Community Champion Spotlight: Shyla-Drew Taiapa
Every two months, Healthy Families East Cape like to put the spotlight on a community champion, someone working within our Tairāwhiti community who is supporting, creating positive and transformational change towards the wellbeing of all people in our rohe.
Our bimonthly spotlight features Shyla-Drew Taiapa
Ko wai koe, nō hea koe?
Tēnā koutou,
He uri ahau nō Te Whanau a Te Aotaki, Tuwhakairiora, Te Whanau a Hinerupe me Te Whanau a Kahu no te rōhe o Matakaoa.
Ki te taha o tōku kuia, he uri ahau nō Ngāi Tūhoe me Te Whānau a Ngāi Tamaterangi ki Ngāti Kahungunu o Te Wairoa.
Ko Shyla-Drew Taiapa awaū
Kei te aha?
Kei te ora, it has been a rough start to the year with the January floods, heoi very grateful for the many blessings I have on the daily.
One fun fact about you?
I can stand up on a surfboard haha. I have captained the Ngati Porou Womens Team we attended the Tini a Maui tournament in Ahuriri and we won and currently still hold the Toka Te Kani Taonga.
How did you get your name and what does it mean?
Shyla was given to me by my Aunty Mere who is my mums only sister. I have a hyphenated name, and the Drew comes from my uncle Andrew. My middle name is Awhina this was given to me by my Nanny Maude my nans eldest sister.
What was your favourite story, book or movie growing up?
I love reading or watching any content that relates to my whanau and my whakapapa.
What's one of the most special or memorable moments in your mahi, and why does it stand out to you?
Working with our rangatahi and being able to collaborate and bring their kaupapa to fruition is always special to me. One kaupapa that I loved was Te Huinga o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Tairāwhiti. We hosted all the Kura Kaupapa Māori within TeTairāwhiti here in Matakaoa. We had over 100 rangatahi climb Hikurangi maunga, surfed Onepoto and we finished off with a pō whakanui at Te Kurra Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti. Matua Chad Chambers was the guest of honour he had the hall rocking and the rangatahi loved it. I also love coaching and teaching our tamariki how to surf at Onepoto. The smile and joy they get on their faces from playing in Tangaroa is priceless.
What is something everyone should know about your community?
We are rich, not in money, but in the abundance of kai that surrounds us, from the whenua and the moana that has sustained our people for many generations. We also have the oldest rugby club on the East Coast, Hicks Bay Rugby Club.
What legacy do you want to leave behind?
That I was a kind person and the best Nanny to all my mokopuna.
What is a good piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Ko te mea nui, ko te aroha.
Is there a song, haka, prayer or quote that makes you feel connected to your people or your home? What does it mean to you?
"He ao te rangi, ka uhia ma te huruhuru te manu ka rere ai" This is a whakatauki that adorns the waharoa at my marae Rangiahua.
If we visited your community, where would you take us and what would you want us to see, taste or experience there?
Too many to choose from. I love sitting at Mohua in the evening with a fire watching my kids play in the moana whist we try catch a fish. Surfing at Onepoto, mahi kai ki Matakaoa or just sitting outside Hicks Bay Shop with a coffee having a catch up with the whanau.
What is one small, everyday thing that brings you joy – like a food, a place, or a fun activity?
Being able to bring my tamariki up on their whenua tipuna and going back to my marae Rangiahua.
If you could share a message with young people in Tairāwhiti who want to support their communities, what would you say to them?
Tama tū, Tama ora, Tama noho, Tama mate!
Who is a community champion you know that is awesome for their community?
Moana Rickard nō Ruatoria.