Tapu Te Ranga Marae

Saturday, 19 May 2012

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Name	Message
Chiara	Hi everyone: With Bruce's permission, I wrote a blog entry with some pictures taken from my visit to Tapu Te Ranga with the roopu from Newtown Union Health Services. It was my first time on a marae and I have been thinking about it all weekend. ** I live just up the road from you in Island Bay and I hope to see you again soon; thanks for sharing the story of Tapu Te Ranga with me.

Mellani Walker	Kia Ora Mellani Here great night i had a great experience full of excitment and happiness cool as Kuzz had a great talk and everything Ur A GrEat PeRsOn BeBo PoZe L8tz

Dot Rapana	Kia Ora Bruce & Pare, Thank you so much for welcoming us to your awesome Marae, was such a privilidge to have you go out of your way to bring us to visit. We just cant stop raving to our friends about your very unique Whare, just truely fabulous and all this created from a vision you had many years ago. For all you visitors to this sight, go check this place out, you wont be dissapointed with what you see and what you find, always something new through every door you open. So thanks again Bruce hope to see you and Pare again in the near future. Arohanui Dot.

Wiki Walker	Kia Ora Cuzzie. Once again, thanks for picking us up and taking us back to your Marae. To your very talented daughter, she is so proffesional in what she does.We enjoyed her koriro on your Marae. Have got all my photos on my computer and the video is ready to show those ones that didnt see your Marae what they missed out on. I will get the photos and the family tree of the whanau that you want. Pare will also see some on my Bebo page. Once again thanks heaps and i recomened this visit to anyone that reads this comment. Hope we see you again soon.

Jan Symington	Kia Ora Bruce e te Whaanau It was delightful to spend time at your home. So many of our graduates from the UPLIFT programme talked about the fantastic vibe, here's a few of their comments about the highlight of the event: - Greatest place - Tenei whare tino ataahua (x5) - Te Ahua Rangatira O Te Whare Nei! - Very nice Marae! - The Whare is absolutely amazing. Wonderful Manaaki & Tiaki. Thank you so much for everything.....we will be back. Ka kite ano Jan Symington

Hutt City Seniors	We would like to extend a warm thank you for hosting our Hutt City Seniors at Tapu Te Ranga Marae. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and they were very interested in your whole set-up. You have certainly done a lot of work on the property. It is wonderful what you have managed to achieve and you are to be congratulated on a fine effort, and for your vision for the future. Please thank your daughter for her interesting talk as she showed us around. Kind regards Raewyn Foster Recreation Programmer Hutt City Council

Angela Henderson	Hello all. I'm one of the students from Wanganui UCOL's Art and Design class who had the honour to stay one night in your beautiful home. Thank you all so much for having us and teaching us. I am of Te Atiawa Taranaki Iwi but do not know much about my Maori history as I was adopted out of that family at 6 days old. Now I have begun the search to discover my history and my people and the visit to your home was like a door opening to the journey. I felt at home there and even enjoyed having a little cry in the Tane Whaiora because of the negative happenings in my life at the moment. I hope to return soon for another visit. Much love. Angela. (18)

Eloise and Ctrl Shift - the Architecture Students of Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific	Bruce, The whole group was amazed and inspired by staying at your place. They were moved by the ritual, your talk, the long chant by the young ones, the kai, the bonfire and felt that it was a great place to carry out our work in. It was also a very good experience early on in the week to allow the students to make new friends by staying with each other. We had much subsequent discussion over motivated community members like yourself and what students might be able to do for communities that don't have someone so proactive and creative making changes and building new lives. That will be further discussed in our publication as we wonder where architects and architecture students can fit into this puzzle. Many thanks and much love to your strong whanau, the strong house which is your mother, and the chatter of the birds and insects in your vege garden. Aroha, Ctrl Shift

Gabriel Tupou	Kiaora Koro Bruce e to whanau, I have enjoyed the experience of doing some mahi at the whanau marae. whilst staying at Tapu Te Ranga i have learnt more about the Mana and Values of our marae. Kiaora Moko.

