E Tū Whānau was everywhere at Waitangi 2024 thanks to the long-standing relationship between Māori Wardens and our supporters in the wider Te Tai Tokerau community.
Māori Wardens took it upon themselves to distribute 1000 E Tū Whānau handheld fans to dignitaries on the paepae and to a capacity crowd of locals and visitors to the historic site. Everyone was eager to cool down over the four, hot summer days of the event, and the six E Tū Whānau values displayed on the fans sparked plenty of kōrero.
Māori Wardens embodied the spirit of Waitangi 2024
Community worker and E Tū Whānau kaimahi, Shirleyanne Brown, says Māori Wardens embody the spirit of both Waitangi and of E Tū Whānau.
“Their kāupapa of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and kotahitanga enhances the Waitangi spirit and mirrors the E Tū Whānau values. The wardens became ‘our reach’ throughout the whole event.”
Shirleyanne Brown
Another community group with strong E Tū Whānau links is Māmā Neke Maunga, also known as Mamas Moving Mountains.
These dynamic, young, mutually supportive mums took a lead role in providing manaaki at the E Tū Whānau tent on the Waitangi 2024 festival grounds. They collaborated with five other organisations to run a Manaaki Hub where whānau could rest, seek shelter from the sun and enjoy chilled water and great kōrero.
Kaumatua and those with children, especially nursing mums, were encouraged to take advantage of the shelter to feed tamariki, kōrero together, and simply soak up the spirit of Waitangi.
This gave space and time for rich kōrero about how the E Tū Whānau kaupapa and values strengthen and protect whānau.
“These are the people we work with who help us every day, not just at high profile events. They know the E Tū Whānau kaupapa and they look forward, as we do, to its practical application”.
Shirleyanne Brown
Elsewhere at Waitangi 2024, MCs gave away E Tū Whānau manaaki packs, and E Tū Whānau key messages were heard throughout the day on the festival stage and during kōrero by speakers in the Forum Tent.
The best of Māori
For many, Waitangi is an opportunity for whānau, friends, and colleagues past and present to come together, speak and hear te reo, and see leaders in Māoridom up close.
“The vibe this year was electrifying,” says Shirleyanne
Shirleyanne Brown“It was an epic example of kotahitanga, aroha, whakapapa and manaakitanga in action as people looked after each other and enjoyed each other’s company. Waitangi 2024 demonstrated what E Tū Whānau is all about.
“It showcased Māori entrepreneurship, talent, skills, and leadership at all levels. Waitangi really is the best of Māori, and it resonates beautifully with our kaupapa”.
Want more?
Read how E Tū whānau was warmly received by whānau at Te Matatini 2023.
Discover how a trip to Waitangi was important in helping new migrants put down roots in Aotearoa.
Learn how E Tū Whānau Mahere Rautaki (Framework for Change) 2019 – 2024 guides the directions and identifies the priorities for the kaupapa.
