Aro-Mind

I have long held the view that the real barriers to Māori progress today lie within ourselves. I recognise that there are very real and significant external barriers preventing Māori people from achieving our goals. The recent Māori health inquiry before the Waitangi Tribunal is the latest example of a project providing significant evidence of these external barriers, this time in New Zealand's health system. The current Royal Commission concerning Abuse in Care is another venue where external barriers working against Māori health and wellbeing is being discussed and analysed. I do not wish to suggest that there are no external barriers to Māori development for indeed there are. However, I do wish to highlight the barriers that we Māori create for ourselves, the barriers that exist within ourselves. Second, I wish to say that it is these internal barriers that represent the most significant ways by which Māori aspirations are denied, Māori hopes are dashed, Māori plans are th...

It’s fantastic to see Air New Zealand embracing Te Reo Māori - using it and making it available for customers in various ways. Long may this continue. Our national airline is not just a purveyor of goods and services, a mover of people and freight. It is also a ‘carrier’ of our national identity, culture and personality. Because of its high visibility and impact, Air NZ receives a daily opportunity to shape and contribute to NZ life far beyond their core work of flying aeroplanes. By including Te Reo Māori in aspects of Air NZ’s business it tells us that the airline understands its role in helping to shape national identity and is open to the contribution of the Māori world to that national identity. Chief Digital Officer, Jennifer Sepull, makes this point in the Oct 2019 edition of ‘Kia Ora’ magazine (p. 176) where she says ‘As New Zealand’s national airline we recognise Māori culture is an especially important part of the nation’s identity and we try to bring that to life throug...

Since convening a number of whare tapere upon my kāinga in Hauraki (Waimangō, 2010-14), I have been approached numerous times regarding the use of aspects of the whare tapere - including the name and associated terms - in a variety of performing arts and theatre settings. For example, Te Pou Theatre in Henderson recently discussed the use of the term in some of its programming material. In 2018, the New Zealand Festival discussed using the term prior to the 2018 Festival and ‘whare tapere’ also appears in the new strategy for Māori Arts created by Creative New Zealand. This is a small number of examples that demonstrate an increasing interest in the whare tapere. This blogpost was written in response to these various approaches and sets out my thoughts regarding the use of the term ‘whare tapere’ in iwi and non-iwi settings. The paper discusses my views regarding how the term ought to be used today and in doing so, it includes a discussion regarding the future of th...

From time to time, I am asked whether I believe Io to be a pre-European tradition or not. Here are my thoughts: I am open to the idea that the Io tradition does have a history prior to the arrival of the European to Aotearoa-New Zealand. Given the multiplicity of atua in the traditional Māori pantheon, it is likely that someone, somewhere was inspired enough to conceive of one, overall and superior atua. My question, however, is this: can we be finally conclusive and definitive about it? Is it possible to finally prove that Io is pre-European? In my view, I don't think so. As I say, I am open to the possibility. I am just doubtful whether we can prove the Io tradition to be pre-European - it could be, it might not be. I have found that evidence asserting Io as a pre-European tradition is unconvincing and occasionally disappointing. For example, Michael Shirres (who I met and knew) relied solely on the work and evidence of my granduncle Māori Marsden in his book He Tangata. He does...

Every language is a temple, in which the soul of those who speak it is enshrined. Oliver Wendall-Holmes, American Jurist The value of the Māori language is not so that we say in Māori precisely what we would say in English anyway; but rather that the Māori language is the vehicle of or an avenue into a distinctive way of thinking about, explaining and ultimately experiencing life.  For, after all, this is the value of any language – a distinctive way of experiencing, responding to and explaining life[i]. Languages share things with each other and they also differ in significant ways – and it is this ‘significant difference’ that we ultimately seek to give expression to as we foster, grow, and advance Te Reo Māori today. Of course, it is important to acknowledge that the Māori language is a taonga, a treasure of inestimable value. We should, therefore, act to ensure its future. We should also remind ourselves that New Zealand has certain obligations and responsib...

MM recognises that workplaces are not just physical - rather they are spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social spaces. The goal is to create the best circumstances whereby people can do their best work. According to mm, attention needs to be paid to the spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social dimensions of the space so that the best circumstances are achieved. (This is what is meant by 'one has to use the right kete for the right contents' or 'the tikanga/kawa for one house is not right for another'.) There are a number of ways of achieving this: clarity of kaupapa (attention paid to the name of the space, communicates kaupapa and intention) Clarity concerning who is the space for? (Hence the question 'mō wai tēnei whare? in karakia for opening a whare) Placing of a mauri stone is about intentions and setting the energy conditions for the intentions to be achieved Opening blessing is about directly addressing the physical structure as the...

'A  peak experience  is a moment accompanied by a euphoric mental state often achieved by  self-actualizing  individuals.  The concept was originally developed by  Abraham Maslow  in 1964, who describes peak experiences as "rare, exciting, oceanic, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating experiences that generate an advanced form of perceiving reality, and are even mystic and magical in their effect upon the experimenter." [   There are several unique characteristics of a peak experience, but each element is perceived together in a holistic manner that creates the moment of reaching one’s full potential.  Peak experiences can range from simple activities to intense events;   however, it is not necessarily about what the activity is, but the ecstatic, blissful feeling that is being experienced during it.' (Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_experience)