Mana Wahine 2020
The sun was shining particularly bright at Eastview Reserve in Glen Innes one afternoon in March this year, and it couldn’t just be attributed to being in the height of summer. The Mana Wahine event was taking place here, coinciding with International Women’s Day - a day of celebrating women and advocating for women's rights. Signposted at the entry to the reserve was a bright poster of smiling wāhine that led the way and set the tone for the event.
The contour of the reserve was used wisely by the event organisers, with the stage set in the lower centre similar to an amphitheatre with the audience gathered around on picnic blankets shaded by oak trees. Portraits of wāhine and ngātu hung between tree trunks flecked by colourful ribbons that swayed in the breeze adding to the gentle uplifting wairua. A floral backdrop of pink roses sat against a tree for wāhine to take snaps and add to the photo board that celebrated friendships, culture and sisterhood.
Various organisations who uphold health and wellbeing had stalls to the side where people got to chat and connect about their products and services. New and renewed connections were made between local people and employment opportunities even eventuated from casual chats on the picnic blankets! The talented Veesh Putawai from MadAve did an awesome job of MC’ing - rolling out the event programme that included workshops, performances, open mic and prestigious keynote speakers: Jenny Salesa, Raya Davis and Aigagalefili Fepuaea’i Tapua’i.
The event ended with everyone making a circle around the base of the reserve for closing words that referenced the Mana Wahine event last year at Te Oro. It was an impressive site to see of around 100 people that the organising group of mana wahine could be proud of. It was a beautiful event that was an amazing example of collaboration.
Ka rawe tō mahi.
We had a chat to the event organiser Delina McGregor about the event.
How did the event come about?
Mana Wahine 2020 is the next chapter to Mana Wahine 2019 once again created by a collective gathering of local wāhine, bringing themselves to awhi the kaupapa. Mana Wahine should be a new annual tradition to keep the torch burning. Mana Wahine 2021 is just around the corner, opening up opportunities for anyone to be part of the collective, nau mai, haere mai.
What were the highlights for you?
I enjoyed seeing tane at the event sharing what Mana Wahine means to them and the authentic respect given in the space.
The many generous contributions from helping hands, donations and much more.
The gathering of people brought wairua and mauri ora.
The sight of generations on the day was magnificent to see.
How did you cope with the heightened awareness of health and safety in relation to Covid-19?
Back in the first week of March we weren’t sure what Covid19 was let alone grasp how this was relevant to our event or would be a world pandemic, however it was circling the media that Covid19 was turning in to something serious so we made sure to follow the hand sanitizing system/rule of that time.
The mana wāhine from the event working group.
List of speakers:
Veesh Patuwai - MC
Jenny Salesa
Aigagalefili Fepuaea’i Tapua’i
Raya Davis
Groups involved:
Breastfeeding Cafe
Glen Innes Business Association - Vaakore Sound Manager
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church
Photo Booth