. Ko George, kua eke ki te taumata kaua i Aotearoa anake, engari i te ao.

I whai wahi tatou ki te whakamihi i a Wetini Mitai-Ngatai mo ana mahi nui i roto i nga mahi kapa haka, Whare Tu Taua ano hoki. No reira, ka nui aku mihi ki Te Papa Takaro me nga kaimahi katoa mo nga mahi e mahia nei e ratou mo te painga o te iwi, a, me hoki ki a Kingi Biddle, nana tonu te po i kawe. No tatou te waimarie i a Kingi.

No reira, kua tutuki te kaupapa mo tenei tau. Nau mai haere mai te tau hou.

I welcome your feedback. Email mpwaiariki@parliament.govt.nz, phone 07 3503261 or post to PO Box 12028 Rotorua 3045.