Tania Anderson

He Honore, He Koroia ki te Atua, He Maungarongo ki te whenua,
He whakaaropai ki ngā tangata katoa
Tihei Mauri ora

I te taha o tōku papa
Ko Ngāti Kahungungu ki Wairarapa me Ngāti Whaatua ōku Iwi
Ko Bill Rogan rāua ko Winipera Waitai ōku tupuna
Ko Lae Reipa Rogan tōku papa

I te taha o tōku māmā
Ko Ngāti Tuwharetoa, ko Ngāti Hauiti me Te Ati Haunui a Paparangi ōku iwi
Ko Tony Bennett rāua ko Rora Potaka ōku tupuna
Ko June Meretini Ngauru Rogan Haami tōku māmā

Our only son Te Wehi, brought us to Waiheke, with his fiance Vicki and our 3 mokopuna, Cadence, Tyrone and Koria. It was also time for my husband Blair to reconnect to this whenua on his fathers side of the whānau. Blair whakapapa back to Ngāti Kapū me Ngāti Hura his grandmother Anitapeka Thompson was born on the motu.

The husband and I moved to Waiheke in 2019. Three years have gone so fast and Covid has put a damper on our goals. We had planned to build on the island, this is yet to eventuate so until that happens we will continue to stay and support our whānau. We will then seewhere we need to be after that.

I saw the need in my 2nd year on the island to establish a Māori Womens Welfare League (MWWL) Branch “Te Motu Arai Roa – Waiheke MWWL” in June 2020. My main focus is to support our wāhine māori to use their strengths, knowledge and expertise to educate other wāhine māori and assist them in achieving their own personal goals.

Due to Covid the establishment of the league has been important in supporting māori and low social economic whānau on the island during lockdown. This support continues today and we continue to build relationships with the wider community, attend community events, host events and support kaupapa of the day.

My goal is to share the knowledge and skills I have with all those who wish to learn.

Ngā mihi
Tania Anderson President Te Motu Arai Roa – Waiheke MWWL