ruka	koro i am SO SO sorry that i did not send you a email, but here I am now..HAHA...LOVE YOU KORO FROM RUKA

ruka	hi again koro

pare	hi dad!!! i love u!!! n the website.hahaha.gota go.cya

Courtney Crombie	Kia Ora e te whanau! I'm just at school researching prominent Maori sites and I thought I'd check out the Marae website. It's awesome being able to tell people that this marae is a part of my whakapapa! It makes me proud! I was looking at some of the photos with mates and they're so beautiful! Is there a shot of Koro's plaque on here? Just wondering .. Better get going! Love to all! Ka kite

Adrian	(www.teupoko.co.nz)

Adrian	Kiaora Bruce just letting you know we had some people email to say they were missing you and your thoughts on the radio. for all those that read this page ** or 1161am

Liz Hirst	Ka nui nga mihi aroha ki a koutou - te whanau o Koro Bruce. I tera wiki, tino pai rawa atu te hui o Te Hunga kaititiro i te hauora o te tangata (NHC) , tino reka te kai hoki. Ka pai kei muri, ka pai kei mua, ka pai nga mea katoa !

Liz Hirst	Ka nui nga mihi aroha ki a koutou - te whanau o Koro Bruce. I tera wiki, tino pai rawa atu te hui o Te Hunga kaititiro i te hauora o te tangata (NHC) , tino reka te kai hoki. Ka pai kei muri, ka pai kei mua, ka pai nga mea katoa !

Liz Hirst	Ka nui nga mihi aroha ki a koutou - te whanau o Koro Bruce. I tera wiki, tino pai rawa atu te hui o Te Hunga kaititiro i te hauora o te tangata (NHC) , tino reka te kai hoki. Ka pai kei muri, ka pai kei mua, ka pai nga mea katoa !

Liz Hirst	Ka nui nga mihi aroha ki a koutou - te whanau o Koro Bruce. I tera wiki, tino pai rawa atu te hui o Te Hunga kaititiro i te hauora o te tangata (NHC) , tino reka te kai hoki. Ka pai kei muri, ka pai kei mua, ka pai nga mea katoa !

Liz Hirst	Ka nui nga mihi aroha ki a koutou - te whanau o Koro Bruce. I tera wiki, tino pai rawa atu te hui o Te Hunga kaititiro i te hauora o te tangata (NHC) , tino reka te kai hoki. Ka pai kei muri, ka pai kei mua, ka pai nga mea katoa !

Gabriel Tupou	Kiaora Koro and Whanau I can't wait to come out to the marae this weekend coming.I'm comming with the church youth group whos' excited to exparience staying at our whanau marae Tapu Te Ranga. Kiaora moko Gabriel.

Sharyn	Dear Bruce, Thankyou for letting us hold our wedding on Tapu Te Ranga Marae on March 17th. We felt so at home and the place has such a peaceful but dynamic and creative feel. I'm truly in awe of what you have achieved and inspired by your vision. For me, one of the highlights has been sharing a korero and a cup of tea with you on my visits. I treasured our conversations:) Our guests loved the Marae and are still talking about the place. My guests were mainly pakeha (Some 6th and 8th generation like me) and many said that this was the first opportunity they've ever had to go on a marae. We have had so many emails and letters thanking us for making this opportunity possible for them. A very special thank you to your daughter Parehinetai who has wisdom and capabilities beyond her years. Her advice and assistance was much appreciated. She is one of the most impressive young persons I've ever met! The memories of my wedding are wonderful and so much of the feel of the wedding and relaxed atsmosphere of the night are due to the place it was held. Arohanui Sharyn Clarkson

Karl Wixon	E te rangatira tena koe, Thanks again for your manaaki on Friday 13th for our Awatoru Project Hui at Tapu Te Ranga in Ukaipo. Once again Tapu Te Ranga has proven to be an immensely conducive place for our strategic and creative korero and your manaaki is second to none. It is no accident that we continue to select Tapu Te Ranga amongst the landscape of Marae throughout Aotearoa as a place conducive to fresh thinking and innovative korero for national projects. Your Marae stands as testament to creativity and strength of vision and your whanau live and breathe manaaki. Your tamariki are mature beyond their years reflective of the nurturing environment of Tapu Te Ranga in which they live, work and play. Me Rongo Karl Wixon PMP MInstD MDINZ DipID WIKI Design & Consultancy Ltd Havelock North

