<strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> globalTraditionally Te Waipounamu is home to our people.In modern times however <strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> whānau havespread widely and become global citizens, livingin such faraway places as New York,South America and Switzerland.<strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> are as socially and economically diverse as anyo<strong>the</strong>r culture participating in modern society. We are doctors,lawyers, accountants, nurses, engineers, teachers, artistsand labourers. But whatever <strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> do or where ever<strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> live in <strong>the</strong> world our culture and a sense ofidentity goes with us. It binds us to whānau, hapū andiwi and to our home Te Waipounamu, Aotearoa.Hohepaturanga ‘Uncle Joe’ Briggs(Ōnuku, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke, <strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri, Arowhenua,Moeraki, Te Taumutu, Wairewa)Joe Briggs first arrived in Tauranga in 1954 as an able seamanaboard <strong>the</strong> M.V. Kaitangata. The ship was loading forestproducts bound for Australia.“Most of <strong>the</strong> waterfront workers were Māori and terrific people,this was my introduction to Tauranga Moana. I stayed asa seaman for a fur<strong>the</strong>r 20 years or more before I joined <strong>the</strong>Tauranga Water Sider Union in 1971,” says Joe.“Tauranga is my home, I love <strong>the</strong> people here, but my bones arefrom Whakaraupō in Te Waipounamu, it is where I was born andwhere my heart is.”Joe has been very active in <strong>the</strong> Tauranga community servingon marae and hapū committees, sports clubs and communityprojects. He played a leading role in establishing a <strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong>taurahere rōpū (regional community) in <strong>the</strong> town in <strong>the</strong> late1990’s which helps local <strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> whānau connect with <strong>the</strong>irculture and traditions. Joe has been chairman and secretaryover <strong>the</strong> years and <strong>the</strong> group has remained active and engagedin tribal affairs.“As a group we have fine understanding with <strong>the</strong> tribes <strong>Ngāi</strong> TeRangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga and Waitaha of TaurangaMoana which was given to us. We live in <strong>the</strong>ir place, we are<strong>the</strong>ir guests, but at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> day we are one whānau.”Ila Couch(Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke)A career in film and television has taken Ila Couch all over <strong>the</strong>world. In May 1997 <strong>the</strong> freelance director left Auckland, whereshe was born, bound for America.Ila specialises in shooting and producing content for televisionand <strong>the</strong> internet. She lives in New York, but travels all over <strong>the</strong>continent, staying in different cities for sometimes months ata time working on projects.“I love being able to make a career out of what I enjoy doingmost - story telling. New York City is an amazing place to bea freelance television producer. Most of <strong>the</strong> major productioncompanies are based here so I work on shows seen all over<strong>the</strong> world.”“I was born in Auckland and New York City is an amazing placeto live, but when I’m in Rāpaki I head down <strong>the</strong> hill towards <strong>the</strong>marae and feel <strong>the</strong> embrace of all <strong>the</strong> people who have everknown me in that special place. Whakaraupō, <strong>the</strong> bay, <strong>the</strong>wharf, <strong>the</strong> hills, <strong>the</strong> marae, my people – that’s where myheart is.”22 23
Juliet Tainui-Hernandez(Ōnuku, Ngāti Waewae)“I still love and miss New Zealand. We will return one day,we’d love Oscar to grow up with his cousins and know hisKāi <strong>Tahu</strong>taka,” says Juliet Tainui-Hernandez.After 12 years overseas, 10 of those living in London, NewZealand is still very much in <strong>the</strong> heart and mind of Juliet,who works as a lawyer.“I came to <strong>the</strong> UK by myself in 2002, met my husband JavierHernandez, from Puerto Rico, and now we have our little guy,Oscar Poutini Tainui-Hernandez, who is almost one year old,”says Juliet.“I came initially to work and travel for a couple of years ona working holiday visa, but <strong>the</strong>n met Javier who works infinancial markets. I have also made myself an interesting careerin an emerging area of legal risk management for law firms.I have been very lucky getting to visit many countries, 60 intotal, through work and for fun, and enjoying all London andEurope have to offer.”“I love to keep up to date with what’s going on with <strong>the</strong> iwi fromover here - it’s awesome to get <strong>the</strong> online Te Karaka and Te PānuiRūnaka and to have <strong>the</strong> rūnaka updates on Facebook – it’s soeasy to keep up with <strong>the</strong> news <strong>the</strong>se days.”Rosemarie Manahi Sanden(<strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri)Rosemarie ‘Rosie’ Manahi Sanden, is two days of train rides, fourflights, a car ride, and many hours of transit away from home.Born in Rangiora, near Christchurch, Rosie has lived in Leysin,Switzerland, on and off for <strong>the</strong> past 20 years with her husbandJan and two sons Dylan and Enzo. She is an accountant at aninternational school.