Did you know that each time we buy a new smart phone or tablet we are condoning rapes, mutilations and murders in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Tanya and I certainly didn’t know about the coltan mining industry destroying familes and villages in the eastern Congo until we met Lema Shamamba, a refugee from the area, […]
Safety, strength and success: Ranui Primary School
December 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We hear a lot about the problems of low-decile schools – and not nearly enough about their strengths and successes. Ranui Primary School held its once-a-term community day in early December, featuring student work around the theme Safety- at home, at school, in the community. Their work was inspiring – thoughtful, well-informed and beautifully presented […]
Auckland’s future? or more grey men…
December 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Project Auckland, a 20-page supplement published on December 9 2014 by the New Zealand Herald, shows clearly why progress in developing Auckland as a truly liveable city is so slow. Of the 23 key people commenting, only four are women, only Paula Bennett is obviously Maori. And I’d be surprised if any of the commentators is under 40. […]
Treasures in the North
November 18, 2014 by 1 Comment
We discovered two very different treasures during a few days in Northland this month- Te Mirumiru in Kawakawa, Earth House in Peria Valley -and enjoyed special friends in a lovely landscape. Te Mirumiru… Te Mirumiru is an award-winning childcare centre in Kawakawa. Ngaati Hine have built this eco-friendly and inclusive early childhood education centre, in which 80 children – […]
Media Minutes…
November 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We do find time for some media indulgence – more often the media seem like a penance. Each month we’ll try and mention something outstanding – where posible with a link to something we think is specially worthwhile. Grandpa Herald… The front page of the NZ Herald, most days, is repulsive – another celebration of violence […]
RANUI PATAKA KORERO- Ranui Storehouse of Knowledge
October 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
At 5.30am on Friday 3 October nearly a hundred residents of Ranui and the wider community gathered for the dawn blessing of Rānui Pātaka Kōrero, the new library for Ranui and Swanson people. Leaders spoke about its significance to the community and the special importance of learning to all our young people. […]
WATERWAYS
October 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Tanya has been cycling weekly in the last month, and a fine Sunday last week tempted Charmaine to go with her to visit two lovely lakes near Ranui. Both have been landscaped and planted creatively with native wetland species. In addition to these two lakes nearby, another treasure in the West is the Twin Stream project […]
PROUD TO BE OLD, PROUD TO BE GAY
October 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
We’ve seen two wonderful films in the last month: Hip-Hoperation and Pride. HIP-HOPERATION Hip-Hoperation features women and men from 65 to 95, and young Otara people in a top New Zealand hip-hop group. It also shows the relationship growing between young and old, first on the Otara group’s visit to Waiheke and then in Las Vegas, where […]
Earthsong Eco Neighbourhood
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