Sunday, 1 April 2012

Tai Pari, Tai Timu

The incoming tide, the outgoing tide.

This week’s whakatāuki is explained by Shane Te Ruki nō Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Pōrou

While, mainstream media have focussed on the eccentricities of the late King of Tonga, Siaosi Tāufaʻāhau Manumataongo Tukuʻaho George Tupou V (1948 - 2012) Mamae Takerei remembers the whanaungatanga between the people of Tonga and Waikato Tainui that has existed since the migration of waka across Te Moana-nui- a-kiwa from Hawaiiki.

Migrating to another country can be stressful at the best of times.  Say, you are part of the initial voyaging wave that settled Aotearoa travelling across Moana-nui-a-kiwa and then imagine if you missed the waka? This is the premise of a play, The Waka of Love written and directed by 18 year old Charlizza Harris.

After completing a nursing degree, as an adult student in 2006 Erin Sandilands (right) entered midwifery which is a bit different from the 20 years she spent previously in the shearing industry.  Justine Murray learns about the Māori centred practice of Māori midwives, and tours the Hastings clinic where Nga Maia Maori Midwives Collective is based.

Waiata featured: Toroa, E kui Kumara, performed by Whirimako Black and Richard Nunns from the album Te More: A work in Ten Parts for vocals and Taonga Puoro (2012)