Rangitāne o Wairau

16/06/2026

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN 📣 For the Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships.

These scholarships support ākonga Māori whose values align with those of the 28th Māori Battalion and who are committed to improving the social, economic and cultural wellbeing of Māori.

WHO CAN APPLY?
Ākonga Māori who are enrolling in or continuing full-time tertiary study in 2027.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
There are now 14 scholarships annually, including:
✔️ 5 vocational education and training (VET) scholarships
✔️ 4 undergraduate scholarships
✔️ 3 master's scholarships
✔️ 1 Master of Education research scholarship
✔️ 1 doctoral scholarship

Applications close 11:59pm Sunday, 19 July 2026.

For more information, head to our website: https://bit.ly/4n98GTs

14/06/2026

⚠️NEW DATE⚠️

Kia ora whānau,

Please note there is a new DATE for this 😁 Looking forward to seeing you all there!

⚠️NEW DATE⚠️

🌿 Ruakanakana Waharoa Unveiling 🌿

E te iwi, nau mai, haere mai

Whānau! Please join us for the unveiling of a waharoa at Ruakanakana, created to honour the place where our tūpuna are laid to rest, and where they once lived
This is a chance for whānau to come together and acknowledge our connections to this whenua.

📍 Location
Ruakanakana School Site
1238 Kaituna-Tuamarina Road

📅 Date
Saturday 20 June 2026

⏰ Programme
10.00 am – Waharoa unveiling
12.00 pm – Kai
Approx. 2.00 pm – Close (following pack down)

👉 Please register your attendance to help with planning by emailing: [email protected]

We look forward to sharing this moment with you.

13/06/2026

This morning we were proud to open two significant exhibitions at Te Kahu o Waipuna:

📸 The Right of Deciding – A Rangitāne Photographic Exhibition
📷 He Kura Toi Tangata: 50 Years of the Waitangi Tribunal

We were honoured to welcome members of the Waitangi Tribunal to join us for the opening, including Chief Judge Dr Caren Fox, Judge Sarah Reeves, Deputy Chief Judge Craig Coxhead, and Steve Gunson. Their presence added real depth to the kaupapa and acknowledged the connection between our local histories and the wider national journey of Te Tiriti.

It was also great to see so many of our whānau and wider community come together this morning — a strong reflection of the importance of these stories and spaces.

We heard opening remarks from Rangitāne representatives Dr Peter Meihana and Aunty Judith MacDonald, acknowledging both exhibitions and the significance of this week — marking the anniversary of the signing of Te Tiriti at Te Whanganui / Port Underwood on 17 June 1840, where Rangitāne rangatira Ihaia Kaikōura signed on behalf of our people. Mayor Nadine Taylor also addressed those in attendance.

Together, these exhibitions speak to identity, memory, justice, and the ongoing importance of our right to decide — bringing our Rangitāne perspective alongside 50 years of the Waitangi Tribunal’s work.

If you weren’t able to make it along this morning, there is still plenty of time to visit:

📍 Te Kahu o Waipuna, Blenheim
🗓 Exhibition runs: 13 June – 9 August

We encourage whānau and the wider community to come through, spend time with the images, and engage with the kōrero they carry.

Nau mai, haere mai.

12/06/2026

He wānanga whakapakari tēnei i a tātou o Kurahaupō e pai ai te tū ngātahi ki Te Ipukarea. 🏌️‍♀️⛹

Come along and join us for a relaxed and fun Kurahaupō waiata wānanga as we prepare for Ipukarea. Bring your voice, enjoy some friendly kemu, and share in some delicious kai while we learn and sing together. It’s a great chance to connect, have a laugh, and build our waiata as a whānau — we’d love to see you there! These sessions are a time for Kurahaupō Waka to come together and sing our waiata. This is not just for Rangitāne uri, but for all uri of Kurahaupō Waka. 👪

Sessions will be held monthly on:
• Sunday 26 July, 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Ūkaipō
• Sunday 30 August, 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Ūkaipō
• Sunday 20 September, 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Ūkaipō
• Sunday 25 October, 10:00AM - 2:00PM, Ūkaipō

Please bring a plate/kai to share. 🍕🍇

Keep an eye on our socials for reminders and session times in the lead-up to each date.

See below for kupu:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SQhJL97tIFiTF8NNhrGefo26ArmNLb5D/view?usp=sharing
https://canva.link/zte92ixsc1o9fx4

11/06/2026

We invite you to our Matariki Gathering at the Wairau Bar, continuing the tradition of Wairau’s largest Matariki dawn gathering. ✨🌠

Whānau will sound the pūtātara to begin, followed by karanga, karakia, and waiata. Together we will honour our loved ones who have passed.

Though it will be a makariri start, we’ll come together afterwards to share a cooked kai and hot inu (no charge). 😁

Ngā mihi nui o te Tau Hou Māori e te iwi.

