“it’s like breathing your ancestors into life” Drawing from the wisdom of the whakataukī ‘Te Amorangi ki mua, te hāpai ō ki muri’, explorations of breathing our ancestors into life can be attained through ‘amorangi’ spiritual realm and ‘hāpai o’ physical realm. Further, the late koroua, Wiremu Tawhai explained that those who follow are asContinue reading “Hapai te hauora”
Category Archives: Whānau
Ira Tangata, Ira Atua
As a child growing up I would stand on maunga that surrounded my whare and imagine I had the mana to control the elements – change the direction of the winds – declaring to Hineomairangi and Tāwhirimātea to heed to my words. After my karanga I would listen for the tree to chatter, birds toContinue reading “Ira Tangata, Ira Atua”
Tāne te Waiora
Mens health Week 2021 I have a Rockstar pāpā (dad) who is the kaumātua of the shearing sheds, who cuts up mutton faster than he can smoke a cigarette – I know cause he does it at the same time! He’s hearty, oldskool, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it kinda fulla and can usuallyContinue reading “Tāne te Waiora”
On this mother’s day
I wrote my poem below after I read an article about a māmā whale, grieving the death of her calf, in her own way. Tai te Kahurangi Wahine tangi haehae, he ngaru moana, e kore e mātaki As I read the words “she was a mother, who happened to be an orca” I know, IContinue reading “On this mother’s day”
Understanding is LIFE
One of my idols Dr Manulani Aluli Meyer. I resonate with this quote on many levels. I have come to ‘understand’ by doing and sharing. Part of my liberated understanding is listening, with my minds eye, heart and puku. #consciouspuku
What do you do māmā?
When asked by my tamariki what I do – I described that I catch stories, from the people that I meet and connect with through interviews, wānanga and readings. This picture is one such story that is important to me, it holds the mana, humour, aroha and whānau that grounds me in everything that IContinue reading “What do you do māmā?”
What fills you up?
After near burnout a year ago I hold onto this knowing as it guides me in the decisions I make everyday. To say “ae/yes” or “kao/no”. If I have a choice. Once you become aware what fills you up then make sure thats an integral part of your day. #consciouspuku
My conscious puku
Wairua We are not our body, mind and experiences we are wairua – consciousness. I see the universe as a projection of our stories, our pūrākau – a trillion stories, connected like synapses in the brain creating electric static, vibrating power to life all at once. The static projecting out every individuals perception of theirContinue reading “My conscious puku”
The Taniwha
My first post. Identity at any meaningful level cannot be manufactured or manipulated; it is as much genetic imprint as formative experience. No matter what destructive processes we have gone through, eventually the taniwha stirs in all of us, and we can only be who we are. Merata Mita in Dennis & Bierenga, 1996, p.Continue reading “The Taniwha”
8,000 burpees for Movember!
In support of Movember, an annual event raising awareness for men’s mental health. I was part of a roopū that were challenged to burpee the height of Mt Everest, which is over 8,000 burpees in one week. The goal of the challenge is to burpee the height of Mt Everest, which is exactly 8,848m tall.Continue reading “8,000 burpees for Movember!”
Leadership for good.
Teah. In Greek the mythological Thea (Teah) was Greek goddess of light and mother of the sun; moon and dawn. Hmmm I will take that. I am passionate in a gritty kind of way, a mix of passion and perseverance, about the continued advancement of Māori and Indigenous peoples, and see it as an honourContinue reading “Leadership for good.”
Protected: Digging Deep
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
That space between cells speaks
The lessons of tīpuna imprinted within, without, through and in between. That space between cells speaks without words, screams with emotion. I feel more deeply when I am still, calm and grounded. Tangaroa-a-mua I have consciously and unconsciously observed and felt maramataka – Māori lunar calendar. I come in and out of the awareness ofContinue reading “That space between cells speaks”
Aro ki te wairua o te hā
This statement is deeply important to our whānau it embodies what we strive for everyday. What it means to us is the acknowledgement, responsibly and action of aroha beyond human form and knowing. We understand that Aroha is one of the most emancipating values, not in a loving, romantic kind of way but freedom, toContinue reading “Aro ki te wairua o te hā”
Protected: Black Crow
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Gritty – Passion & Perseverance
Spending so much time outside as a child allowed me to wonder, play and imagine. As an adult te tai ao – the environment provides me with many things. It grounds me, blows my hurt away, swirls all around me and makes me feel like my emotion is manageable. What motivates me? I am passionateContinue reading “Gritty – Passion & Perseverance”
Kirimoko – Blood & Bone Holder
Kirimoko. The seen face of life, land, space and love. Skin breathing. The breath of our bodies, protection, oxygen, our blood and bone holder. An expression of self, relationships. To stand out or fit in? Ink holder, cells and whakapapa. Skin protected. We cover it in creams, lotions, make up, chemicals, shave, shape it, pierceContinue reading “Kirimoko – Blood & Bone Holder”
Our home birth
Initially home birth was not my first choice; I wanted to give birth in a birthing centre. I did not want the mess at home, worry about cleaning my whare, having to cook my own kai. I wanted to be looked after, thought of, wanted my baby and I to be safe. These ideas wereContinue reading “Our home birth”
Feel the burn
Its been two years since my submission and it still burns. Not so much a raging fire but the embers are still hot. I wrote this poem after submitting my PhD. I watched a video on inspiring wahine. When I watched it, it sparked something in me. She said “the world is waiting for you to setContinue reading “Feel the burn”
No more butts whānau!
In celebration of World Smokefree Day 31st May 2020 our wee whānau put together this video. Ever since I was little I tried to get mum and dad to give up. I hated being stuck in the car with them the smoke used to sting my eyes. Then I ended up joining in for aContinue reading “No more butts whānau!”
Raranga, raranga taku takapau: hapū ora for tamariki
Our research project’s name, Raranga, raranga taku takapau: hapū ora for tamariki, comes from an ancient karakia used during the birth of Tūhuruhuru the son of Hineteiwaiwa (the atua of childbirth and te whare pora – the house of weaving). It refers to the weaving of a ceremonial whariki (mat) for birth and serves toContinue reading “Raranga, raranga taku takapau: hapū ora for tamariki”
Whakaroau
In this moment our kurī Poki was injured so I put her in this pull cart and off we went to the beach. She was soooo happy that she could come with the whānau and wasn’t left out. This moment was perfect in every way. She was in pain but right here she was contentContinue reading “Whakaroau”
Wairua and Birthing
Pregnancy and birth are key times in the lives of mothers, babies and their whānau. Some whānau have the resources and life contexts that enable them to understand and experience pregnancy and birth using Māori concepts, frameworks and practices. Other Māori experience pregnancy and birth within a largely Western or mainstream biomedical system of processesContinue reading “Wairua and Birthing”
Kaupapa Māori consultancy 