NKII 7842 Newsletter June.fh9 - Ngāti Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated

Kaumatua Representatives BringExperience To The NKII BoardSchool committees, marae work and heapsof children are some of the things BillBlake and Sophie Keefe have in common.They are the kaumatua representatives on theNgati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated Board,selected in the recently held kaumatua elections.Bill hails from Mahia, of Ngati Kahu (Wairoa)and Ngai Te Rakato, while Sophie's whakapapais to most of Kahungunu, from Mahia right downto Wairarapa.Bill, a widower, has 14 children and not longago baptised his 50th mokopuna. Sophie hadfour children with her late husband Did, adoptedthree and took in 34 whangai.She lived with her husband's people for many years atRaupunga, getting involved in many things, such asfundraising for the Kahungunu marae on Putere Road,organising a kaumatua bus for Ngati Pahauwera, andbeing a representative on the Ngati Kahungunu IwiIncorporated hauora group in the late 1980s -just tomention a few. She divides her time between Wellingtonand Hawke's Bay.Bill is not one for staying at home much either. Currentlyhe is a trustee for Te Rauhina and Rakato marae, representsBill Blake and Sophie Keefethe Wairoa rohe on the HB Regional Council MaoriAdvisory Committee, and is a government appointedmember of the HB-East Coast Conservation Board. Healso manages to find time to look after the family farm.Bill has been a kaumatua representative for NgatiKahungunu Iwi Incorporated before, and has beeninvolved with Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated mostrecently as a director of it's housing business, Tu KahuLtd. Both Bill and Sophie have been involved with theWairoa Taiwhenua, Sophie since it was established.LAST CHANCE TO SEE NGATIKAHUNGUNU EXHIBITIONThis is the last chance to see photographic exhibition "KahungunuKa Moe... Ka Puta... Te Hononga Mareikura", which finishes upon June 9 at the National Library gallery in Wellington.The last week is packed with entertainment and lectures, plus a specialMatariki Hawke's Bay Food and Wine Fiesta on June 8.Kahungunu Maori Dance Theatre have five performances scheduled, includinga leading role in the closing ceremony on Sunday June 9.Maori Language commissioner and former Waikato University Professorof Maori Dr Timoti Karetu, and Professor Graham Smith, Ngati Kahungunuki Wairarapa, have lectures on the Thursday.The combined exhibition and lecture series in Hastings, a joint venturebetween Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated, the National Library and theHawke's Bay Cultural Trust was one of the most successful to be held inHawke's Bay last year and is proving to be even more popular in Wellington.Courtesy of Turnball National LibraryKia Ora Helen BarlowHelen Barlow looks as comfortable behind a desk as she feels behind the wheel.For the past five years she has been driving taxis. Since April she has also beenkaiwhakataumanuhiri of the front desk at Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.It began with a wish to give herself some options jobwise. She completed a computercourse at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga, then started looking for receptionist work.Being turned down a few times made her more determined to carry on. "Then thisone came up, I fitted the criteria, and here I am."Helen replaces Sonia Paul who recently gave birth to her second son, Taonga.Congratulations Sonia, Ken and Ihaia.Page 2