TALES OF THE CITY

Kaitiaki Kurt

BY ARTHUR HAWKES PHOTOGRAPHY BY SANNE VAN GINKEL

FOOD

Roast LEISURE Playing instruments MUSIC

Ka Hao SUBURB

Kingston FILM

Boy

Just what does it take to build a marae?

Kurt Komene has nurtured something beautiful. As tikanga advisor he's helped to create Te Rau Karamu, the new marae on Massey’s Wellington campus. With specialist knowledge of te reo and tikanga Māori, Kurt is a performer, musician, artist, and weaver.

Living in Kingston, he’s greeted each morning by a spectacular view of the city. “I can see Island Bay, Berhampore, Newtown, all the way to Shelly Bay. I’ve got a big view where I call home.” While he now lives and works in the capital, he grew up in Parihaka in Taranaki, the historic Māori settlement famed for non-violent resistance to the British. Many Parihaka residents relocated to Wellington. “The design of this marae was very similar to one I had seen planned on paper back in Taranaki”, says Kurt. So he has found seeing the finished marae “absolutely amazing.”

While he was working for Māori health organisation Te Tihi Hauora in Taranaki, Kurt was deeply involved with a community of elderly women. He filled the role of kaumātua so the health team could visit the marae within protocol. “My involvement with the nannies inspired me to be the person I am today. When you hang with our older generation they give you a gift that will keep you intense, keep you strong, and if you ever needed someone to cuddle, you had your old people, you had your nannies.”

His role at Te Rau Karamu in Wellington involved a similar responsibility for care and guardianship, ensuring the space and customs observed upheld the wellbeing and safety of the artists who adorned the marae with art celebrating the natural world and the creation of Te Rakau Tipua, the cosmic tree. “When you look at what they’ve contributed to this project, the work is just magnificent, the mahi is magic. There’s no other marae like Te Rau Karamu. Other maraes link to ancestors, but our marae talks about the importance in what’s around us.” Kurt and the team also set about establishing a space of care and sanctuary for the students. “Sometimes they struggle. That’s all part of life: the emotional changes and anxiety – but when you come out of it in the final year, you’ve made history, and that’s a message we share to everybody. Be aware and strive for what you feel, and what you dream.”

Two people heavily involved in the marae were the late trade unionists, Māori activists, and kaumātua Te Huirangi Waikerepuru and Mereiwa Broughton, both immensely special people in Kurt’s life, and that of the marae. The team started in 2014 on what would be a seven-year project; Mereiwa passed away in 2016, and Te Huirangi during lockdown in 2020. Kurt saw the project through to its completion, which he describes as a moment evoking all the memories and wisdom of the two kaumātua. “When you lose a loved one, you’ve got to realise that they’re moving on. We’re all just passing through, that’s something that’s really important. So no matter where you go, they’re always going to be there, and that’s a really special thing.”

Summer in Queenstown

With a vast range of experiences, a warm welcome and cosmopolitan vibe paired with warm days, long evenings and dazzling starry nights, Queenstown is irresistible in the summertime. Soak up the sunshine while enjoying an array of summer adventures – whether you fancy hiking and biking, or a slower pace indulging in local food and wine, there’s an experience here for you.

30-minute drive from Queenstown’s CBD, it is home to a number of wineries, restaurants, pubs, boutique accommodation, activities and the historic Kawarau Suspension Bridge.

The tastes of Queenstown

Queenstown is a vibrant, multicultural town offering a diverse, innovative culinary scene and an adventure for your taste buds. Every palate is catered for with over 150 bars and restaurants ranging from fine dining to bustling eateries, family-friendly cafes to boutique restaurants. Talented chefs create delectable food and wine experiences infused with international influences, whilst celebrating the best of New Zealand’s flavours. The long, warm summer evenings provide the perfect opportunity to dine alfresco, take in the scenery, and sample the local game and fresh produce sourced from around the region which features heavily in seasonal menus. Gibbston, the Valley of the Vines, is home to some of the region’s oldest vineyards and is world-renowned for its pinot noir. Located an easy

Off the beaten path/track

Queenstown’s breath-taking scenery has inspired outdoor exploration for generations. The pristine natural environment sets the stage for a variety of pursuits, inviting outdoor enthusiasts and burgeoning adventurers to step out and explore. From day walks to iconic multi-day hikes, Queenstown has a variety of easy to access trails through native forests, alongside rivers and waterfalls, lakes and mountains. Many of Queenstown’s best walks are close to downtown Queenstown, such as the stunning Ben Lomond, a challenging climb and a full day hike with an elevation of 1,438-metres, or Queenstown Hill Time Walk, a 500-metre climb through pine forest to the summit of Te Tapu-nui (mountain of intense sacredness). Queenstown is the gateway for some of the most iconic New Zealand ‘Great Walks’ including The Routeburn, Milford Track and Kepler Track. There are many opportunities to immerse in nature particularly in the stunning Glenorchy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site offering activities such as walking, biking, canyoning, fishing, pack rafting and more. Alternatively, follow the footsteps of the early gold miners by wandering along Arrowtown’s historic gold mining trails. From easy one-hour strolls to more strenuous treks through Lord of the Rings country, the Arrowtown trail networks link to Mahu Whenua trails and sections of the Te Araroa trail, offering unique landscape and beautiful scenery only minutes from the heart of this little town. No matter if you’re a confident outdoor explorer or a city-dweller just looking to step into nature for a stroll, Queenstown offers a variety of outdoor adventures to discover beautiful sights and reconnect with nature. For more information visit queenstownNZ.nz