Celebrating Us

Jake and Mourea Morgan
In 2009 Whakamarama tamatoa Jake and Mourea Morgan were both selected to represent Waikato at the National Maori Rugby League Tournament.   Mourea's U16 team made it to Semi finals but lost to Taranaki. Jake's U18 team reached the final only to lose by a mere two points to Counties - Manukau capping off a fantastic tournment.

Profiles: Mourea
Position: Inside Centre. Interested in Rugby Union, Rugby League, Touch Rugby, Kapa Haka, Waka Ama and Greek Mythology. He is contemplating to be a full-time tertiary student at WIN-TEC in Hamilton - second semester (Bachelor of Graphic Design).

Jake 
Jake plays on the left side wing or fullback. Interested in Rugby Union, Rugby League, Touch Rugby, Waka Ama and Tā Moko. Jake is currently enrolled in the Applied Certificate in Sport (specialty Rugby League) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Jake and Mourea intend to trial for Waikato team at the end of the Winter season.  Both boys' are aiming to make NRL teams.

 Kaiako Extraordinaire: Tamara Hapi and Wini Lewis
In our 2007 survey, whānau told us that having the right reo kaiako would make the difference in whether they would be involved in learning te reo.  Well whānau, we count ourselves extremely fortunate to have two of the most experienced, qualified, motivated and caring kaiako any marae could wish for, and both generously give of their time to run whānau wānanga at Whakamārama.

The first is Tamara Hapi (nee Virginia Aranui) is a daughter of Tui Aranui.  Tamara is an accredited pouako of Te Ataarangi, has received her BsocSci and is currently embarking on her MA.  She has been teaching te reo with Te Ataarangi for over 10 years. She is married to Vince Hapi and has 4 beautiful daughters.  Tamara also has special skills in music and is loads of fun.

Wini Lewis (nee Winifred Tuhi) is a daughter of Bert (Te Aroha) Te Tuhi. After a varied career in banking and working with street kids she, like Tamara, learnt te reo with Te Ataarangi and became a pouako.  She then completed her BEd at Auckland University.  She has 12 years high school experience becoming the Fairfied college Head of Māori Programmes in 2006.  She left earlier this year to spend more time with her 3 adorable but hautūtū children and special needs neice Bonnie.

Ngāhu me Makareta Hapi
Congratulations to these highly talented and absolutely stunning rangatahi who represented Te Wharekura o Ngā Taiātea at the national secondary Kapa Haka competitions. The group came a creditable 7th.

These girls are mokopuna of Tui and Polly Aranui, daughters of Tamara (Ginny) and Vince Hapi.  Both Maka (year 10) and Ngāhu (year 13) worked extremely hard with many hours of practices.  Both are fluent in te reo and next Ngāhu hopes to begin a management degree at Waikato University.

Nei ka mihi ki ā tātou putiputi e puāwaitia ake nei. Kia rawe ā kōrua mahi!  Hari koa ana tō whānau i ā kōrua.

 Chynelle Tuhi and Roger Lewis
Belated congratulations to the two members of the Whakamarama whanau who graduated on the same day from Waikato University.  Chynelle is the Mokopuna of George Tuhi and Daughter of Lionel Tuhi and graduated with a BA Māori degree.  She is now completing her Law degree at Waikato.

Roger is a Pakeha married to Wini (nee Tuhi) and is the son in law of Bert (Te Aroha) Te Tuhi. He received his MA with first class honours for his thesis relating to the processes of creating a reo regeneration strategy at Whakamārama marae.  If you can view it here.