Published in: Kokiri Issue 6 - Hakihea - Kohitātea 2007
I te tau 1993 tīmata ai Te Rōpū Kaumātua o Ōwairaka ki Tāmaki ki te whakatairanga ki te whakakotahi i ngā kaumātua o Tāmaki Makaurau.
“Ko te kaupapa nui ko te whakawhanautanga, he awhi, he tautoko, he kai tahi, he whakaako tahi,” hei tā te heamana o Te Rōpū Kaumātua o Ōwairaka ki Tāmaki a John Komene.
“Huihui ka tū, wehewehe ka hinga … anō te pai te āhua reka o te wairua kei waenganui i a mātou,” hei tāna anō.
Ko te nuinga o te rōpū he kaumātua nō ngā hau e whā e pakeke atu ana i te ono tekau tau.
Hei tā John anō he pukenga nui tō tënā kaumātua, tō tënā kaumātua.
“Ka whakaako mātou i a mātou ki ngā waiata, ngā kawa o te motu, ngā tikanga, ngā hīmene, ngā karakia me te reo Māori.” Ia marama karapinepine atu ai te rōpū nei ki te tari o Te Puni Kōkiri ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
“E kore e mutu ngā mihi ki Te Puni Kōkiri me te rangatira a Pauline mō te whakatūwhera i te marae o Te Puni Kōkiri ki a mātou ngā kaumātua,” hei tā John anō.
“He wairua pai tō te whare rā he kaha ngā kaimahi o Te Puni kōkiri ki te manaaki me te tiaki i a mātou e hui, e wānanga nei.”