A shot of the Coast just so you guys don't forget the place!

Update from the Coast

Well the weather is hot and the waves are pumping, its another beautiful summer on the coast. The Christmas Holidays began with a real jolt, a 6.8 earthquake which collapsed a few of the shops on the main street and broke a lot of windows - no one was seriously hurt, and things are pretty much back to normal - whatever the media reported divide it in half and thats probably a more fairer reflection of what really happened. Everyone is well. Hope Hanakoko dropped in to your places. Have a great New Year of 2008 whanau. Keep in touch.

Meri Kirihimete from the Bevan-Browns

Kia ora te whanau,Meri kirihimete ki a koutou. I hope you all have a wonderful Xmas and that 2008 brings you all you wish for yourselves and your family. My apoplogies for not sending my usual Xmas card and letter - I just ran out of time! Life has been very hectic in the Bevan-Brown household lately - well, to tell you the truth, it has been hectic all year! Winston is complaining that being retired is harder work than being employed. He spent the first 6 months digging out a pathway and planting native trees down one of our banks. As the bank resembles Everest in steepness, his landscaping efforts were not easy going. Then for the last 5 and a half months he has been helping the builders with our house renovations. We have done up our ensuite, had an extra toilet and shower put in and raised the roof in the upstairs rumpus room to put in new windows. The builders reckoned it would take 2 months but in fact it took nearly three times as long and was twice as expensive - I am not too sure what that says about the nature of Winston's labouring skills! The year has also been dotted with a number of specialist appointments. Winston is losing weight and is getting very forgetful but despite a barrage of tests the doctors can't pin-point the cause. He still has a few more tests to go so I hope you will all remember him in your prayers. The good news for the year you already know about ie the arrival of our first grandchild - Raukura Maraea Cecelia Hennessy. We are over in Melbourne at the moment to enjoy our first Xmas with her. Nathan, Tara and Nick shouted Mahaki and his girlfriend, Anna, a trip over as a twenty-first birthday present - so it will be really wonderful having the whole family together for Christmas. (We arrived 2 days ago and have had thunder, lightning and rain ever since. It was so bad we spent an hour sitting in the plane on the tarmac because it wasn't safe to get off!!) Talking of Mahaki's birthday, you are all invited to a "small family get together" at our pace on the 12th of January. Mahaki had the choice of a large party or a small family get together and some money. He chose the former so I booked my work marae and then a few weeks ago when he needed money to pay for a large car repair bill he deided he would like the money and a small party at our place instead. I cancelled the marae booking but wished I hadn't as his small party appears to be growing by the minute as the word "leaks out" around Palmerston North (We are hoping some of his "yobo friends" will get lost on their way out to our place!) However, there is plenty of room for family. We are putting up a couple of tents and getting mattresses from the Kohanga - it may not be the Ritz but there are beds for anyone who wants to stay. Well I am getting hassled as people want to hit the Melbourne markets to do some Xmas shopping. Once again I hope you all have a wonderful Xmas and a Happy New Year.Arohani, Aunty Jill and Uncle Winston.PS I will ask Tara to send some photos to go with this message later xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Meri Kirihimate Whanau

An upcoming Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all the Wai Brown Whanau around the world - keep in touch, let me know where you are, what you are doing and email some pics too so I can update the blog for all the whanau to see. My email is jm.lardelli@xtra.co.nz.

Uncle Micky & Aunty Linda with their new moko

Jenna Brown & Wanis Roberts introduce their new baby daughter Ayana Ataahua Roberts
born 17 october 2007.

Another beautiful addition to the growing Wai Brown Whanau - keep it up!


Pics & email supplied by Kara.

Tara & Nick's new baby! 3.8.07

Raukura Maraea Cecelia Hennessy

Kia ora te whanau,Great to catch up with all the news – Uncle Wayne you surpassed yourself! Good luck on your mission, Jono. Booman, you will have to put photos of Manu’s wedding on the site. Sorry we couldn’t make it but we were too busy in Melbourne becoming nana and koro. Raukura Maraea Cecelia Hennessy arrived on the 3rd of August. She weighed in at 71b 13oz and arrived in exactly three and a half hours from first pain till birth! With Nick on one side of Tara, Winston on the other, and me behind all pushing on cue I am sure we sped things along. Raukura is a little angel as you can see below but with the lungs of an accomplished opera singer she had four adults fully occupied for the first week of her life. Poor Tara has been finding it a real challenge since Winston and I returned to NZ and Nick to work.It was great to see Horowai, Timmy and whanau when we were over in Melbourne – hopefully we will get to see them on a more regular basis. Love and God bless, Nana and Koro!

CORRECTION - The wedding posting earlier was for Uncle Norman's daughter

Jono leaves for his Mission to Adelaide/Alice Springs & Darwin

The family went to see Jono (Elder Lardelli) leave Auckland Airport last week for a 2 year Mission to Adelaide, Alice Springs & Darwin.

It was an emotional farewell as we wont see jono for the next 2 years. He will return in July 2009, and will be at the Brown Whanau Christmas/New Years Reunion at the Marae.

