CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO NGATI RANANA AGM ON 26 JANUARY 2005 AT NEW ZEALAND HOUSE, HAYMARKET

This year has been a busy for Ngati Ranana. We have journeyed through Europe and the UK sharing the love of our culture and beautiful heritage as Maori. I would like to acknowledge the whanau of Ngati Ranana including those who have returned home for eminating the vision of it founders over forty years ago and its guiding principles.

Ngati Ra continues to meet every Wednesday, 6.30pm at New Zealand House on the ground floor.

Our performances this year have averaged at least 5 each month. The highlights have been the Sky Haka Tour, Milan Spirit of the Planet Festival, Toast, Prague, Kohanga Hangi, All Black Dinner, Palma Mallorca Spain – Super Yachts, Commonwealth Heads of Government Malta and our finale the Annual Xmas Concert. We also as a whanau staged our own Pa Wars this year with the assistance of Shaz, Puna and Olivia. I also must mention our TV stars to fronted to the camera on many occasions as great ambassadors for club and Aotearoa. We continued to have the wonderful support our wider whanau groups Maramara Totara, Kohanga Reo, Beats of Polynesia, Karakia Group, Reo Whanau, Social Workers Forum and Manaia. As well as having the privilege of being part of the various fundraisers including Supa 6.

Our Matariki Celebrations included a memorial service for our beloved Kuia Rahera Windsor. The ceremony was led by Cedric Kapa and Reverend Barry Olsen. We were supported by Kohanga and the Beats of Polynesia including a solo by Taimania and the odd joke by Olivia.

We had the privilege of being part of many ceremonies essential in our role as Maori in supporting the nation. These included the Waitangi Church service at Westminster, Powhiri for the New Zealand High Commissioner Hon Jonathan Hunt, Anzac commemorations, Mokomokai Repatriation Te Papa New Zealand and Puipui handover to the New Zealand Navy. We also acknowledge our long standing relationships with the previous High Commissioner Russell Marshall and Deputy High Commissioner Suzanne Blumhardt who both returned to NZ on finishing their terms this year.

On Saturday 10 December, Ngati Ranana held a Christmas Concert at Salvation Army Hall in Oxford Circus followed by our after function at Prontefract Castle in Wigmore Street. Over 70 members practised for three months to perform on the day. Many of those people were new to kapa haka. Ngati Ranana was joined by Kohanga Reo, Maramara Totara, Manaia, and beautiful waiata by Hemi, with all items supported with the enchanting sounds of our taonga by Jerome, not to mention our super talented MC Shane Heremaia.. In many instances we had performers in every group who I would describe had endless energy running off and on stage but also superman/woman abilities to change their customs in a flash. The occasion was a great opportunity to come together as a Whanau at Christmas time to perform for friends and family and a great night was had by all at the after party. Our thanks to the organisers, and everyone else for their contributions to a wonderful day.

There have been a number of comings and goings. We were sad to farewell Shaz, Te Aroha, Crystal, Manu (temporarily), Bridget, Tania, Phil, Cedric, Erin, Stacey, Ruth, Olivia (temporarily), Tiare (temporarily), Tineka, Dan, Betty, Darren and Mel. Our aroha went out to our whanau to lost loved ones this year.

2005 has also brought joy to the Whanau with the arrival of Kimai, and Luka the future of Ngati Ranana. Also congratulations to Sheree and Xando on this beautiful wedding in May this year and also on expecting a pepi very soon. And to Charlene and Angus who were married in Barbados this year. Also to Puna and Shane for their up and coming wedding in January 2007.

On behalf of Club, I would like to extend our thanks to everyone for their contributions to the kaupapa of Ngati Ranana over the past year.

Finally I have had the support of an amazing team and cannot describe in words the time and energy each of the Komiti has dedicated to Club this year. As a team Komiti have replaced all kakahu, provided unforgettable memories for our whanau to have travelled throughout Europe and the UK for performances including supporting two weekend wananga. I would like acknowledge the following Komiti members:

Huia Paul – Secretary
Laurissa Sommerville – Treasurer
Jessica Smith – Performance Coordinator
Juanita Kirk – Social Coordinator
Pania Coates and Marina Hireme – Wahine Custodian
Emerson Nikora and Don Hireme – Male Custodians
Scott Boswell – Kohanga Representative

To all our kaiawhina thank you for all the mahi you have done for our whanau.

Finally to Ngati Ranana, it has been an honour to lead you this year, thank you for being my family so far away from home. I wish the best of luck to our new Komiti this year and to my successor Keryn Jones. Kia kaha koutou.

Nga Manaakitanga me te Aroha

Bella Takiari
Chair