TE KARAKA Archives - Page 22 of 77 - Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu

Hei Mahi Māra

I harvested my first ever kūmara from the māra in late autumn and was stunned to find that I had actually managed to grow a worthwhile crop. I could see that the leaves had grown prolifically over summer and into autumn, but was completely taken by surprise when I actually dug them up to find the quantity and size of tubers that had been produced. I had always assumed that it would be too cold to grow kūmara in Ōtautahi so I hadn’t even bothered to try in my 30-plus years of organic gardening.

Reviews

Whiria te tāngata — Weave the people together. Guardians of Aotearoa does just this, crafting a korowai of diverse narratives. From activists, to ecologists, to te reo Māori advocates, Knox shines a light on the people who call this place home, and their passions.

Aukaha

Hinekura is a short film written and directed by Becs Arahanga, an up-and-coming filmmaker who wants to use her talents to celebrate te reo Māori and tikanga.

He Tangata
Gwen Bower

Gwen Bower grew up in Timaru, spending weekends and holidays with her nan in Temuka. Her apprenticeship in the marae kitchen began when she was about nine years-old, and she has been involved with rūnanga business since she was dragged along to a meeting one Sunday about 40 years ago. Today, her role is Arowhenua Marae Manager.

Whenua

Ruapuke Island, 15 kilometres southeast of Awarua (Bluff), guards the eastern approaches to Te Ara-a-Kiwa (Foveaux Strait). This 1600 hectare island was the location of a major Ngāi Tahu settlement in the 19th century, and was the home of the great southern chief Tūhawaiki and his successor Topi Pātuki.

From the Editor

The challenges of living with and caring for a whānau member with a disability can at times be overwhelming – the lack of understanding and support, the marginalisation, the ignorance – the list is long! It was inspiring to read of Colleen Brown’s recent accolade (page 18) for her lifetime of advocating for equality and inclusion for those living with a disability.

From the CEO
Health is wealth

Another year has rolled around and it seems like it happened quicker than ever – maybe it’s just what happens to your perception as you get older, noting that the clock is ticking. Or perhaps it is a reflection of the number of activities I am trying to cram into my life. We are surrounded by so many cautions to take care of our wellbeing: watch what we eat, watch our blood pressure, become vegetarian, become vegan, get plenty of sleep, exercise, walk, yoga, meditate, mindfulness – the list goes on.

Whenua

Kā Roimata-a-Hinehukatere Kā Roimata-a-Hinehukatere is the traditional Māori name for the Franz Josef Glacier. Hinehukatere was a woman who in ancient times had a passion for mountaineering, but her sweetheart Wawe was not as agile as her.

International Relations

Philip Hewitt describes himself as a “boy from Invercargill”, but a career in international relations means he is more well-travelled than most. Last year, Philip was appointed as Ambassador to Timor-Leste, his fourth international diplomatic posting. But despite his high-ranking position, Philip has maintained his humble Kiwi spirit. When I requested an interview with only a day’s notice he replied, “You know what, I can make that work.”

Never make assumptions

Mental health awareness was huge in 2018, which was fantastic. It’s no secret the classic New Zealand culture of hypermasculinity and keeping a stiff upper lip is a fertile breeding ground for all sorts of mental health woes. Publicity campaigns and heightened general awareness of the issue can only be a good thing.