Issuu

Huaki

“To bring to Light”

Edition 33 Friday, June 26, 2026

Waitangi Treaty Grounds Receives International Recognition for Historic Busby Camellias

Waitangi Treaty Grounds is proud to announce that its historic Busby Camellias have been awarded the International Camellia Society’s Apoliu Declaration for Historic Ornamental Camellia Trees, becoming the ﬁrst collection in New Zealand to receive this prestigious international accolade

The Busby Camellias, planted during the time of James and Agnes Busby in the early 1830s, have been part of the Waitangi landscape for almost 200 years Hidden within a sheltered gully beneath a canopy of native trees, they are among the oldest known camellias in New Zealand

The trees typically ﬂower in winter, from July through to September, and you can visit them as part of the standard admission to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds

“Over the coming months, we look forward to working with horticultural organisations, garden clubs and others to share the story of the Busby Camellias”, said Head Gardener Bernice Dingwall

“The Busby Camellias are far more than beautiful flowering trees They are living links to the early history of Waitangi and have witnessed nearly two centuries of change We have uncovered connections spanning horticulture, heritage, Māori oral history and international camellia conservation It is a privilege to care for these trees, and we are delighted that their significance has been recognised on the world stage We look forward to hosting guided visits during the upcoming flowering season ”

The Apoliu Declaration was established by the International Camellia Society (ICS) to identify and protect signiﬁcant historic and ancient camellias around the world

The award recognises camellias of exceptional cultural, historical and horticultural importance and encourages their conservation for future generations

Scientiﬁc research undertaken in the 1990s provided genetic evidence that one of the

Busby Camellias is Middlemist’s Red, a rare historic camellia often described as one of the rarest cultivated camellias in the world and commonly reported as having only one other known specimen at Chiswick House in London

The second tree has been linked to a historic Camellia japonica growing at Camden Park in Sydney Together the trees form a remarkable horticultural heritage collection and a living connection between New Zealand Australia and the United Kingdom

The application was unanimously supported by the International Camellia Society’s assessment panel, with the Society recognising the historical signiﬁcance of the collection, the strength of the supporting research and the ongoing commitment to the trees preservation

For more information about the Busby Camellias or to enquire about group visits, please contact us via the website www waitangi org nz

READY TO START OR GROW YOUR PAKIHI?

WaitangiTreatyGroundsBusbyCamellias

Ki-o-Rahi on the Rise Across Te Tai Tokerau

Once played by only a handful of schools, Kii-o-Rahi is rapidly gaining momentum across Te Tai Tokerau, with more tamariki embracing the traditional Māori game and the blend of speed, skill and tikanga it oﬀers.

That growth was on show at Dargaville Intermediate, which recently hosted Te Kōperu Kura for a friendly Ki o Rahi tournament

The event marked a ﬁrst for the kura and provided tauira with valuable experience ahead of larger competitions, while strengthening connections between schools committed to growing the game

For many rangatahi, the appeal of Ki o Rahi lies in its dynamic nature He horo, pūkenga rau, tikanga hoki. A game deﬁned by pace, agility, diverse skills and strong cultural foundations. Those elements are drawing increasing numbers of young players across the region

Hosting Te Kōperu was about more than competition for Dargaville Intermediate. It was an opportunity to build capability among tauira, helping them develop both technical skills and a deeper understanding of the mātauranga and tikanga that underpin the game The friendly match up

reﬂected a shared goal between the kura to strengthen Ki o Rahi for future generations

Across Te Tai Tokerau, that goal is steadily becoming reality More schools are establishing teams and hosting local tournaments, catering to a range of age groups. What was once considered a niche sport is now becoming a recognised part of school life

As a taonga tuku iho, Ki o Rahi teaches agility, teamwork and respect for tikanga Māori It provides a space where culture and sport intersect, giving rangatahi both a physical outlet and a stronger connection to their heritage

With traditional Māori games returning to communities, Ki o Rahi is leading the resu to contin preparin in Kaikoh highlight come

Dame Jenny Shipley Appointed Chair of the Waitangi National Trust Board

The Waitangi National Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM as the new Chair of the Board. Dame Jenny takes over as Chair from the departing Chairperson Tania Simpson.