Robert & Nyree Ambridge	Kia ora te whanau o te whare, Tapu Te Ranga. Ko koe Bruce, Tena koe. Our whakaaro to you Bruce in enabling our whanau to experience yet another awesome visit/stay on this beautiful Marae. Seven (7) years ago (2000), Easter Weekend, whanau from Bay of Plenty came down to Poneke to celebrate our tamas' 21st. This year they returned for the celebration of our kotiros'21st. Although it was short notice (3 weeks) it was obviously meant to be that we stay at the Marae again, as advised by Bruce when phoned, "all the other weekends are fully booked except Easter weekend". What can we say!!! Our parents (kaumatuas' on our marae) were overwhelmed by the 'Wairua' that sits over this place and spent all their time in absolute relaxation, peace and freedom to do just that. This was an opportunity of whakawhanaungatanga, manaakitanga, of ourselves for ourselves. Other whanau members enjoyed the location, freedom and diversity in which this whare represents. It's an experience that is and will be everlasting having opened a broader outlook of what "Marae" living / communities can actually become. Today, whanau members are still conversing about this experience which is an acknowledgement of having experienced a privilege, made possible by one mans vision and determination, and for this we are all acceptionally grateful. No reira, Ko koe Bruce me to whanau. E mihi ana, E mihi ana kia koutou katoa.

Hinerangi Bidois	Our heartfelt appreciation for your hospitality and participation in our hui from the Pathways governance board, national management team, staff and service users and their family/whanau. You and your wonderful whanau took us into your hearts, into your minds and into your home. One of the awesome things about living this life we all lead, is that we have contact with people all the step of the way, who touch our hearts, and melt into our wairua, and makes us the people we are at any point in our journey. You all will now be part of us. Arohanui Hinerangi Bidois

sean toko mikahere	tena koe taku matua toto. he mihi poto tenei ki a koe me te whanau whanui kei kona. hope you all in good health. well. how embarrasing to be upstaged by my own baby!! There again,where she is concerned, im not surprised. Shes a bit of an act to follow.Hence i am writing in tautoko of her. Recently, ive been " privilaged" to further discover wat(dont mind my short hand. its my contribution to the english language in helping it become more liberated and less complex?) lays in lifes treasure box. having been subject to an unjust verdict of a tribunal court hearing, i thought to myself how much sorrow this societal infrastructure and its governers must suffer. Their burden is such that they are compelled to offload it on to others. Indicative that they are claerly are not coping. What bothers me, isnt so much that they are extremely volitile and are heading for the "ultimate meltdown" i.e the peoples uprising; but their continual effort to try and split the family unit. hence my response to the white female judge when she gave her judgement,'little wonder why many a good man end up in the "hinaki".' Theres a story to be told about the dynamics between you an me, father an son. Its obvious to me that ive inherited a "particular aptitude". Its apparent therfore that my outlook on many things will be with a political conviction. That doesnt make it all doom an gloom. On the contrary, i think an im sure you would agree, it has enriched our relationship. I havnt said this to you before an i dont mind sayn it here for all to see, tena koe. Your accepting ahua of me an my whanau unit has had a tremendous impact on me that is beneficial to the well being of my babies.Tena koe.Tena koe mo to awhinatia ki a matou. thank you very much for being my babies Koro. In these trying times, its comforting to know that it doesnt matta wat governence is thrown at us or the bylaws,rules an regulations they force upon us, they will never take the rangatiratanga of our whakawhanaungatanga.Its a pity that they are unable to share in our philosophies an tikanga, as it would help them better serve the people. Maybe they just need a big cuddle? Anyways, pointless floggin that horse. Its well an truly dead. Just wrote to say thank you and that i enjoy our sharings. You are very much appreciated. Aroha pumau, your son, sean.

