Mai Chen on Cultural Competence A fine article in the NZ Herald (18 January 2016) by Mai Chen celebrates New Zealand’s cultural diversity . She makes a strong case for us to become culturally competent, and a couple of video clips in her on-line article illustrate what this can mean, and how valuable and empowering it […]
Can you believe it – Charmaine loves exercise too!!
January 19, 2016 by 2 Comments
Tanya continues to do her regular mixture of tai chi, exercycle and swimming lengths at The Wave pool in Henderson to try and keep her arthritic joints open and moving. Now Charmaine’s got the bug, after a lifetime of exercise phobia, and goes off to a gym when Tanya goes swimming –but this is […]
Ranui in the Sunlight
December 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment
How lovely to open the Weekend Herald and find Steve Braunias celebrating Ranui and its library! We feel very proud because this corten steel canopy was created by Nic Moon of Nelson, from Tanya’s extended family… We especially enjoy the people of Ranui, too, as those who have read our earlier blogs will know – […]
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 […]
AGGS farewells Toesulu Brown MNZM
December 15, 2015 by 1 Comment
Toesulu Brown has worked at AGGS for thirty years. Charmaine created a position for her in 1985 as a community liaison officer and a teacher of Samoan language, especially to NZ-born girls who were not fluent. Over the years Toesulu has fulfilled many roles in the school and the community, becoming a key member of the national […]
Solstice Greetings from Ranui!
December 15, 2015 by Leave a Comment
To all of you, we hope you have a very happy Solstice , relaxing and celebrating with family and friends. To those of you in the northern hemisphere- keep warm, and to those in the south, like us- keep cool and rest a lot! AND Nga mihi nui o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou ki […]
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 […]
Earthsong Eco Neighbourhood
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