Kia ora tatou katoa,
I wanted to congratulate the main autor - Joseph Potangaroa and Chief Designer - Mikis van Geffen on their fabulous efforts to make this korero available to the masses. I also acknowledge the many other volunteers and dedicated people who travelled to Wellington back in the day and poured over all the archival material to bring out the korero for the Wairarapa. I would like to make special mention of koroua Kuki and Jim Rimene who led this work for Rangitane o Wairarapa and Ngati Hamua. We need also recognise the research done by Tipene Chrisp which contributed so greatly to our Tribunal papers and this work.
As Chief Executive of Rangitane o Wairarapa it is my privilege to welcome you all to this wananga or place of learning. Please utilise this korero, analyse the info, research it further yourselves, gather your own whanau korero, challenge it, prove it otherwise, share it. But above all treasure it.
Please incorporate this information into your studies, assignments and journals, give your own opinions, acknowledge the source, and at some point; come and korero with us kanohi te kanohi.
nga mihi ki a koutou
Jason Kerehi
Poutuktuku (CEO)
Rangitane o Wairarapa Inc
25 Nov 2009