	And I did this ALL BY MYSEELF TO Help me with my learnin I will writwe to all my grandparents at least once a fortnight And I will like it if you can wright to me too My school is at Keegan road massey called Lincoln Height Primary its off triangle road. Kia ora my Koro Special love from Ruka

ruka	....and i will come and see you all soon

ruka	I love you lots and lots koro, mum showed me how to get here, cause i needed to let you no you are so special to an you web is really very cool.

dean baigent-mercer	Kia ora te whanau o Tapu te Ranga Marae, Bruce suggested I ping a little story I wrote recently here called 'The Fuzz and Mrs Sheppard'. I lived at Tapu te Ranga Marae for nearly 3 years between 1999 and 2001. Enjoy! dean baigent-mercer ---------- THE FUZZ AND MRS SHEPPARD Today my mate Richard and I were discussing the Maori Studies course I'm about to start in Rawene - which is basically being immersed in the language and culture of Nga Puhi(the biggest tribe in NZ). He did it two years ago. For assignments I need to talk to elders in my area. I'd found out the local hapu is Ngati Kahu. Rich recommended it was better to make contact now - maybe with the Ngati Kahu trust board - than at the time I needed to do an assignment. It sounded like a good idea - but in my mind I hesitated. Loud voices of procrastination and excuses kicked in. It is a big step for me into the unknown and I was keen to delay it. As we drove down Otangaroa Road to my place, passing the Mangawhero Marae, Richard suggested we stop in at the Papakainga (the houses around the Wharenui and Marae) and asking. I told him they were not the houses to stop at and pointed to one on the right, 'That's where Mrs Sheppard lives'. 'Good, we'll stop on the way back', he confirmed. On the land everything was great: the road was spectacular, the flooding hadn't wiped things out and we planted two avocados (a reed and a hass). All the time we were there, a Police plane was buzzing about, followed by a helicopter. Apparently the former would be taking GPS co-ordinates of dope plantations and the chopper would deliver a blow of roundup herbicide on the plants. Unusually a car was parked at the old entrance to my place. As we left Rich yelled out 'Are you the Police?' They came over in a 4WD and a hairy-chested, singleted, porno-mo'ed man informed me he was 'the Fuzz' and flopped open his... id. He asked if we had a car full of buds that we were whisking off to Auckland to sell. Idiot. I told him of my concerns that dope growers would introduce noxious weeds that would spread into the forest ecosystem. His eyes glazed over. I don't think he'd ever heard of Tradescantia... On the way out, we neared the Mangawhero Marae on Otangroa Road. Richard turned into Mrs Sheppard's driveway. I could see her there, sitting on a chair in her garden. My heart thumped, "What am I gonna say?!!?" I asked, sweating, wanting a way out. This is what I will call Pakeha Panic. I know it not only resides in me. It comes on when I think I'm out of my depth not knowing Maori protocol, not wanting to offend, not wanting to be scolded and shown up as an ignorant Pakeha... Familiar? It's irrational. It's a modern product of colonisation. It's the kiss of death for good communication. Fear rules and inspires fight or flight. Anyway, I got out of the car. The kuia looked up. She was taking a break from weeding vigorous kikuyu. 'Are you Mrs Sheppard?', I asked. 'Yes', she said. I explained who I was and my connection with the land up the road, Bernice Linssen who sold it to me, and that I was going to study Te Reo Maori this year. Her face lit up. She invited us in for a cup of tea and asked me why I wanted to learn te reo. I said I'd bought the land with the intention of being committed to it for my whole life and that I couldn't really be part of the community in the area without speaking te reo or knowing the tikanga (ways of doing things). Her tidy house has polished wooden floors, a 3/4 life sized statue of Mary (Mother of Jesus) to the right, a chip-heater on the left. Mrs Sheppard explained that her husband had been the kaumatua of Mangawhero Marae. Since he died a year ago she was now kinda both kuia and kaumatua. As Mrs Sheppard poured the cuppa teas, three year old Sidney burst in commenting of the planes heard outside. 'It's the cock planes', he said emphatically. 'The what?' asked Richard. 'The COCK Planes. We heard them before'. I was giggling and (fortunately) so was Mrs Sheppard behind me. 'No Sidney, that's the COP planes - the police'. 'Oh yes, cop planes', he corrected innocently. So after home-made chocolate cake, tea, giggles and natters about an upcoming hui at Matangirau Marae, we said goodbye. And I thought about how that stupid Pakeha Panic restricts so many good things happening. Even after living at Tapu te Ranga Marae for three years in Wellington, it's lurking there in me, just waiting for the chance to not take risks that will make my like bigger and more meaningful, more exciting. I can feel I'll be tackling it head-on many times this year.

