Finding a Tākitimu star path: navigating the generic Matariki festival

One of the more wonderful things to occur in the last 15 years has been the rise and integration of Matariki into our collective indigenous and now national consciousness. Today I was at the base of Mauao in Tauranga Moana with my daughter’s kura kaupapa Māori class listening to child-oriented presentations on Māori knowledge of… Read More Finding a Tākitimu star path: navigating the generic Matariki festival

Pāpaki tū ana: ruāhine as female spiritual experts & our misreading of Wahinerua & the Tainui grounding

Pāpaki tū ana ngā tai ki Mauao I whakanukunukuhia, I whakanekenekehia, I whiua reretia e Hotu a Wahinerua ki te wai, ki tai wīwī, ki tai wāwā, Ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama, Tīhei mauriora. This is a very well known tauparapara and waiata ā ringa in Tauranga Moana. It translates as following: The waves… Read More Pāpaki tū ana: ruāhine as female spiritual experts & our misreading of Wahinerua & the Tainui grounding

Show me the money: how our Treaty settlements aren’t helping

In my community, I know that many of our Māori whānau are struggling. In my street, many of my neighbours are struggling. Many of my neighbours have over crowded homes. Most often in our street a son or a daughter and their tamariki get evicted from their current house and end up coming to live with their parents… Read More Show me the money: how our Treaty settlements aren’t helping

Te Ara Wairere: following my ancestors to the Waikato from Tauranga Moana

On 21 January 1864, General Cameron despatched a naval force to Tauranga Moana. You will read consistently that he did this because the iwi of Tauranga provided food, resources and men to the war in the Waikato, so logically he wanted to cut the supply line. That is inaccurate. Patrick Nicholas prepared evidence for the… Read More Te Ara Wairere: following my ancestors to the Waikato from Tauranga Moana