Dame Jenny brings extensive governance, leadership and public service experience to the role, having served as New Zealands Prime Minister and subsequently holding a range of governance positions across the public, private and not-forproﬁt sectors, both in New Zealand and internationally, including as Co-Chairing the culturally signiﬁcant Tuia 250 events in 2019, the Northland Tourism Destination Management Plan Leadership Group and Chair for Global Women New Zealand and Champions for Change

The appointment comes at an important time as the Waitangi National Trust Board and New Zealand make plans for the nation’s bicentennial celebrations The Trust continues its stewardship of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds – New Zealand’s most signiﬁcant historic and cultural site and the Waitangi National Estate gifted by Lord and Lady Bledisloe in 1932, reminding us that at this place a commitment was made to live and build a nation together Dame Jenny said she was honoured to accept the appointment “Waitangi is a place for

everyone It has the beautiful Treaty Grounds with its carved meeting house and Treaty House, two outstanding museums that tell the story of our nation, one of the best golf courses in New Zealand, magniﬁcent mountain bike park, great bush walks, beautiful beaches, a hotel and many other attributes ” It is my hope that every New Zealander and international visitor alike will come and visit this beautiful place, nestled in the heart of the Bay of Islands, to experience our rich cultural history and everything this special area has to oﬀer ”

“Waitangi holds a unique place in the story of Aotearoa New Zealand It is where our nation’s founding document was ﬁrst signed and remains a place of reﬂection, understanding and connection I am privileged to have the opportunity to contribute to the stewardship of this special place and to work alongside Trustees, mana whenua and the wider Waitangi community to support its future ”

The Waitangi National Trust Board acknowledged Dame Jenny’s proven leadership and strategic expertise, noting her

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deep understanding of New Zealand’s history, identity, and future aspirations

“Dame Jenny’s appointment reﬂects the Trust’s commitment to strong nation-level governance and leadership as we continue to honour and protect the legacy of Waitangi while ensuring the Treaty Grounds remain a place where all New Zealanders and international visitors can connect with the stories that have shaped our nation,” said Ben Dalton, Chief Executive

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and hosts the nation’s annual Waitangi Day commemorations Through its museums, educational experiences and cultural programmes, the Trust plays a vital role in sharing the history and ongoing signiﬁcance

of Te Tiriti o Waitangi with present and future generations

The Waitangi National Trust Board also acknowledged the signiﬁcant contribution of outgoing Chair Tania Simpson, thanking her for her dedicated leadership and service to the Trust during her tenure

About the Waitangi National Trust

The Waitangi National Trust is the guardian of the Waitangi National Estate which includes the Treaty Grounds at Waitangi the birthplace of Aotearoa New Zealand’s founding document Te Tiriti o Waitangi The Trust works to uphold the principles of partnership, protection and participation in all aspects of its governance and public engagement

Daughter shares life with dad who championed Maoritanga

While many knew Len Bristowe as a fearless champion of Maoritanga, to his ﬁve children he was a jokester who practised what he preached

"He was the Dad that came home from work in the evenings and played the guitar and sang just while we're waiting for dinner," his only daughter Ramari said

She was outnumbered by her brothers Mita, Conan, Tom and Hughie, and when her dad took in foster children "they were all sons as well"

Two weeks have passed since Bristowe's death, and his legacy is still being spoken of across all walks of life

"Obviously a lot of people didn't realise he was battling cancer," Ramari said

"He kept that very private because he didn't want it to take attention away from the job at hand "

High-proﬁle ﬁgures and everyday locals have described the Ngati Hine kaumatua and respected broadcaster as a driving force for te reo and the wellbeing of Maori