Piari Peneha-Cooper	Tena koe Bruce, it has been many years since I had the privelege of staying at Tapu Te Ranga Marae..at the time I came to live there with my 2 tamariki, my life back then was in turmoil,my pathway was without direction,there was little if any effort to visualize a better future for me and my tamariki..you Bruce, took me under your wing unconditionally, no judgements, no condemnations,I had the freedom to be there or not to be, I chose to stay..you shared alot of korero,your own life experiences,the good and the bad, being at rock bottom,you gave me hope, you gave me inspiration that my life would be better if I put my heart into it,my strength came from within, my tamariki motivated me, for me there was hard yards ahead..that was over 16 years ago since then I have had many challenges,I have 12 tamariki 6 of each now Bruce,I embrace them with being a blessing and by far my most challenging of all oh I'm learning something new everyday and I love my life and would not trade it in for anything,I humbly thank you for being a part of my life your korero and your beliefs allowed me to implant them into my own character, I often wonder how you are getting on and how the additions to Tapu Te Ranga has expanded upwards/outwards, If I remember rightly I was last there when you were on the finishing stages of your library I also had the pleasure of meeting your wife Halema and your 2 daughters they were only preschool ages then,one day soon I will bring my whanau to meet you and your whanau I have shared with my tamariki my stay at Tapu Te Ranga Marae they look forward to meeting you. I married Jarb we moved from Masterton we live in Hikurangi 10minutes drive north of Whangarei Life is wonderful in the north not as many red necks as back at home..I thank you Bruce I shall always treasure Tapu Te Ranga.. kia nui te aroha kia koe..regards Piari

Jonathan Parker	Tena koe Bruce I can't believe I've lived in Wellington for so long and not visited Tapu Te Ranga until now. Bruce, the short time I spent with you and your girls left me feeling deeply humbled yet greatly enriched. What I only felt at the time I can now articulate - Pare Hinetai No Waitaha 'lives' and is surely a great source of inspiration. I don't think you could pick a better time than now to initiate your 'people building village'. Our city, our collective culture is bereft of such treasures. Looking forward to my next visit Kia Ora JP

Des Brennan	Kia Ora Bruce I want to thank you for your unique hospitality at Tapu Te Ranga Marae. I have asked myself why the experience was so memorable. People with vision, capability and humility are very rare and you certainly showed us these qualities. We were welcomed and informed, and I benefited from a greater understanding of a number of matters. To see the bush regenerating and birds returning is a tangible achievement, and one of the many values you shared. The connection between the trials and tribulations of the Irish people and Maori are movingly similar. Your talk to us bought tears to my eyes, as I reflect back on our painful Irish history. Bruce, please thank your family for looking after us so well, and accept my best wishes to furthering your vision over many more years. Regards…Des Brennan Chief Executive…Yachting New Zealand…SPARC…NZ Olympic Committee.

Sarah Anderson (Walker)	Tenakoe Bruce… We would like to extend our thanks for making our hui such a great event. You made everyone feel very welcome and they thoroughly enjoyed the day. Feedback I have received was about what a fantastic and unusual marae you have and how inspirational your restoration project-Manawa Karioi is. Some of the attendees had not been to a marae before and felt that as well as an environmental experience, they had enjoyed a cultural experience also. Of course, the Maori contingent of the group were very appreciative to have had the hui at a marae. I also received much feedback about the excellent food and hospitality. We will be in touch with you in the future for further hui’s. Thank you again. Naku noa, na Sarah Anderson(Walker) Habitat Protection Fund Officier World Wildlife Fund for a living planet

