We are mourning the loss of a very inspiring Maori leader, Professor Ranginui Walker, of Whakatohea, and long-time resident of Tamaki Makaurau. Thousands gathered at Takaparawhau during the three days of his tangi to pay their respects to this activist and academic who has reshaped Maori-Pakeha relationships in Aotearoa. We went to the tangi on its […]
Tahuna Minhinnick (1960-2016)
March 19, 2016 by 1 Comment
We are also mourning the sudden death of Tahuna Minhinnick, aged only 56. We have known Tahuna and his family from Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua for almost thirty years, and worked with them during our 22 years on the Awhitu Peninsula. Tahuna Minhinnick’s death is a tragic loss to his whanau and his iwi. The son […]
An 80-year-old creates a political party…
February 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Charmaine drove to the Awhitu Regional Park on Saturday 13 February for the 80th birthday party of George Flavell, a kaumatua of Ngaati Te Ata Waiohua, the people of the Awhitu Peninsula and beyond. And what a special event it was, too! George had arranged for his guests (more than a hundred of us – […]
Diversity in Dunedin…
December 16, 2015 by 2 Comments
We had a week in Dunedin last month – and managed to find all the ingredients of a fine holiday: catching up with family and friends, lesbian company, cultural activities, conservation projects, and a political visit. We stayed the first night with former Aucklander, Pleasance, in her hilltop villa, and joined a monthly dinner group of Dunedin lesbians. Ann Charlotte, whom we met there, […]
A Fan for Flax..
December 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment
We went to Okahu Bay Domain at Orakei for the final wananga of Te Ara Reo Maori which Tanya has been attending all year at Te Wananga o Aotearoa. Musicians were a big part of the day, including Whirimako Black, Justin Kereama and Pikiteora Mura-Hita and others. Just as we were leaving we saw this number plate […]
Busy as bees last weekend…
November 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Saturday 14 November 9.30-3.00 A workshop on Te Tiriti o Waitangi for Earthsong residents and family members. Hilary Star Foged, one of the external trustees on the Earthsong Centre Trust, facilitated a carefully crafted and sensitive process to enable Earthsong people to examine our knowledge about the Treaty of Waitangi (both the Maori and the […]
Kaumatua and Tamariki at Tahuna Pa
October 19, 2015 by 1 Comment
We returned to Tahuna Pa near Waiuku recently, to have lunch with Moea Minhinnick, her daughters and mokopuna. We picked up two special kaumatua on the way: Joan Macdonald, elder of the Tamaki Treaty Network and indefatigable worker for social justice and peace, and George Flavell, Ngati Te Ata kaumatua historian and environmental kaitiaki from Waiuku. We were joined […]
A new Coromandel enterprise..
October 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment
A highlight of our recent holiday weekend in Coromandel was going for a guided walk with Jamie Watson, a young local Maori man planning to develop a Maori tourism enterprise in the area. We met him at Driving Creek Café after our trip on the Driving Creek Railway with our friends Shila and Farida. We admire […]
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