Kia ora Koutou,

As you probably all know, on the 10th of June,  the Whangawehi Catchment Management Group was awarded  two significant awards. The group won the Award in the “Caring for our water category” and the Supreme Award for 2017.  These awards mean a lot to us, a lot of hard work has been put into the project by all our volunteers, landowners, Marae representatives and we are all so happy. A big thank you to you all who have given your time for the group to succeed.

The evening ceremony was an exceptional moment for me. This nomination was the 4th in a row and I was wondering if one day I would be on stage! It paid to be patient.

I was a bit speechless when Minister Nick Smith gave us the Supreme Award but Pat O’Brien did a good job in acknowledging the work done by the community. Well done to you all.

Here is the whakatauki I shared during my brief speech for the “Caring for our waters” Award :

Ma te   tumanako

Ma te titiro

Ma te whakarongo

Ma te mahitahi

Ma  te manawanui

Ma te aroha

ka taea e au

By believing and trusting

By having faith and hope

By looking and searching

By listening and hearing

By working and striving together

By patience and perseverance

By doing this with love and compassion

We can succeed