Derrick Jensen	To Bruce With gratitude for your courage, for your words that lead to action. In the spirit of remembering that which we already know. Love Derrick Jensen Note: Derrick Jensen is a foremost enviro-anarcho-primitivist American writer…works include; Listening to the Land…The Culture of Make Believe…A Language Older than Words… Strangely like War…Walking on water…Welcome to The Machine…End Game “Derrick Jensen's book A Language Older Than Words left me physically shaken. I read it, about five years ago, in one sitting, in 36 hours without sleep, and more than once I threw it down as if I'd been stung. It is horrifying reading, but worldview changing. Its message is that civilization is inherently violent and relentlessly destructive and repressive, and keeps us all in line through hierarchy, threatened scarcity and learned helplessness: 'the fear of not having enough'.”

Ada Davis	I had just received and email from a listing I didn't remember asking for and in the process of checking that out, came across your website - I didn't understand "Daybook" and thinking it might be day time bookings for conference etc I peeked inside. What a blessing - I feel as though I have visited and nattered over a cup of tea. It has set me up for the day ahead. I shall call again and explore your site when I am a little more awake. Thank you. Ada Davis

Leigh Anderton	Dear Bruce and family, Thank you for the two wonderful stays at your place this year by our art groups from the Quay School of the Arts Whanganui Ucol. These visits bonded our groups with each other and staff.We had a fabulous time and they have been the talk of the year. It is an excellent way for us all to stay while we visit galleries and musuems in the area while also learning to work as a group.The talks you gave our group on your philosophy of live and living were rich, entertaining and extremely inspiring. We saw our rangatahi relax and prefrom at a higher level when they returned. aroha nui to you all staff and students 2006

Ace House	Kia Ora Bruce, thank you so much for welcoming our group onto the Marae and sharing with us about her history. We loved it. Hope to see you again soon. Simon and Ace House

Gabriel Tupou	Hi everyone good to see the website,hope to see evryone soon.

Sarah Peart	Bruce and Halima, Thank you once again for your hospitality and allowing the unitec actors and dancers stay with you. We love staying with you. This years group were in awe of the marae, as we all are, and i am still hearing stories about how amazing it is. Thank you very much and hope to see you next year. Sarah Peart

Sarah Mila	Dearest Bruce, Halima, Pare, Hirini, Kiri Heka and Goody Just a quick note to tell you how much I love your web site. We have it as our favourite and we look at it practically every day. It is so brilliantly done, so interesting. I makes us feel so close to you all, knowing what you are up to. The things people say are so moving, the whole site is just so loving. People have always loved the Marae and this is just another way in which they can convey that to you Bruce and to thank you for the opportunity of having that experience. It is like watching our other home and all the goings on. WE MISS YOU SO MUCH every day. Pare and Hirini you are so brilliant, all the hard work you do and helping Dad so much. You are good kids and you must always remember how much we love you all over here and how much we think about you. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Pare and an early Happy Birthday to you Halima. All is well here, we have just got some rabbits and Vili has made a hutch and run like a palace, they are happy here with us and the kids love them already. The weather is changing and is raining, autumn is on on the way and the leaves will soon fly away leaving the branches bare. The seasons in England are so prominant, something you feel and with each season something to look forward to. Viliami has just said, that if we won the lottery we would be straight back over there with you all on the next flight, so lets buy another one just in case. We work hard but money just seems to evaporate in to thin air. We are trying our hardest but there are so many things to pay for. Its not from lack of trying that we can't come over this year. We are sad as its been too long already and we are yearning to see you all again. Its hard sometimes, for Viliami especially but also for me and the kids because we miss you too. Anyway, I'd better sign off. All our love to you and take care Sarah xxxx Vili, Gracie and Tommy xxxxxxxx

Karl Wixon	E mihi ki a koe Bruce me to whanau, Firstly I wish to express my thanks to you and your whanau for your warmth and hospitality at Tapu Te Ranga for our Maori design & tourism hui last week on the 23rd and 24th of May. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all and all were moved by the experience and vision of Tapu Te Ranga. I recalled your whakatauki "The people build the whare and the whare builds the people" (excuse me I can not recall the kupu Maori you used). Reflecting on that whakatauki I thought it should have been "...the whare builds the whanau" i.e many come, often as individuals, but leave as members of whakapapa or kaupapa whanau. Your whare has not only evidently built your own whanau, but has built whanau amongst those who visit. Every time I leave Tapu Te Ranga I feel that. Kia ora

