Posts Tagged ‘From the Editor’

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

It is hard to find the words that best describe Tā Tipene O’Regan and his contribution not only to Ngāi Tahu and his tireless efforts in the settlement of the Ngāi Tahu Claim, but also his passion for improving the economic, cultural and social standing of Māori and their communities – towards making Aotearoa a better place for us all to live. Never has there been a New Zealander more deserving of his most recent accolades – Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year and the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). To receive not one but both, and just in a few short months of each other, speaks volumes about his efforts over many decades.

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

In a world that is constantly changing and with every decision we make requiring Covid consideration, things that are familiar and unchanged become even more important, providing some sense of “normality” in our lives. TE KARAKA is one of those constants – a taonga appearing in whānau letterboxes at regular intervals for more than 20 years.

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

When TE KARAKA first landed in letter boxes in the mid-1990s, Ngāi Tahu was in the midst of Te Kerēme. The magazine played a pivotal role in ensuring whānau not only kept up-to-date about this very complex and critical process, but were also able to gain an insight and understanding into the history of how it came to be. Throughout the years TE KARAKA has continued to evolve. In every issue we are privileged to share the rich and diverse stories that celebrate what it means to be Ngāi Tahu. These stories help connect whānau with their whakapapa, their whenua and with each other.

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

Humble, selfless, courageous and humanitarian are just some of the words that spring to mind when reflecting on the subject of our cover story for this issue of TE KARAKA (page 10). Therefore, it came as no surprise to learn that Aroha Reriti-Crofts was made a Dame in the Queen’s Birthday honours earlier this year for her lifetime of service to Māori and the community. It is no exaggeration to say Dame Aroha is an extraordinary wāhine whose work has always been dedicated to her iwi, hapū and whānau, with a particular focus on the wellbeing of wāhine and tamariki.

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

For most Ngāi Tahu the connection to and passion for mahinga kai pulses through their veins – it’s in the DNA. Traditionally the gathering of kai was a huge part of whānau life and survival, and it’s not that different now. Each year when the season comes whānau gravitate to their awa to get themselves a feed of that precious little fish known as īnanga. Sadly, the ongoing degradation of our environment continues to impact negatively on many of our taonga species and whitebait is no exception. There’s no denying there isn’t as much bait around as there used to be, but the government’s recently proposed changes to whitebait management blatantly contravene its legal responsibility to tangata whenua as Treaty partners, and shows disregard for the customary practices that have sustained many generations of whānau. In this issue of TE KARAKA assistant editor Anna Brankin speaks to Ngāi Tahu whitebaiters from around the takiwā to get their views on the matter

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

Leadership: a word with multiple interpretations. It is both a quality and an action, and something that most of us demonstrate in some aspect of our lives, whether it’s within…

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

It’s hard to believe it is only three months since we published the last issue of TE KARAKA. So much can change in such a short time, as we have witnessed with the passing of a number of whānau and tribal leaders, among them Tahu Pōtiki and Pere Tainui. Over the past year we have had the privilege of featuring stories on both Tahu and Pere – two rangatira with incredible vision and passion for their whānau, hapū, and iwi; and for the revitalisation of cultural practices.

From the Editor

As we go to print with this issue of TE KARAKA, Oranga Tamariki continues to be at the forefront of media attention. As is often the case the coverage is largely condemning of the actions of the organisation and its leadership. I am sure there are many success stories to counter these but I guess they don’t make for such sensational headlines.

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.

Ngā Hau e Whā
From the Editor

In the last issue of TE KARAKA we featured an opinion piece by Ward Kamo entitled “Māori victims of crime”. In this column Ward argued that rather than focusing on criminals and the justice system, we should focus on the victims of their crimes – often the offenders’ families and communities – and provide support and skills to help them break the cycle. This view has sparked considerable reaction, not only among our TE KARAKA readers, but much further afield. In this issue we hear an alternative viewpoint from Dr Moana Jackson, who has been actively involved in mahi relating to Māori and the criminal justice system for several decades. Feedback is always welcomed and encouraged, so if you feel strongly about anything we feature, please send us your thoughts.