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Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou

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Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou is the organisational structure of the hapū of Ōtākou marae on the Otago Peninsula.

19/04/2026

Me mihi ka tika ki a koutou kā rika raupā i te kaupapa nei! Katrina Pōtiki Bryant Congratulations to our Taurite Tū champions across the motu. Ko koutou a ruka! 🙌🏽

03/03/2026

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou is pleased to announce new appointments. Paulette Tamati-Elliffe will serve as Interim Chair until the rūnaka AGM in November, and Nadia Wesley-Smith will step into the role of Chief Executive Officer, bringing strong governance, strategy, and partnership experience to guide the rūnaka into its next chapter.

Interim Kaiwhakahaere/Chair – Paulette Tamati-Elliffe
Paulette Tamati-Elliffe (Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki (Ōtākou), Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) has been appointed Interim Chair of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and will serve in this role until the rūnaka AGM in November.

Paulette brings more than twenty years of leadership in te reo Māori revitalisation. She has been involved with Kotahi Mano Kāika since its launch in 2000 and went on to lead the Ngāi Tahu tribal strategy focused on restoring te reo Māori as a living language in homes and communities. She and her partner have intentionally raised their tamariki in te reo Māori, a commitment that now continues with their mokopuna.

A graduate of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo, Paulette also has extensive governance experience. She represents Ngāi Tahu on the New Zealand Geographic Board and has completed two terms as the Te Tai Tonga māngai on Te Mātāwai, National Māori Language Board. She also serves in a range of Māori advisory roles across the Otago region. Grounded in whakapapa, tikaka and whānau wellbeing, Paulette brings steady, values-based leadership to the role, ensuring the aspirations of Ōtākou continue to be upheld with integrity and mana.

Chief Executive Officer – Nadia Wesley-Smith
Nadia (Kāti Taoka, Kāi Te Pahi, Kāi Te Ruahikihiki) grew up on the kāik at Ōtākou, grounded in her Ōtākou-taka and raised amongst generations of whānau.
After building a management career in tourism and hospitality across Australia and Scotland, and later living between Tāhuna and Te Ana-au, Nadia returned home in 2021 with her partner and tamariki. She served as Rūnaka Manager from 2021 to November 2023, leading organisational development and key community initiatives. Elected Rūnaka Chair for the 2023–2026 term, she most recently worked at the Dunedin City Council as Manager, Corporate Policy, and is a Ngāi Tahu representative on the Sustainable Destinations - Piopiotahi Programme Board.

Now as CEO, Nadia returns to serve her hapū and whānau, bringing business analysis, governance, strategy, and partnership experience to lead Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou into its next chapter. Nadia commences her role on Monday 9th March.

19/02/2026

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
Kua taki te koukou o te ruru.
Kua riro atu rā tētahi i te rika kaha o aituā.
Ka tū te rāhui, ā, ka rere kā tai o aroha ki te whānau i tēnei wā pōuri.
This is to respectfully advise that Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou has now placed a rāhui (a temporary closure) in respect for the mate/ drowning at St Clair beach earlier today.
The rāhui covers an area of Saint Clair and St Kilda beach for 3 days lifting at midday 21st February it applies to the gathering of kaimoana/seafood and recreational activities.
Please network to the public, your whanau/family, friends and contacts

19/01/2026

Waitangi Day 2026 - Pānui from Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou

Karaka mai Waitangi
Karaka mai
Taki haruru ana te manu kōrero
Ka rere mai i Ōtākou ki Ōrongotea
Ka rere mai i te tai o Araiteuru ki te Hokianganui-a-Kupe
Tēnei te karaka o te whare o Tamatea ki kā kārehu o Tamatea
P**a noa i Te Waipounamu
Ko Akaroa, ko Ruapuke, ko Ōtākou kā tumu hereka waka ki Waitangi
Ko pūawhetia e kā hau wāwāhi whare i p**a i te waha o te ika
Aukaha, kia kaha!
Kia kotahi te reo, kia tapatahi te tū!
Ko te toa i a tini, i a mano!

Tēnā koutou

Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou has always taken great pride in hosting Kāi Tahu Waitangi Day commemorations, and this role reflects our long legacy of political leadership. This year will be a little different. Ōtākou will lead a Kāi Tahu ope to Waitangi, which means the usual Kāi Tahu commemoration in the takiwā will not take place.

Our intention is to go to Waitangi in the spirit of kotahitaka. Strengthening our ties with iwi in the north is an important part of honouring this moment. Given the current political climate, we believe it is vital that iwi stand together to ensure our collective voice remains strong.

Ōtākou has always carried the flame of political leadership, protest, whawhai, and wero, and this commitment continues to guide our decisions. We look forward to being part of the wider kaupapa at Waitangi and standing with iwi from across the motu in unity and shared purpose.

Although we will not be hosting an event at Ōtākou Marae this year, we encourage whānau to spend time together on 6 February. It’s also a chance to reflect on what brings us together and the strength that comes from standing as one.

Kā manaakitaka,
Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou

19/12/2025

Kia ora e te whānau,

The office would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. We hope you all enjoy a well-deserved break with whānau and friends.🎄

Please note that our Tari will be closed from Monday 22 December and will reopen on Monday 12 January.🎉

07/12/2025

He pānui tēnei mō kā uri a Wī Pōtiki

Whānau Pōtiki Wānaka
Save the date!

📆Friday 3 April – Sunday 5 April 2026 (Easter Weekend)
📍Ōtākou Marae, Dunedin

Join us for a special wānaka celebrating our whakapapa, strengthening mātauraka and invigorating whanaukataka.