Trish Cronin	On behalf of the Waiotahe Ki Opotiki Taekwondo Club I would like to thank you for allowing us to stay at your home (tapu te ranga marae). Your children are commendable, mature and a credit to you and your wife. The highlight for us was the tour and your talk with us. You have left a lasting impression on us all and are an inspiration to the youth in our club. Thank you again.

Paora Howe	Tena koe e te Rangatira, Nga mihi aroha ki a koe me ki tou whanau hoki. Bruce it is important to us, the members of Tunui a te Ika Waka Ama Club, to acknowledge how important it is for us to have a place to meet and to talk. Your home, Tapu te Ranga, is like our home away from home. It’s a place that we feel safe in, that we can relax in, that we can take the time needed to think about our issues in a loving and caring environment. Last month we had the pleasure of staying there ‘i roto i te kopu o tou whaea’ for our first wananga in over a year. Although there were only fifteen or so of us who stayed overnight into the Saturday, on the Friday night many more of our club members dropped by, if only for a short time, to support the cause. All of them (and some of them had not visited before) were really impressed by the real warmth of the place, generated by your fire at the back of the dining room and added to by the relaxed way we were able to ‘do our thing’ in the kitchen. Usually for people to ‘enjoy’ themselves on a wet Friday night you might expect to see a bottle of wine or beer passing across the table. Instead there was the wine of laughter and fun that went on into the early morning. Again, it has something to do with the special nature of the place that you have helped create. It was also interesting to see the respect that the two different groups who were staying there had for each other (there was a group representing Eco NZ also staying on) and the sharing that took place among us all. Bruce, I also wanted to comment that you and Halima have children to be really proud of. Your twelve year old daughter is an impressive young lady already – wise beyond her years in dealing with older people. If, as you said, they have known no other life except living there on the marae, then it speaks volumes for the positive values and the beliefs that you hold dear. These values and beliefs are born from the potent mingling of powerful physical and spiritual forces. The different levels of the buildings – the different whare that make up the large complex – all together represent the energy of the many builders from the past, that remains still. The spiritual forces are represented in the many taonga with which the whare are adorned – gifts given thoughtfully by many who have stayed before us – but finally in the vision and values that drive you. May you and Tapu Te Ranga long remain our spiritual ‘home away from home’. Me mauhara tatou i nga kupu a a tatou tupuna – ‘Me haere i muri o te tira paraoa’ – we should follow in the path that you have set before us as a leader. Arohanui – Paora Howe and members of Tunui a te Ika Waka Ama Club.

Trevor Pye	Tena koutou katoa te whanau o Tapu Te Ranga Marae What a wonderful experience for myself and 10 whanau to stay a few days at Tapu Te Ranga. I arrived burdened down with the cares of a world primarily concerned with consumption, fighting wars and pollution, to an absolute oasis; a place of sanctuary and sanity exuding aroha and a pracical philosophy of deep ecology. Many thanks, Bruce for sharing your vision and lifes work with us. All of us were deeply touched by our experience at Tapu Te Ranga Marae.

