Wananga strengthens ties for Ehau whanau

The Ehau whanau wananga was a chance for each member to reconnect and learn about the legacy of their koroua Kepa Hamuera Anaha and their kuia, Wikitoria Ngahirapu. Photo / Supplied

"A key strength of any whanau is the foundation of history. Knowing where you come from and where you are heading."

It was this profound understanding that underpinned the Ehau whanau wananga which was held recently.

It was a journey to reconnect, energise and educate their whanau about the legacy of their beloved koroua, Kepa Hamuera Anaha and their cherished kuia, Wikitoria Ngahirapu. The gathering took place on Te Arawa's paramount marae, Te Papaiouru, within the whare tupuna of Tamatekapua. It had been 48 years since the whanau had last come together and 160 whanau members from around the motu and as far away as Australia made the long trip home to celebrate, rejoice, remember, and create a whnau vision for moving forward as one.

The kaupapa of the four-day wananga was about piecing together "the rich and vibrant tapestry of historical importance which fell into disrepair over decades of whanau displacement and separation", Chassie Whareaitu, trustee on the whanau trust, said.

The need for re-establishing these whakawhanaungatanga (whanau connection) bonds was based on the understanding that although most of the whanau knew their own whakapapa, many did not actually know each other personally or had not seen each other for decades. The whanau was guided by four key values: whanaungatanga, whakakotahitanga (being one), manaakitanga (caring) and aroha (love). Each of these principles helped to direct the course of the wananga.

"During our wananga, we wanted to help strengthen our whanau bonds so we held a quiz night, and ran sports activities and numerous other challenges that involved teamwork and encouraged our family to think as one," chairman of the whanau trust, Huru Maika said.

Working together to organise the wananga was an exercise in leadership, direction and governance.

"Planning the wnanga meant whnau members could share their skills while learning new ones," Mr Maika said.

During the wananga itself, whanau members were charged with session facilitation and given tasks that allowed them to take leadership roles.

"This was particularly important, this allowed and encouraged new whakaaro [thought], created opportunities and in the future will provide a stepping stone for our rangatahi to move into leadership roles," Mr Maika said.

The final day of the wananga was celebrated by building on stories told by their koroua and kuia, oral histories were told and even long-forgotten speeches of Kepa were shared. All taonga for the whnau to treasure and keep for a lifetime.

"Our whanau are indebted to Te Arawa Whanau Ora for their support, it helped us celebrate the essence of what Whanau Ora is all about, to plan and control our futures, to use the strengths that exist within our whnau to make sound decisions and to work together to become stronger, more connected and more involved with one another's lives.

"The deep sense of aroha we felt as a whanau is almost indescribable," Mr Maika said.