Sunday, 13 September 2009

13 Mahuru (September) 2009

"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini "
It is not my strength alone, but the strength of many that contribute to my success.

This week's whakatauki was explained by Maisey Rika, nō Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Te Arawa.

This week Te Ahi Kaa re-joins the whānau at Wairewa Pa. While a generation separates them, kaumatua John Panirau and Naomi Bunker see Iaean Cranwell as fulfilling the wishes of what was laid down by all their old people in the work he does restoring Te Roto o Wairewa (Lake Forsyth). For Cranwell, this responsibility makes him even more determined to protect and look after the tuna resources for future generations.

Forget writers block! For David Geary it was writers envy when he selected the winner of the Best Short Story in English for the Pikihuia Writers competition. Organised by Huia publishers, the competition - aimed at identifying and then showcasing Māori writers - has trebled in size since it started 10 years ago. Maraea Rakuraku talks with Geary about the health of Māori writing.

Maisey Rika has always sung. First as a back-up vocalist for her mother in her home town of Whakatane, to boarding school in Napier, to now, as a solo artist. Her self-titled EP was launched in March this year, and to her surprise, one of the tracks on the album, Repeat Offender, is a finalist in the Maioha category of the APRA Silver Scrolls. Justine Murray talks music and whānau with Maisey.

Waiata featured:

From the album Iwi hit disc (2009), Tapapakanga, performed by Te Aratoi and Iwi hit disc (2008) Piwakawaka.