KAIWHAKAHAERE

Kara Kearney ( Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai ) 

Te Kaiarahi Wana mai Te Ture  ( Operations Lead )


A tireless advocate and hard worker for her people, Kara reflects on the values that her grandmother Shirley Edwin imparted on her during her Waikanae upbringing on the Kapiti Coast.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE KAPITI COAST?  
“I love being so close to our marae, Whakarongotai Marae. And I love having all my whānau around me… “Ko tōku Waikanaetanga tēnei. This is my peace and tranquillity”

HE AHA TŌ TINO WHAKATAUKI/WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE?  “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini” My strength is not of one, but that of many. I think it’s very relevant to the mahi we do here and the whānau of Manaaki Kapiti. It talks about how we got to where we are today.”

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
“I won an award at the Castlepoint annual fishing competition by hauling in the biggest fish – it was huuuuge! I also have a fear that there’s not gonna be enough food on the table.. which can often lead to having a lot kai on the table!”

REFLECTIONS ON THE MAHI YOU DO AT MANAAKI KAPITI… “Manaakitanga was one the values that my grandmother, Shirley Edwin, instilled in all of us.. She was the epitome of manaaki, service and care. That’s what this was all based on… Here at Manaaki Kapiti we have an opportunity to work for our iwi, to give back to our people, and to provide for the whole community.”


Anita ( Te Āitanga ā Māhaki, Ngāi Tūhoe, Rongowhakaata,
Te Arawa, Ngāti Airihi  )

Kaiwhakahaere Matua  ( Senior Administrator )

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE KAPITI COAST?
“Whānau… My whānau are all here. We’ve always been here. Some of us went overseas for a while but we are all here together again. I’m grateful and thankful for being close to my mum and dad” This is home for us. You know when you are home when you come over the Pukerua Bay hill and see Kapiti motu lying in front of you.

HE AHA TŌ TINO WHAKATAUKI/WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE? He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. The most important thing in this world is the people. With everything that is going on around the world including the panademic this whakatauki resonates with me. Looking after whanau & our community is most important.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU?
“I won a talent show when I was about 10. The show was organised by the Golden Coast Rugby League Club now known as Kapiti Rugby League Club. I got up on stage with my Dad (who was on the guitar) and sung ‘Paper Roses’ by Marie Osmond (showing my age!) I won and the prize was a cheque for about $20. This got me a Bay City Rollers record (showing my age again!!) and a plastic colourful bangle . I wish I could say that the singing talent stayed with me but nope skipped a generation from Dad to my beautiful daughter.

REFLECTIONS ON THE MAHI YOU DO AT MANAAKI KAPITI…
“I think the thing for me is… I’ve lived in the Kapiti community all my life. I look at what’s happening with COVID.. I look at my parents, they both have health issues. And doing the type of work that I’m doing, I feel that it keeps them safe. It’s keeping the whole community safe. We have strong links to Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai through my father Koro Don… Whakarongotai Marae is a place that has provided manaaki for our whānau. It’s a place that is so significant. And it’s a way for me to give back.”