Jono's mailing address is:

ELDER JONATHAN LARDELLI

Australia Adelaide Mission

P 0 Box 97

MARDEN, SA 5070, Australia

Brown Whanau Wedding - Uncle Phillip's daughter

E-mail from Uncle Wayne in Aussie

NO ACHIEVEMENTS TO ADD UNLESS ANY MEDALS OUT THERE FOR NUMBER OF STOMACHS OF SPEEDEATING.
BUT...........
A BIG SHOUT OUT TO DA WHANAU. WWWHHHAAATTTSSSUUUPPP FALAS,FALESES & PEPI'S.
STIL HERE IN NGATI W.A. HANGIN IN & MISSIN U ALL. TOOK A WHILE TO GET OVER THE HOME TRIP BUT GOT TO PUT IN THE HARD SLOG FOR A FEW YEARS YET. I SAW LOTS OF PEOPLE ON THE BLOG WISHIN THEY HAD BEEN THERE......GET THERE U FALLAS! 2009 IS GONNA BE PRIMO!

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE GIZZY & RUA WHANAUS FOR PUTTING UP WITH US FOR THE HOLIDAYS. YOU FALLAS ARE THE HEART & SOLE & WE COULDNT DO THIS WITHOUT ALL THE WORK YOU FALLAS DO!!!!!

LIFE IS GOOD OVER HERE. NICE TO HERE THE SISTERS ARE GOING TO MELBOURNE FOR A HOLIDAY BUT NOT ON TO PERTH. C'MON MY SISTERS-STRETCH THOSE WALLETS!!!!

MARAEA IS CHOICE BUT GETTING A BIT HOHA WITH THE SKOOL BUZZ. I TRY TO KEEP HER MOTIVATED BUT SHE'S 16 IN OCTOBER AND THE CHANGES THEY GO THRU IN THE TEENAGE YEARS CAN BE FROM 1 EXTREME TO ANOTHER (I'M SURE YOU PARENTS KNOW WAT I MEAN).SHE'S WORKING AT MACCAS AND IN THE NETBALL SHOP SO SHE'S EARNING SUM BUKS AND GETTING A TASTE OF THE REAL WORLD-BUT NO GOOD WHEN I PUT MY HAND OUT FOR HER BOARD MONEY.......HA HA I'M NOT THAT BAD!

MALACHI IS COMIN OVER TO LIVE NEXT YEAR SO I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THEM BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. HE IS GOOD AND STILL LIVING IN HAMILTON WITH HIS MUMSY. IF ANYONES PASSING THRU HIS MOBILE IS 0211033596-SUS HIM OUT FOR A CHAT!

TARA & NIK HAVE MOVED BACK TO MELBOURNE FOR THE UPCOMING ARRIVAL & NUPTUALS (CRAP-THAT WAS SPOSE TO BE A SECRET!) SO STINK TO SEE THEM GO BUT GOOD FOR THEM WITH NIKS WHANAU OVER THERE AND WINSTON & JILL JUST OVER THE DITCH. WILL MISS THEM THOUGH.

CONGRATS TO UNCLE MIKE BIKE ON MAKING 50. 3MUCH BRO! ALSO FOR ALL THE BIRTHDAYS & WEDDINGS & DINNERS & SHARING & LAUGHING & PARTYING ETC THAT YOU'S GET TO DO TOGETHER OVER THERE, KEEP IT UP-WISH WE COULD BE THERE TO.

TO UNCLE HEN...HEARD THAT THE KNEES WERE GIVING YOU GRIEF BRO, KEEP ON TRUKING BROTHER. HELLO MY BIGGEST SISTER-HOPE U STILL OFF THE GIGGYS & LOOK AFTER YOURSELF SIS

TO BROTHER LONI-GOOD PIK OF THE 4 GENERATIONS BRO. SHOUT OUT TO THE LARDELLI CLAN FOR ME.

KIAORA TO MY BIG SISTERS IN GIZZY. HOPE THAT THE MOKOS ARENT WEARING YOU FALLAS OUT AND THE SUN IS SHINING ON YOU ALL.

TO BIG BRO GUNNER. GLAD TO HEAR YOU MADE IT TO TAURANGA. HOPE THE WHOLE BUZZ IS WORKING OUT GOOD BRO-MAKE SURE YOU GET US A BOAT AND SUS OUT THE FISHING SPOTS THERE BRO

KAPAI TO BIGGEST BRO RAWHITI AND SISTER JILL ON SOON GETTING THE MOKO BUZZ (PROB ALREADY GOT IT). HEAR THE FARM LIFE IS TREATING YOU WELL.

AWESOME TO SEE YOU AT XMAS MICKEY-PLUA YOU GOT SOME CUTE MOKOS BRO. MY BEST TO YOU, LINDA, & YOUR EXTENDING CLAN.

HEARD A WHISPER THAT THE CHRISTCHURCH LOT MIGHT BE HAVING A WEDDING. CHOICE! BRING YOUR WHANAU HOME IN 2009 BOOMAN & ALL THE BEST FOR THE BIG DAY.