Viliami Mila	To Koro, Halima, and all the children, It was early Monday morning in England - I was still in bed half asleep when I heard about the sudden death of a loved one back home in New Zealand. Tute my elder sister had phoned from Wainuiomata, after hearing the sad news a few hours earlier. My wife Sarah and I were in shock and deeply sad for the loss of Lynanne who was a great part of our lives. Someone who was always there - someone willing to help in anyway, someone who put others before herself, someone who loved my wife and kids. Someone who I took for granted. Someone I thought would always be there. I hopped out of my bed and opened the curtains, the weather looked colder and greyer than the day before, it didn’t matter, Sarah was sobbing into her pillow, at that moment nothing seemed to have mattered. A few hours later I phoned Tute again and she talked me through what had happened to Lynanne, I asked her if the family would take her to the Marae (Tapu te ranga) – No one knew at this time, it was too early. In my heart I knew Koro would welcome Lynanne and her friends and family to have their final farewell at the Marae. I felt it was the most appropriate way to send off a special person such as her, someone who was part of our family. The next day it was confirmed that Lynannes body was to go to the Marae. All the family were there and all the workers were working and all the talkers were talking and everything was in preparation. I was on the telephone and was being told what was happening and that Lynanne’s body was resting on the Maho of Tane Whaiora, and that all the men, young and old were preparing the Hangi. I felt so proud and triumphant for Lynanne because in a way, she had changed the mould of tradition something that Tapu Te Ranga Marae is so powerful in doing in such a good way. Lynanne was not Maori, nor was she a blood relative, she was a white New Zealander. But she was accepted as an equal, she was loved dearly by us all, being blood relative or not didn’t stop her body from resting on such a prestigious spot as the Maho of Tane Whaiora. For me Lynanne deserved it, I just wish I could have told her how special she was and how much we loved her and to thank her for being a spark in my life. Tapu Te Ranga Marae is for me a fire burning, which was lit by you Koro, and I imagine many thousands of people from different walks of life have in their own way have helped you to stoke it up to help it from burning out. Some people throw in a twig or two and some may throw in a branch and some may even throw in a tree trunk, but they come and they go, but you are always there to give this fire the breath of life just when it needs it and when the fire is burning strong you sit back a bit and see it in its true glory, and when it needs to be stoked up you give it a bit more. I am honoured to have helped you in the past to keep the fire burning strong and in my time I saw many others throwing in their logs and branches too, but what amazed me the most was you were open to every one and the Marae was universal. I have a photo which was taken in Henatai, in the photo there are three people standing looking happy and smiling one is English and the other two are Tongan, and in the back ground flys the Aboriginal flag. I’m one of the Tongan boys in the photo, and I’m proud to say Tapu Te Ranga Marae is my Marae . Thank you Koro for your commitment to the cause and may the birds sing your song forever. And may the fire burn strong inside of you. Love your grandson Viliami

chelsea winstanley	Tena koutou katoa te whanau o Tapu Te Ranga Marae, My whanau and I have just returned from the most amazing weekend at your beautiful marae. A month ago my mother Chery Wilson had asked if I knew of any marae in poneke we could stay at as 10 whanau were making their way down to support her becoming the first Maori woman to be initiated into the NZ association of psychotherapy. I had visted Tapu Te Ranga Marae recently while filming a segment for a documentary so I thought I would give Bruce a call and see if that was possible. Bruce was more than accommodating and welcomed us with a memorable powhiri on Friday night surrounded by his tamariki. We instantly felt the warmth and aroha from the place, it was the perfect setting for our whanau to support our dear mother, aunty and sister Cherry. On saturday Pare, Bruce's daughter, gave us a beautiful tour of the whole marae, what a wonderful girl she is certainly a treasure. As whanau we shared a beautiful intimate experience and the marae setting was perfect to awhi my mum through her successful journey. Thankyou once again for making your place open and available and for giving us something we will never forget. Arohanui Chelsea W.

Jeremy Sherlock	I’ve finally managed to have a look at your site. I just wanted to congratulate you on a marvelous effort — it looks great, and is very informative indeed; certainly something we at Reed and I’m sure Robyn herself are happy to be associated with. Well done!

Rebekah Bell	Rebekah here from the Learning Connexion. I can tell you that there have been significant breakthroughs for a lot of the Students present and their thinking has shifted forward to a new space in some way, this was a direct result of being on the Marae. The Marae space allowed for this to be able to happen & this is very significant we can look forward to some interesting and exciting results both in art making and life. Thanks so very much for the opportunity.

Daniel LeBel	Hello Bruce, I am busy reading and researching background on my experience of being up there with you last week. I came home to Westport yesterday and am confronted by the deafening silence of life here on the coast. I have so many thoughts and feelings relating to my visit there and am determined to put them into some shape that leads forward, honors the time and the content of what we talked of. Manaakitanga. A beautiful and worthy ideal.

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