Working bee this weekend was VERY successful. We had a lot of whanau show up with equipment and enthusiasm. The main job was to fix rotten boards on the Wharenui and then prepare and paint it. We got most of this job done on the Saturday, and then the rain closed in on Sunday, so this will have to be finished off either at the next working bee or before (if we get some volunteers).

Big thanks especially to the following people:

Jimmi Ngati for the water blaster

John Palmer for the paint sprayer

Alec and Tareka Ratcliffe for all the building tools

Tavake Ngati for the scaffolding

Sonny Tahere, Phyllis Tahere, Mel McKenzie, Chris McKenzie, Nova McKenzie, Carolyn McKenzie, David Thompson, Lorna and Ross Pope, and all the other whanau who came and helped and made it such an enjoyable and productive weekend.

Next working bee to be in March, date to be confirmed with the agenda for the next meeting.

Jobs to do at next working bee:

Fix up the septic system with a grease trap and drainage field

Touch up paint and any minor maintenance

Clean the windows and fix any that need it

We may also start looking at the contents of the storerooms to see what we have that we can use, fix or throw away, but that will depend on time and number of helpers.

This Panui will be posted out to all whanau for whom I have postal addresses. Please pass it on!

Welcome to our first panui for 2009. We have had lots happen during 2008 and it’s all been good stuff!

We have a new website where all our news and information will be kept. The address for the site is:

http://ruapekamarae.wainet.org

(exactly like that, no www in front or it won’t work).

It was created and is hosted by WaiNet, an electronic community network that provides access, content, support and training to community groups and people in the Waikato area. BIG thanks to them!

We had a big working bee back in November which got a lot of cleanup and maintenance work done all around the Marae. THANK YOU to all whanau who worked so hard that weekend

We have had a steady stream of bookings all through the year and it looks like the new year will be the same, which is excellent news.

If you want to add anything to the website, please send all suggestions, information, whakapapa, events and anything you can think of to Louise at ruapekacommittee@yahoo.co.nz

Our next working bee will be over the weekend of 17th and 18th January, bring your whanau, bring your tools and bring some stories for when the work is done!

OK, so the working bee was a great success, and we got a lot done, but we are planning another. The weekend of the 17th and 18th January will be dedicated to continuing the great work we started in November. I will post a list of jobs that need doing up here, and a contact for you to email and volunteer for a job or 2!

You can stay on the marae (bring your bed linen please) and I reckon there will be a few people there from Friday evening.