Aoraki Bound People

"Kāi Tahu tītī ā kai, tītī ā manawa…"
Kāi Tahu the gatherers of resources, resources of lasting endurance

Aoraki Bound Lead Instructor

Iaean Cranwell

Ko te Ūpoko o Tahumatā te mauka
Ko Ōkana te awa
Ko Wairewa te roto
Ko Uruao te waka
Ko Makō te whare tupuna
Ko Te Rōpūake te whare kai
Ko Kāti Irakehu, Kāti Kurī, Kāti Makō kā hapū
Ko Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe, Kāi Tahu kā iwi
Ko Iaean Cranwell tōku ikoa

Iaean is one of four Kāi Tahu Aoraki Bound instructors. He instructed on the Aoraki Bound pilot in March 2006 and then on the first official programme in February 2007, assisted on the March 2008 course, instructed on the February 2009 and assisted on the March 2009 courses. Iaean has been involved in Aoraki Bound from its inception, and was inspired himself to get involved after attending an Outward Bound course in July 2003. Iaean sees Aoraki Bound as an innovative initiative that aims to enhance cultural identity with in Kāi Tahu Whānui by fostering cultural awareness and personal development. Iaean works for Takuahi Research & Development Ltd, the research company for his marae, involved in the restoration of Te Roto o Wairewa and its surrounding takiwā. He lives in Ōtautahi with his partner Keela and their children Te Kaio Va'i Whenuaroa and Metua Tahuahi Maatakotahi . He is currently the Chair of Mahaanui Kurataiao Ltd, the Manawhenua Environmental Service representing the 6 marae in Christchurch and Banks Peninsula. He is the President of his waka ama club, Te Waka Pounamu and also the President of Te Waka o Aoraki, the South Island regional waka ama association.

Aoraki Bound Instructors

Craig Pauling

Ko Otumatua te mauka
Ko Opawaho te awa
Ko Turakautahi,
Ko Te Ruahikihiki,
Ko Te Rakiwhakaputa ōku tupuna
Ko Kāi Tahu, Kāti Mamoe, Waitaha te iwi
Tihei Mauri Ora!!

Craig has been involved with Aoraki Bound since it began, helping to plan and establish the pilot course in March 2006. Since then, Craig has been the Kāi Tahu instructor on 3 Aoraki Bound courses; February 2007, August 2007, and March 2008. Outside of Aoraki Bound, Craig shares his time between working part time as an Environmental Advisor for Toitū Te Whenua (the environmental management unit of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu), as well as studying towards his masters degree and looking after his three tamariki, Mihiroa, Meihana and Tainui. Craig is passionate about the protection and restoration of native flora and fauna, particularly as it relates to Ngāi Tahu mahinga kai species and practices, and is also heavily involved in competing in, organizing and promoting waka ama. Craig lives in Ōtautahi with his children and partner Janyne who is from Arahura on Te Tai o Poutini.

Eruera Tarena

Eruera Tarena (Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Ngāti Irakehu, Ngāti Huirapa) gained an interest in Outward Bound after hearing about the experiences of Iaean Cranwell and Craig Pauling, 'When I heard there was going to be a Ngāi Tahu course I jumped at the chance as I knew this was something I wanted to be involved in'. Eruera had a passion for Kāi Tahutaka but relished the chance to 'walk tribal history' as opposed to read it in a book, 'I loved the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of our ancestors as Aoraki Bound gives you opportunities to do things that you wouldn't normally be able to do in our lives, and do so with a great bunch of people'. Crediting Aoraki Bound as 'the most living I have ever squeezed into three weeks', Eruera wanted to get involved and has returned as a Kāi Tahu instructor to awhi others through the kaupapa, 'I believe it is the most powerful thing Kāi Tahu do and want to get as many of our people to experience it as possible and dream of the day when a generation of Kāi Tahu have experienced the journey. I don't think it radically changed my outlook on life but just made me stronger and think it is a fantastic opportunity to learn about our culture, who we are and give us the strength to forge our own path into the future and I encourage all of our people to give it a go. Karawhiua Kāi Tahu mā!'

Brett Lee

Ko Te Poho o Tamatea Pōkai Whenua te Mauka
Ko Whakaraupo te Moana
Ko Kāti Wheke te hapū
Ko Te Rangi Whakaputa te takata
Ko Rāpaki o te Rangi Whakaputa te Kaika
Tihei Mauri Ora!

Like the other Aoraki Bound instructors Brett is passionate about helping and empowering his people. After attending Aoraki Bound as a student in March 2008 he was given the opportunity to instruct Aoraki Bound in March 2009. Brett believes that Aoraki Bound is a good stepping stone for those wishing to strengthen their Kāi Tahutaka and their appreciation for the environment. "There are many reasons why you should give Aoraki Bound a go and not many reasons why you shouldn't, we have an opportunity to literally follow the footsteps of our ancestors and learn our history and language whilst being physically challenged and having a great time".

Tiaki Coates

Ko Urutane te mauka
Ko Waihao te awa
Ko Wainono te pūroto
Ko Tauhinu te pā tūturu
Ko Kāti Huirapa te hapū
Ko Te Kapa te takata

Ko Tiaki Coates tōku ikoa

Tihei Mauri Ora!

Tiaki was the pōtiki on the inaugural Aoraki Bound course in March 2006. At the time he was studying at the University of Otago towards degree's in both Māori studies and Physical Education. "It was the two greatest things on earth - Kai Tahu wisdom AND adventure – getting together, having a pēpi and calling it Aoraki Bound." Tiaki regards the course as being a turning point in his life -

"I learnt more about myself in those three weeks than I had done in the previous 20 years. It brought about the kinds of realizations that only come from pushing beyond perceived limits. This is what Aoraki Bound does." Tiaki went on to graduate and work as a mentor on a kaupapa Maori program, using tikaka to bring healing to rakatahi with drug and alcohol dependency. He then travelled and worked with indigenous youth in Alaska and Canada on different environmental kaupapa.

In 2010, Tiaki joined a fleet of traditional sailing waka bound for Tahiti. He sailed for three months through the Pacific on-board the waka-unua - Te Matau a Maui. "I was pretty fresh and it was rough going. I kept thinking back to Aoraki Bound - to the mental fortitude the course had demanded, and I knew I had what it took to get through."

Aoraki Bound Video

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Contact Aoraki Bound

Janyne Morrison
Senior Advisor,
Capability Development
Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu
PO Box 13046
Christchurch
Ph 0800 KAI TAHU
aoraki.bound@ngaitahu.iwi.nz

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