“My family and New Zealand are on my mind constantly, I tryto return every year, to see my family, brea<strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong> sea air and tore-connect with my home,” says Rosie. When I return to Leysinit can take me months to settle back in. I sometimes wonderwhy God has placed me here, however, he has blessed me witha beautiful family, a spectacular natural playground, faithfulfriends and a good job that is difficult to find <strong>the</strong>se days.”“I live a very rewarding life here, I am actively involved inseveral charities in Leysin and overseas. Outside of our backdoor is a very large playground, that in some respects is verysimilar to New Zealand. I enjoy skiing, sometimes directly tomy door, hiking, climbing and yoga. Our little village is full ofactivities that one can easily access.”Ariana Silver(Ngāti Waewae, <strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri, Te Taumutu, Waihao,Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki, Hokonui)Ariana has lived most of her 11 years in Australia. It is <strong>the</strong> placeshe was born, but if she had her way “Te Waipounamu wouldbe my choice of place to live,” she reckons “The rivers aren’t <strong>the</strong>same over here.”Ariana has two younger sisters, Amai (7) and Aloeet (5). Theylive on a 40 acre property with <strong>the</strong>ir parents Michelle andMurray in Gazette, Victoria and attend Tarrington Lu<strong>the</strong>ranSchool where Ariana is school captain.“We have a wide variety of native animals living near our house.A koala, two wallabies, who like eating our apples, parrots, andfantails, just like New Zealand, and yes, snakes are in <strong>the</strong> area,”she says. “A young fox came to <strong>the</strong> back door and dragged offDad’s jandles into <strong>the</strong> paddock for a chew.”“Mum says <strong>the</strong> favourite thing I like to do is read on <strong>the</strong> toilet,but I do love being outside climbing trees - <strong>the</strong> higher, <strong>the</strong>better. My tāua (Natalie Win) would say, ‘just like your fa<strong>the</strong>r!’Unfortunately, Mum was a “climber” as well, so I have adouble dose.”Tamaha MacDonald(<strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri , Rangitāne, Ngāti Apa)From Invercargill to Mexico City, Tamaha MacDonald is livinghis dream.“I played NPC rugby for Counties Manukau and Marlborough.I also had playing stints in England, USA and Australia. TodayI am a full-time rugby coach at <strong>the</strong> Black Thunder Club, MexicoCity and <strong>the</strong> assistant coach for <strong>the</strong> Mexico National Team andMexico U19 Team. I never in my life thought I would be livingmy dream,” he says.“I moved here two years ago with my beautiful wife Jennifer.She was born and raised in Mexico City. She was keen to returnand I wanted to meet her family, experience <strong>the</strong> lifestyle andlearn to speak Spanish. It’s a fantastic country to live, <strong>the</strong> peopleare extremely warm, <strong>the</strong> climate is amazing and <strong>the</strong> food andculture make it a great place to live.”“I encourage young <strong>Ngāi</strong> <strong>Tahu</strong> to explore <strong>the</strong> world welive in. It is full of amazing people and different culturesand I feel very privileged to have had amazing experiences.Follow your dreams!”Manuariki Tini(<strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha)The bonds of whānau mean Rotorua is home to Manuariki Tini.“My parents and two older bro<strong>the</strong>rs and I moved fromInvercargill to Rotorua in 1986 to care for my mum’s elderlyparents. Unfortunately my grandmo<strong>the</strong>r passed away <strong>the</strong> sameyear and my grandfa<strong>the</strong>r four years later. By this stage, myparents were well established amongst my mum’s people ofTe Arawa. And as <strong>the</strong> saying goes, <strong>the</strong> rest is history,”says Manuariki.“But to be clear, although Rotorua has been home for <strong>the</strong> past26 years, Bluff will always be home in my heart,” she says.“Mum and dad ensured that we travelled back to <strong>the</strong> Bluff everyyear after we moved, sometimes two to three times each year.As we are a very close knit whānau, with our aunties, unclesand first cousins, <strong>the</strong>y ensured we maintained that strongconnection with each o<strong>the</strong>r, regardless of <strong>the</strong> distance.”Manuariki is married to Ariki Davis (<strong>Ngāi</strong> Tūāhuriri) and<strong>the</strong>y have four children Mapihi (13), Maria (9), Ariki (1) andbaby Kereti.“Today Ariki and I continue to return south regularly with ourchildren. They too, like my generation, share a special bondwith all <strong>the</strong>ir cousins in <strong>the</strong> Bluff.”Rachel Treloar(Kāti Huirapa ki Puketeraki)For Rachel Treloar doing her own thing has meant moving toTrouillas, France and buying an old vineyard.Rachel and her British husband Jonathan decided <strong>the</strong>y neededa change - he enrolled at Lincoln University, gained a Viticultureand Oenology degree with Distinction and worked at Neudorfvineyards as assistant winemaker before <strong>the</strong>y moved toFrance in 2005.“We really wanted to do our own thing,” says Rachel.France and Spain had a lot of interesting opportunitiesand old vineyards for sale and New Zealand at <strong>the</strong> timedid not seem like a good financial move for us.”The couple have two daughters Lydia Hinetahi (11) and IsabellaMaia (7) and Jonathon’s mo<strong>the</strong>r, Sybil lives with <strong>the</strong>m for aboutfour to six months of <strong>the</strong> year helping out with <strong>the</strong> childrenwhen <strong>the</strong> grapes are busy.“It is quite challenging but very rewarding.”24 25
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