He tirelessly championed Maori culture and language through governance, community leadership, Ngati Hine FM and television

"All our lives, he's always been heavily involved in our Maori communities," Ramari said

When Bristowe was out carving better paths for his people, his wife Luana held the fort at home

But Ramari said they never missed out on their dad

Ramari's childhood memories of her dad included him diving for seafood to deliver to elderly people in Pipiwai, Motatau, Matawaia and beyond

"I remember dropping kaimoana oﬀ to all the nannies in really remote areas," she said

As Ramari grew older, the pair became closer

"I was a bit of a sounding board for my dad and a bit of a conﬁdante "

The two shared similar values and understood how they could use their fortunes to help their communities

"He was such a big part of our everyday life "

The whanau shared many phone calls, visits and meet-ups at Otahuhu's Vietnam Cafe, where Bristowe enjoyed Vietnamese chicken noodle soup

"Before we went to Auckland to live, he would look at you sideways if you tried to serve him rice or noodles or anything like that, but it's a favourite food of his "

As kids, Bristowe would take his children on trips he called "everyday explorations" rather than holidays, Ramari said

One trip was to Kerikeri, with the kids unaware of where they were going or why They arrived at an orchard where Bristowe started picking fruit

AUNTY’S GARDEN

HanuiLawrence

BRUSSEL SPROUTS SALAD

8-10 brussel sprouts (ﬁnely sliced)

1 red capsicum (diced)

1medium sweet apple (sliced)

2 carrots (grated)

1 spring onion (chopped)

1 small tin of pineapple pieces

(use 12 tin)

Ahandful of nuts (your choice)

Salt and pepper to taste

Juice of 1 orange (squeezed over)

Toss all ingredients in a bowl and add a dressing of your choice

It’s delicious!

RIGHT:Aunty’s healthy brussel sprouts salad

PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

LEFT:Aunty’s delicious Persimmon Crumble

"Because we were young we used to think 'oh Dad, you're not allowed to eat that, you're stealing'," Ramari said.

She and her brother would fret that he'd get caught as he indulged in the fruit and the puha growing at the base of the trees

"He's munching away on them without a care in the world "

Through laughter, Bristowe would ask his mortiﬁed children if they wanted some of the peaches or oranges

"Later on obviously we realised that he was friends with these orchard owners He knew them and so he would just have us on he's a real joker "

Ramari runs a transport business with her husband, hiring many Maori school leavers to help them enter the workforce

At the time of Bristowe's death, he was proud of a project reintegrating Ngawha Prison inmates into the community

"I'm very much like my Dad in that I have the same understanding that people are people regardless of the titles that you carry and how much money you have in the bank," Ramari said.

She believed people would be surprised that Bristowe chose to live simply, despite being ﬁnancially secure

"Our father lived like a peasant, anything of money value he shared with those who needed it "

When asked what Bristowe would want his legacy to be, Ramari said he would want Maori to work together, not against each other "I can't imagine life without him," she said

PERSIMMON CRUMBLE

Recipe

• 6 persimmons

• 3-5 mandarin or tangelos or both mixed

• 1 lime

• 250g butter

• 1 1⁄2 to 2 cups of selfraising ﬂour

• Pinch of salt

Method

Slice and peel persimmons, bring to the boil (not too long) and put aside

Break tangelos and mandarins into segments

Make the crumble by rubbing butter and ﬂour together (to your liking)

No sugar needed Spread the cooked persimmons into a shallow baking dish

Spread the raw segments of fruit over the top

Squeeze the lime over the top

Sprinkle the crumble over the top (not too thick)

Cook at 180C for about 20 minutes until nicely browned

Note: Do not add any sugar

The tangelos and mandarins and lime juice are enough to complement the natural sweetness of the persimmons

This is yummy with a dash of whipped cream and ice cream

Te Wā Hei Whakaaro, Hei Anga Whakamua

A joint reﬂection by Chair Pita

Tipene and Councillor Arama

Morunga - NRC’s Te Raki Māori constituency councillors.

