Charissa Waerea retired from the ACE Aotearoa Board at our AGM in July. Here are some final words that she left with us on her retirement.
Tēnā tātōu e huihui nei i rūnga i te kaupapa o Adult Community Education Aotearoa tēnei hui ā tau.
Kei te mihi, kei te mihi, kei te mihi.
Ko Charissa Waerea tōku īngoa
Nō Rongomaiwahine
Nō Kahungunu
Nō Ngāruahinerangi
Nō Tuwharetoa kei Taupō
Tēnei uri e mihi atu nei.
E whākārō ana ahau mō ngā mate kei rūnga i a tātōu i tēnei wā, hāere, hāere, hōki atu!
Hurinoa ki a tātōu te hūngaora
Tēnā kōutou kātoa
Tihei mauri ora!
It is a sad but happy time for me to be retiring, concluding my tenure as a Board Member, past Tangata Whenua Co Chair, friend and colleague of the ACE Aotearoa Board, having now served my third and final term.
Officially I came onto the board in 2014. However, under the guidance of Ani Pahuru-Huriwai and the late Jo Lake, my very first meeting 12 years ago, which I recall vividly as they had set up a nursing cot in the board room and I combined meeting and breastfeeding my now 12 year old Iwimaire who was four months old at the time. (Image shown is me feeding Iwimaire at conference wharewaka 2012).
In my time on the Board I have been nothing but cared for, over these many years. I have seen the swings and round abouts and I have seen the changes of several successive governments and with it the highs and lows of these changes. I am grateful that ACE Aotearoa remains at the fore regardless.
There have been many national events and tragedies take place during my time including the Christchurch earthquakes, the many cyclones that hit my people of Te Tarāwhiti, the mosque attacks, and of course Covid-19, te mate Kanauna.
Affected personally with the death of my son Tuwhakararo, during the Covid-19 lockdown I attempted several times to leave the Board as I was not at capacity to contribute to my fullest ability, within my deep grief.
I thank the Board for having my back and supporting me through this – Jay and Kathryn, I am so pleased that I did not leave in the end and I persevered.
During this time of challenges and tragedies, the ACE communities were some of the quickest to respond and I want to thank and acknowledge you all.
I have several people to thank. The current Board, previous Board members, new Board members. Jay Rupapera, Kathryn Hazelwood, Lottie Vincent, David Do, Pale Sauni, Deleraine Puhara. The ACE Team and Staff who have been my absolute backbone. The late Jo Lake (CE). Ani Pahuru-Huriwai, Analiese Robertson, Hannah Pia Baral, Carl Pascoe, Wendel Karaiti, Tracey Shepard.
E te tuakana Hauiti E mihi ana ahau ki a koe, Te Ataahia Hurihanganui, Peter Jackson, Rosina Taueki, Bronwyn Yates, Aunty Sandy Morrison.
I would like to mihi also to my whānau who put me forward for the Board, Taranaki Māori ACE network, Whaea Mako Jones, Ruakere Hond, Mitchell Ritai, TPACE Taranaki Pasifika ACE.
I also want to acknowledge our elders or kaumātua most of whom have passed on now. Kuia June Jackson, Koro Sam Jackson and Koro Te Huirangi Waikerepuru. It is because of these elders I had the confidence in what I did, the jobs and roles I undertook, knowing that I had the backing of my elders.
I am excited about the future and the foundation that we are building together for future generations.
Ngā tamariki mokopuna mo āpōpō!
So that’s the end of my acknowledgements, but I want to thank you all, the membership, for your support and awhi and I do want to acknowledge that yes Hauiti things on the Board have changed, the increased use of Te Reo Māori me ōnā tīkanga, mana enhancing processes and practices, as you speak about Kathryn, and teaching these things are my small contribution to the bigger picture that we are building together.
Highlights for me include:
- BLDC ASPBAE – Ho Chi Min – 2011
- Hui Fono PARIHAKA
- Hui Fono Ahipara
- Hui Fono Hokitika
- The Prime Ministers Tertiary Excellence Awards
And finally, meeting with several Members of Parliament and policy writers from both the Ministry of Education and the Tertiary Education Commission who truly care for the improved education, health and wellbeing outcomes for tangata whenua and all, telling our story and validating the great mahi that we do to serve our people and communities. I end my speech with this whakataukī said by Te Whiti o Rongomai 1881 on the day of the ransack of Parihaka when the men were being arrested and taken away to the prisons in the South Island.
“E Tū Tamawāhine i te wā o te kōre!
Woman! Stand Strong in the face of Adversity!”
Nō reira, tēnā kōutou, tēnā kōutou, tēnā kōutou kātoa.