29 Aug Ngā Whetū o te Āpōpō

In July 2024, the Waiwhetū community gathered for their first Puanga Hautapu ceremony led by tamariki who, like the rising whetū, held the light of new beginnings in their hands. This kaupapa was driven by the energy of the tamariki who learned to gather kai as an offering for Puanga. Unlike Matariki, this sacred ceremony was dedicated to the Atua Tāne, Rongo, Tangaroa, and the prominent Atua of this occasion, Maru.

The journey began with Toi Tangata kaimahi, Crystal Pekepo-Ratu, and her husband, Tautoko Ratu, who took on the responsibility of sourcing the ceremonial kai. With 14 tamariki from Waiwhetū Pā, they embarked on their mission of gathering, learning, and preparing. The tamariki came together in wānanga connecting with their pepeha and tūpuna. Guided by the learnings of Pāpā Joe McLeod, they gathered kai rongoā and ventured up their maunga, Pukeatua, identifying the rākau Matipō, Tarata, Rangiora, Karamū, Mamaku and Pikopiko.

Even as Te Ihorangi, our Atua of rain, showed a heavy presence, the tamariki persisted, learning resilience in the face of Tāwhirimātea’s breath. Rough seas meant they weren’t able to gather kai moana but the generosity of their Uncle Paora Thompson, who gifted them pāua, filled their kete. The final, most challenging task was sourcing a tuna from their sacred awa Waiwhetū. Despite the doubts cast by the heavy rain, determination carried the tamariki forward. In the still of the night, just before the ceremony, the awa answered their call, gifting them a tuna — a sign of the deep connection between tangata and whenua.

The Hautapu ceremony reflected this interconnectedness, each tamariki playing an important role, building their own tūāhu, weaving rourou, and honoring the Atua through their offerings. As they moved and learned through the upcoming phases matamata, matiti, Te huatahi and Hautuku, they also moved through layers of tūpuna wisdom, guided by the light of Puanga.

In this tamariki-led kaupapa they rekindled the fires of tradition, allowing a new generation to lead with the wisdom of old.