Nga mihi matakuikui ki a koutou, I have just emerged from a year-long immersion course in Te Ara Reo Maori at the Lincoln Road campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, exhausted and elated, appreciative of my new understandings, skills and inspiration. I’ve been immersed in, but also “on the edge of”another way of seeing the […]
Charmaine’s year of unexpected activities…
December 19, 2016 by 1 Comment
Some of my time-consuming activities this year have arisen in the course of local community commitments; others have been projects which have emerged through meeting interesting people further afield. Here are some examples of both… Earthsong Centre Trust constitution and new reporting requirements At meetings of the Earthsong Centre Trust, which I chaired 2015-16, it became […]
Auckland Regional Parks
December 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
The Regional Parks in Tamaki Makaurau are amazing – 26 of them, from Te Arai in the north to the Hunua Ranges in the south, and on both east and west coasts. Many have baches which were farm cottages, now available to the public to rent for holidays. We honour the foresight of the regional […]
Storytellers…
December 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
From the Raindrop, to the River, to the Sea.. Tame Iti, artist and activist, is often seen as the wild man of the Urewera Wilderness. On November 9, in top hat, tails and a scarlet bow tie, he gave a formal lecture in the Halls of Power (actually the Sir Paul Reeves […]
Turanganui-a-Kiwa… (Gisborne)
October 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Turanganui-a-Kiwa was our spring holiday destination this year. Sunshine every day, so much to do and see.. here are a few highlights.. Watching the Walkway From our motel balcony we enjoyed watching the variety of people on Oneroa, the new coastal walkway, which stretches the length of Waikanae beach: walkers, of course, but also runners, […]
Two Roads Worth Travelling
October 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
From Turanganui-a-kiwa to Te Wairoa: on the inland road… From Gisborne, the inland road leads across plentiful plains, up into rugged hill country , and then descends into Tiniroto, Frasertown and Wairoa. A side road took us to Tiniroto village – pub, school, community garden and a couple of houses clustered above the lake. A hospitable publican […]
Turning the University Inside Out?
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We were delighted recently to be invited to the inaugural Cumberland lecture at the University of Auckland on Thursday 15 September – especially as it was on this provocative topic, and to be given by an outstanding woman – Professor Wendy Larner, Provost at Victoria University, Wellington, . 1n 1946 Dr Kenneth Cumberland moved from Christchurch […]
Secrets make you sick…Shot Bro!
September 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
In 2009, Rob Mokaraka, well-known actor and TV personality, became suicidal, and threatened police with a meat cleaver, apparently wanting to be killed. He was shot, outside his home in Point Chevalier, and spent a long time healing, both physically and emotionally, after being diagnosed as having suffered for many years from depression. Now, in 2016, […]
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