Thanks to the MDC Mānawatia te Kahui o Matariki Fund for providing the funding for this event. 👍

Register via Eventbrite:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2026/rangitane-annual-matariki-gathering-2026/marlborough

11/06/2026

Rangitāne o Wairau welcomes the announcement confirming Nelson/Marlborough as one of five regions selected to host clinical placements for the new Waikato Medical School from 2029.

We were pleased to partner with and support Councils and PHOs in developing the proposal to locate this programme in our region.

The model will see students complete their initial study in Hamilton before undertaking three years of training embedded in regional and rural communities, including placements through Wairau Hospital and across Blenheim.

This approach recognises that where doctors train is often where they stay. For Te Tauihu, it creates a real opportunity to grow our own workforce, strengthen local health services, and improve access to care over time – particularly for our rural communities.

A positive and practical step toward a more sustainable health system for our region.

The idea was to embed the students in regional and rural communities that needed doctors the most.

10/06/2026

As part of the recent redevelopment and enhancement works at the Blenheim Courthouse, several significant Māori artworks have been relocated to more prominent public spaces.

Yesterday, Te Matahiapo Hynes, Pou Ahurea for Rangitāne o Wairau, alongside whānau, led a blessing of Rongo Mā Tāne, a carving by renowned carvers Ken and Reg Thompsett. Originally commissioned by the former Housing Corporation, the carving symbolises peace, prosperity, growth and craftsmanship.

The blessing holds particular significance for Rangitāne o Wairau as owners of the Courthouse property, which was purchase by the iwi through its Treaty settlement as commercial redress. Since settlement, Rangitāne has maintained a positive and constructive relationship with the Ministry of Justice as tenant, including ongoing engagement throughout the recent redevelopment works.

The relocation of Rongo Mā Tāne to the main public waiting area ensures this important taonga is once again visible to the many people who pass through the Courthouse each year. It also reflects the continuing relationship between tangata whenua and a key public institution operating on Rangitāne-owned whenua.

We acknowledge Te Matahiapo Hynes for leading this process and all those involved in ensuring these taonga continue to be cared for and appreciated by the wider community.

10/06/2026

Your Vote Matters Whānau!

Election 2026 is coming - make sure you’re ready!!!
The most important step? Enrol early. Enrolments close 25 October, so don’t leave it too late.

By enrolling now, you’ll avoid last minute stress and ensure your details are up to date when it’s time to vote ☺️

Enrol or update your details online:
https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online

Need help to enrol?
https://vote.nz/enrolling/get-help-to-enrol/need-help-to-enrol

10/06/2026

🚨 Have your say – safety on SH1 near Tuamātene 🚨

Kia ora e te whānau,

Waka Kotahi NZTA is reviewing speed limits on parts of State Highway 1 around Blenheim — including the stretch from Spring Creek into town (past Tuamātene and Ūkaipō) and also out towards Riverlands.

We’re especially focused on the section by our marae.

Tuamātene sits right on SH1, with the main entrance directly onto the highway, almost opposite the Knights Lane/Ross Lane turnoff and right by the railway crossing. It’s a busy and complex stretch of road, with vehicles travelling at considerable speed.

When we have tangihanga and other large gatherings, there is constant movement of vehicles in and out of the marae — and it can be unsafe for our whānau and manuhuri.

We’ve been pushing for a reduced speed limit around the marae for a long time, and have also suggested options around the ability to manage speeds around the marae when it’s busy (such as a variable speed sign).

This consultation by Waka Kotahi is our chance to back that up — not just for our marae, but for safer roads across the district.

👉 Make a submission here: https://www.nzta.govt.nz/safety/driving-safely/speed/state-highway-speed-management/speed-limit-reviews-under-the-2024-rule/targeted-speed-limit-reviews-sh1-blenheim-area

Closes 27 July — quick to do, and it does make a difference.

10/06/2026

✨ Pūtea Tautoko ✨

E te whānau, are you representing Rangitāne in culture or sport? 🏉🎭

Pūtea Tautoko is here to support and celebrate our people striving for excellence on the regional, national, and international stage. Each year, Rangitāne o Wairau allocates funding to help uplift and recognise these journeys.

✅ Up to $500 per financial year (1 July – 30 June)
✅ Open to registered Rangitāne o Wairau members
✅ Apply for cultural or sporting events that promote our iwi

Whether you’re competing, performing, or hosting a kaupapa for our people - we want to hear from you 💙

A few key things to know:
• Apply at least 4 weeks before your event
• Applications are considered monthly
• Some things aren’t covered (like reunions, uniforms, education fees, etc.)

Successful applicants will be asked to share a short report and photos after their event and acknowledge Rangitāne as a sponsor.

👉 Ready to apply? Head to our website now under the members only area.