Oranga niho ki nga kaumaatua o te paepae

We come from a whakapapa of where our stories, connections, history and legends are mostly articulated through korero. Our kaumaatua of each paepae uphold the mana of each kaupapa, the mana of the marae, iwi and hapu and most importantly the mana of who they are representing through the delivery of karanga, waiata and whaikorero. Our kaumaatua are there for us at our most vunerable times and leave us with the utmost dignity.

Over decades our kaumaatua voluntarily uphold our traditions without hesitation. This oranga niho kaumaatua ki te paepae initiative is dedicated to our past, present and future kaumaatua who significantly and consistently contribute to our marae throughout Waikato, Tainui.

I sat and observed uncle Sol and aunty Ella at Kahotea during a noho Marae by Te Whare wananga o Aotearoa, my heart went out to them as I adored their mannerism, charisma and their duo collaboration of each powhiri process. As i sat there I thought of my tipuna and my tohu, as a oral health therapist. I thought my worlds need to combine to ensure aunty and uncle are to be in their optimal oral health status whilst articulating their korero, karanga and waiata.

In saying thats the least I can do.

Aunty and Uncle were with us 9 years ago during the tangi of my brother inlaw, and like most of us they continuosly uphold to mantle with no conditions, wants or needs just the kindness of their hearts.

Now its our turn. If we unite and koha what we can each, then as a collective we will ensure they will be in their optimum oral health comfort from now on. Aunty Ellas wish is to have her niho for christmas.

Being of Ngaati Mahuta decent and a Oral Health Therapist, my professional and personal worlds united and this provoked this thought. I love and admire my people, my kaumaatua and I was given my tohu from Otago university for a reason beyond my vision.

So now my question, are our kaumaatua in their optimal state of oral health,?Are our kaumaatua in oral health comfort when they eat, drink and korero?

To our whaanau. marae,hapu, and iwi please awhi this kaupapa by donating to the better oral health care for Ella and Sol Nelson. Should you all choose for our oranga niho ki nga kaumaatua o te paepae to continue for other kaumaatua who continuously uphold the mana of our marae, please make contact with me.

To my oral health collegues I challange you to make a difference, I challange you to take your professional responsibility to lessen oral health disparities for our Waikato; Tainui kaumaatua by coming on board and working together to reduce oral health barriers.

Show our kaumaatua that we value and appreciate them by donating and thinking about the future of what this oranga niho kaupapa can bring.

Nga manaakitanga kia raatou katoa,

Ko Taupiri te maunga

Ko Waikato te awa

Ko Tainui te waka

Ko Waikato, Tainui te iwi

Ko Ngaati Mahuta te hapu

Ko Aaruka, Te Koraaha, Maketu nga marae

Ko Tahaaroa o Ruaputahanga taaku turangawaewae

Ko au te mokopuna o Te Puhi raua ko Makehu Whitiora ki te taha o taaku papa

Ko au te mokopuna o Hone raua ko Ani Maikuku ki te taha o taaku mama

Ko au te mokopuna o nga whaanau whanui o Tahaaroa

Ko Shane Whitiora raua ko Anna Maikuku nga matua

Ko Cody raua ko Brook nga tungane

Ko Sass raua ko Kiri nga tuahine

Aku mihi ki taaku whanau tuarua nga whanau Tuaupiki hoki

Ko Shanley Hepi taaku hoa rangatira

Toko wha nga tamariki

Ka noho au ki Kirikiriroa

Ko au te nehi niho ki waenganui i nga kura o Waikato, Tainui

Ko Anne-Marie Maikuku