Life members added to Māori Womens Welfare League at Hui-ā-Iwi 2019

Sunday, 24 November 2019

Maori Women's Welfare League Te Waipounamu area representative Susan Wallace presenting a lifetime membership award to Winsome Skerrett.

Six Southland wahine were inducted as life-time members of the Māori Women's Welfare League at Ngāi Tahu's Hui-ā-Iwi in Invercargill.

The inducted life members to the Arahi branch were Winsome Skerrett, Jemma McArthur, Kath Kelland, Shirley Stanton, Ann Fogerty and Viola Carrodus.

Winsome Skerrett, Jemma McArthur, Kath Kelland, and Shirley Stanton who were inducted as lifetime members to the Arahi branch of the Māori Women's Welfare League at Ngāi Tahu's Hui-ā-Iwi.

Viola Carrodus died earlier in the year.

League Arahi president Doreen Whakamoe said the award comes after 15 years of services and dedication to the league and the community.

Anne Fogarty receiving her lifetime membership award from Māori Women's Welfare League Te Waipounamu area representative Susan Wallace.

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Some members had served longer than 20 years with the group, Whakamoe said.

The woman have been involved mara kai [food growing] projects, reading in schools and working alongside other community groups such as Oranga Tamariki, she said.

Māori Womens Welfare League started in 1951 and adheres to traditional Maōri values and concepts to improve the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of tangata whenua.

The Arahi branch based in Invercargill recently celebrated its 52nd year of service.

Conservation projects that Ngāi Tahu were involved with in Murihiku Southland were also highlighted during the Saturday morning presentations.

These included Predator Free Rakiura and Maukahuka and the work done at Waituna lagoon which a 1000 acre area will be established for traditional food gathering [mahinga kai].

The Waituna wetland is recognised as Toanga [treasure] to Ngāi Tahu and is acknowledged under the 1998 Ngāi Tahu claims settlement.

Te Runanga O Awarua representative Gail Thomson said a master plan was available at the hui that would enable Iwi to have access to the mahinga kai catchment area to gather food.

Sir Tipene O'Regan said there are an important series of seabeds along the eastern coast of Te Wai Pounamu [South Island] that were used by Ngāi Tahu tipuna [ancestors].

Waituna held particular significance as the second largest lagoon after Lake Ellesmere in New Zealand, and was an extensive area of water and richness, O'Regan said.

Ngāi Tahu particularly Te Runanga O Awarua, Department of Conservation Southland District Council, Environment Southland, Fonterra, and the Whakamana Te Waituna Trust had been working hard to restore the wetland.

Through these collaborative efforts they were 'starting to heal the lungs of Waituna,' he said.

Waituna was one of the small triumphs of the 1998 settlement because it recognised Ngāi Tahu presence in the lagoon, he said.

Hui-ā-Iwi, 2019 concludes on Sunday with the launch of a new Ngāi Tahu directory, an update on the Whai Rawa saving scheme along with activities such as ride on the Shotover Jet on the Ōreti river.