More details coming soon. Watch this space!

15/11/2025

E tangi ana he mihi ana ki a koe e te mareikura, ko Ana, e tīraha mai ra i Te Ika a Rama marae, haere, moe mai. E te whānau, there is a small tira from the rūnaka planning to be at Te Ika a Rama whare just north of Gore at 3pm tomorrow (Sunday) to pay our respects to Ana, those wishing to join nau mai haere mai, na Edward

13/11/2025

Para te hau, para te oue, para te rahurahu e!

Aue te mamae, kua hika te mareikura o te whānau Karetai. Mai i Te Tai o Ōtākou ki Te Ara a Kiwa, He mokopuna o Te Pahi rāua ko Hākuiao. He wahine aroha ki tōna hapori, ki tōna whānau, ki tōna mahi o te whare pora.

This is a pānui to notify the passing of Anna Riria Gorham. Daughter of Peter Karetai and Marion Davis, much loved mother and Taua and friend to many.

Anna will be lying in state from Saturday onwards at O Te Ika Rama Marae, with a service being held on Wednesday.

Further details to come.

Moe mai, okioki atu rā e te Taua.

12/11/2025

Ka mau te wehi Queen's High School - we deeply value your unwavering commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and our relationship with you, as Mana Whenua.

02/08/2025

Aue te mamae nei!
Kua hinga te māreikura o Ōtākou, ko Puketeraki hoki
Kua mū te manu tioriori o Te Wao Nui o Tane
Kua ngaro te pou o te whānau Russell me Kāi Tahu hoki.

Tākū mamae e kokopa nei
Aue to pouri,
Aue te mamae nei!

On Thursday 31st July, Raewyn moved peacefully from this life on to her journey to Poutūteraki, ki te whare o Pōhutukawa.

The tūpāpaku of the whaea & taua of the Russell whānau, & whanauka & friend to many, is lying at her home at Ōtākou. On Sunday 2nd August at 2pm, she will be taken to Ōtākou Marae where she will lay overnight before a funeral service is held for Raewyn at Hope & Son’s on Monday.

People are welcome to pay their respects at the whare however, whānau are encouraged to be at Ōtākou Marae on Sunday by 2.00 pm to help bring Raewyn onto her home marae so that together we can express our poroporoaki and share the burden of grief with the whānau pani.

Keep an eye on the Rūnaka page in case there are any major changes to timing or arrangements for Sunday.
Check the Hope & Sons website for Mondays service details

30/07/2025

*Update as at 12:50am*

🌙🌊A quick note to let you know that Emergency Management Otago and NEMA duty teams continue to monitor the situation overnight.

At this stage we aren't expecting any escalation but we will update you if anything changes.👍

Think it's time for a cuppa! Take care folks :)
______________________________________________________________

*Update as at 4:22pm*

A TSUNAMI ACTIVITY NATIONAL ADVISORY has been issued following the earthquake near Kamchatka, Russia.

Please note, there has been a magnitude UPGRADE to M8.8.

Forecasted tsunami activity is expected from midnight tonight and may arrive over many hours into tomorrow.

Please see the attached map in the post or go to www.civildefence.govt.nz for the most up to date information
____________________________________________________________________
*UPDATE AT 2:09PM*

UPDATED AREAS UNDER THREAT NOW INCLUDE THE WHOLE OF THE SOUTH ISLAND.

Earliest arrival time is tomorrow morning 31 July between 2.30am - 3.00am for OTAGO COASTLINE
_______________________________________________________________________

NATIONAL ADVISORY ISSUED: TSUNAMI ACTIVITY – EXPECT STRONG AND UNUSUAL CURRENTS AND UNPREDICTABLE SURGES AT THE SHORE

THIS APPLIES TO OTAGO COASTAL AREAS HERE : the East and South Coasts of the South Island from the CLARENCE RIVER to PUYSEGUR POINT including Kaikoura, Christchurch, Banks Peninsula, Timaru, Oamaru, Dunedin, the Otago Peninsula and Invercargill.

We expect New Zealand coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges at the shore following a magnitude 8.7 earthquake near OFF THE EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA RUSSIA at 2025-07-30 11:25 AM.

Strong currents and surges can injure and drown people. There is a danger to swimmers, surfers, people fishing, and anyone in or near the water close to shore.

People in or near the sea in the following areas should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN AREAS UNDER THREAT:

STAY OFF THE BEACHES AND SHORE AREAS
People on boats, live-aboards and at marinas should leave their boats/vessels and move onto shore. Do not return to boats unless instructed by officials.
There is no need to evacuate other areas unless directly advised by local civil defence authorities. Coastal inundation (flooding of land areas near the shore) is not expected as a result of this event. We are advising people to:
• Move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas and away from harbours, marinas, rivers and estuaries.
• Do not go to the coast to watch the unusual wave activity as there may be dangerous and unpredictable surges.
• Listen to local civil defence authorities and follow any instructions.
• Share this information with family, neighbours and friends.

This National Advisory has been issued following an assessment of information available. The situation may change as new information becomes available. Listen to the radio or TV for updates, or check www.civildefence.govt.nz

Waitaki District Council Dunedin City Council Clutha District Council Otago Regional Council OAR FM Dunedin - Community Access Media NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi - Otago & Southland Otago - Fire and Emergency Otago Rural Support Trust

Address

Tamatea Road, Ōtākou
Dunedin
9077

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

034780352

Website

http://www.otakourunaka.co.nz/

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