TO MY AUSSIE CLAN IN NGATI EASTERN STATES, MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES-LAST ONE HOME IS A ROTTEN EGG!

TO ALL MY FAVOURITE NEPHEWS & NEICES (THATS ALL OF YOU) AND OUR LITTLE SISTER KELLY...LOOK AFTER YOURSELF, YOUR PARTNERS AND YOUR TAMARIKI SO THAT I MIGHT SEE YOU ALL IN GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPY HOMES IN 2009

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU FALLAS HEAPS. BEST WISHES FROM ME & THE CHILLINS. XOXOXOXOXO
UNCLE WAYNE (KUN)

PS. I SUK AT EMAILS BUT WILL TRY TO GET A FOTO ON THERE AND CHECK THE SITE OUT MORE OFTEN. CONGRATS TO JASON & JILL ON THE SITE TO DATE

KA KITE NONO'S

4 living generations of Samuel

We had the ooportunity to photograph 4 living generations. Great-grandfather Henry, grandfather Loni, father Jason and little Samuel.

Samuel Lardelli 7 months

Samuel Lardelli at 7 months. He is dynamite now that he can crawl and walk holding onto the furniture. He sucks everything and smiles at everyone. The cat is missing a few little clumps of hair when Samuel has been particulary faster then the cat. He is looking more like Malia's family with fewer characteristics of the Brown or Lardelli whanau. We will see what the next few months will bring - the growth small babies make is amazing.

Update the blogsite with News from your whanau

Kia Ora,

Do you guys have any news, photos to post on the blogsite?

If so email them to me with a brief description for me to post on the blogsite.

Jason.

Email from Chelsea

Kia Ora Everybody

Kara has just forwarded me the Brown Whanau Blog which looks awesome!! It's going to be a great tool to keep our whanau updated.Jenna and I are really looking forward to the next big whanau get-to-together in 2009.

Chelsea Brown

Aunty Georgina's whanau update

Kia ora Te Whanau

Well, I have heard all about the latest reunion from the Haengas and am very envious. Was very disappointed couldn't make it this year as I was really looking forward to it, especially now the boys are getting older and still don't really know their cousins all that well. I was really pining to come home to this one but it was not to be as we had a couple of new additions to our family (two nephews, Nanette's mokos) so it would have cost an arm and a leg to get us all home!! Never mind, 3 years gives us time to save and hopefully the older ones will be making millions of dollars by then and can pay for themselves, lol!!

I have attached our whanau photo to add to the site. This one is of Jamie's air force graduation in Adelaide (December 2005), back left: Jeremy, moi, Jamie, Anthony and AJ (left) and Benjamin (right) in the front. It's interesting to see all those Wai Brown "dials" on the kids!! Will send some more later.

Fantastic to have something like this to keep in touch with everyone! Looking forward to catching up with Matu, Judy and the kids next week as we are heading up to Queensland for a break.

Love to you all
Sister/Aunty Georgina, Bro/Uncle Anthony and all the cousins/boyzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The Uncle Micky Brown whanau

This is Jenna and her little daughter Noelani who is four months old.

Thanks Kara for the pics - keep us updated.

This is Paris, Chelsea's daughter - 5 years old.

Here are Chelsea's twin boys Levi and Ice who are 3 years old - a pair of good lookers!

Twin's 50th Birthday - August 06

Earlier in 2006, Aunty Julliett and Aunty Mona celebrated their 50th birthday - with many more to come!

Luke & Annabell The family rock star - AJ

Tu Auau Marae, Reporua, Ruatoria. Photo from Kara.

Renovations are due over the next year or so for the whole complex.

Next Brown Whanau reunion at Reporua 2009

After a family meeting the date has been set for the next Brown Whanau reunion at Reporua. 3 year intervals have been decided as the best option for our whanau as many now live in Australia. So in 2009 the Reporua Marae is booked for the Christmas - New Years period. Make sure you are there!

Matu Brown Family moving to Brisbane

Uncle Matu, Aunty Judy, Vani, Tremain and evetually La Tesh are leaving Auckland, NZ and moving to greener pastures in Brisbane, Australia. We that are left will miss them. We wish them all the best for their new home - Australia.

New babies in 2006

Samuel Lakona Henare Lardelli

Born 9 October 2006

Recent Wedding's in the Whanau 2006

Justin & Jessica Haronga

Married 31 December 2006

Pouawa Beach, Gisborne, NZ

Recent Wedding's in the Whanau 2006

Jeremy & Renata Lardelli

Married 9 December 2006

Hamilton, NZ

Reporua 2006

At the Marae - Reporua 2006

Aussies - what a laid back life! No cell phone coverage, no electricity, plenty of food, sun and time to waste!

Kara and Shanley enjoy the beautiful sun on the beach

Maraea and Vani wash off the sand after a swim at the beach.

The cousins, nephews talking about the neat things that they all did that day - swimming, sand castle building, playing cricket, touch rugby, collecting shells, diving for kaimoana and many other cool things.