It has been a busy and rewarding eight months since we were ﬁrst voted in to represent Te Raki Māori constituency on Northland Regional Council

Our focus has been on listening and advocating for the aspirations of our whānau, hapū, iwi and communities across Taitokerau We have prioritised being present – on marae at local events and alongside those responding to challenges on the ground –because meaningful representation starts with connection We have seen ﬁrsthand the strength, resilience and generosity of our communities, and how they show up when it matters most, especially during the storms early in the year

Since joining council we have focused on working with our fellow councillors to build a unity of purpose, be future focused and bring about eﬀectiveness and eﬃciencies While we serve all Northlanders, we continue to bring the perspectives of our Te Raki Māori communities to the fore

The recent Wānanga Waiora highlighted the importance of strengthening relationships, sharing mātauranga, and reinforcing the

role of iwi and hapū as kaitiaki At its heart, this kaupapa is about caring for our taiao and ensuring a strong foundation for future generations

As we mark this Matariki period, it is a time to reﬂect on what has been and to prepare for what lies ahead

Looking forward, there are major reforms to local government upon us

We are focused on ensuring the voices of Taitokerau are reﬂected in what comes next, and we encourage our communities to share your whakaaro throughout this journey

He mahi nui tēnei, engari mā te mahi tahi ka tutuki

E awhiowhio ana te rangi, e awhiowhio ana hoki te ao, engari me mahia ngā mahi –tutuki noa

Thursday 9 July, 4 - 8pm

Come along for a fun evening of activities, a campfire, walks and hot kai.

Puketi Forest Campsite, 1715 Waiare Road, Puketi F a k P

o s o es a f r families in Puketi F rest

Grounded in Kaupapa, Built for the Future: WAIRAU MĀORI ART GALLERY

Matt Pryor

Through art, kaupapa and community, Wairau Māori Art Gallery is building something bigger than exhibitions, creating space for Māori creativity, rangatahi development and a stronger future for Te Tai Tokerau.

Situated within the Hundertwasser Art Centre in Whangārei, Wairau Māori Art Gallery operates independently under Māori leadership, with mana motuhake at the centre of everything it does The gallery ensures Māori art and Māori voices have a permanent, dedicated space within one of Te Tai Tokerau’s most signiﬁcant cultural developments

For Te Ringa Hautu Toi/Director Larissa McMillan, the mahi is about much more than exhibitions on walls It is about creating pathways for rangatahi, supporting Māori artists, and ensuring tamariki can see

themselves reﬂected in spaces of creativity and excellence

“One of the things were most proud of is our outreach to kura and rangatahi across the region,” says Larissa “Engaging young people with professional artists helps them see that a career in the arts is possible, because you can’t be what you can’t see ”

Like many arts and kaupapa Māori organisations; sustainable funding remains a challenge in an ever changing landscape of support for the arts in Aotearoa Staying grounded in kaupapa Māori values and

community aspirations is key to the vision

But Wairau Māori Art Gallery’s story is also a reminder that pakihi Māori do not need to ﬁt traditional business moulds to create impact Success can look like strengthening identity, nurturing creativity, building representation, and creating opportunities for others to follow

The gallery’s commitment to whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga shapes everything from governance through to artist relationships and community engagement It is a model based not just in economic outcomes, but in cultural

responsibility and intergenerational thinking

For Māori considering stepping into business, there is a powerful lesson in Wairau Māori Art Gallery’s journey: start with your values and let them guide your direction A strong kaupapa builds resilience, attracts the right people, and creates deeper impact within communities

As Larissa reﬂects, the future vision is steady but ambitious, continuing to grow outreach opportunities, strengthen connections with kura and rangatahi, and expand opportunities for Māori artists both within Te Tai Tokerau and beyond