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Charm from the Chathams

August 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Kaa’i and Francesca, our friends from Rekohu/Chatham Islands have been in Auckland again, this time supporting and judging the culinary efforts of children in South Auckland, and extending the marketing of their new unique freeze-dried honey from the Chathams.  They are also finalists in the NZ Artisan Awards…to be decided later in the year.. It’s […]

Filed Under: Culture and heritage, Gender issues, Social Justice Issues

Matariki in Tamaki Makaurau

July 19, 2019 by 2 Comments

The programme for Matariki in Tamaki Makaurau is enormous, these days – well over a hundred activities and events all around the city. We chose three special events when we came back from our holiday in the South Island. Te Hono-  stories from Maori myth and history about Tamaki Makaurau – in the Town Hall […]

Filed Under: Culture and heritage, Our Travels

Te Wai Pounamu: Monday 24 June-Tuesday 2 July

July 19, 2019 by 4 Comments

This winter we decided to take a short break in the South Island of Aotearoa , rather than on a  warm island in the Pacific to the north. So Tanya organised a journey to Marlborough, Kaikoura and Christchurch.  In Marlborough we wanted to learn more about the Wairau Bar and Moahunter history there;  in Kaikoura […]

Filed Under: Culture and heritage, Environmental issues, Our Travels, Tanya's photos, Treaty issues

And finally, a celebration… a political activity…and a great writer

July 19, 2019 by 1 Comment

Charmaine celebrated her 77th birthday on Thursday 11 July, and Tanya had organised  a lovely day- a cuppa in bed and a beautiful gift, breakfast at a cafe in Grey Lynn, and a surprise outing in the evening- all Charmaine  knew in advance was to be ready for an Uber at 5.40pm.  We went outside […]

Filed Under: Charmaine's thoughts, Culture and heritage, Our Local Community, Social Justice Issues, Treaty issues

Postscript: Oranga Tamariki enquiry: a letter from Laura O’Connell Rapira

July 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Some of you who read our newsletters will have received the letter below as supporters of Action Station.  But for those who have not seen it, we would like to share this very fine statement by Laura  O’Connell Rapira, the Director of Campaigns at Action Station: Over the weekend, I had the honour and privilege […]

Filed Under: Charmaine's thoughts, Culture and heritage, Gender issues, Social Justice Issues, Tanya, Treaty issues

“Inside keeping the silence of peace at Parihaka”

June 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

This title of a lecture by Maata Wharehoka comes from her lived experience of Parihaka for more than thirty years, since she arrived, newly-married to one of the local people.  She has become one of their highly respected kuia. The occasion was  one of a series of lectures organised at the Auckland campus of the […]

Filed Under: Culture and heritage, Gender issues, Treaty issues

Marks of Mana

June 19, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Lisa Taouma is a film maker and TV website producer of great skill.   //www.nzonscreen.com/person/lisa-taouma Her recent film release, Marks of Mana, screened in the Doc Edge film festival, documents the involvement of women in Tatau, the art of tatooing, throughout the Pacific.  This is a beautiful film, showing women both giving and receiving tatau, […]

Filed Under: Culture and heritage, Gender issues

.SAME BUT DIFFERENT!

May 24, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Another film worth seeing! A very feel-good film- funny, romantic and true- a real-life love story between two women – Rachel (Pakeha), and Nikki (Samoan)- the two have been together for some years now, and decided that their own story was a good one to make into a film, with two other great women playing […]

Filed Under: Charmaine's thoughts, Culture and heritage, Gender issues