Tena koutou katoa. Apologies for the late confirmation, but, the Matheson Family has confirmed that they will be able to come to our marae on the 7th of April, 1pm, to hand over the toki that they have had, to us.

The format for the day will be:

The family and the toki will be called into our where where the toki will be put on a little table set up at the back wall. Would like a couple of taua to sit with the pounamu on our side, and they will have a couple of their wahine on their side of the table.

I will do a karakia for the return of the taonga followed by the powhiri.

They will respond to the powhiri and then the hongi.

We will then just mingle and host the family until hakari.

The Matheson family have asked that during the meal, if some of them could get up and speak to us about the day and what the toki and returning it means to them as a family.

At the end of the meal , I will then do the closing karakia for the day’s event. This will enable the Matheson Family and anyone else who needs to leave, to leave and those who need to clean up, to clean up. 

We are expecting up to ten of the Matheson Family to arrive for the day.

Could those who will be attending, let the marae office know by next Wednesday. This way we can have an idea of numbers for kai. 

Hope to see you there.

Tewera King