Krazy Kelvin - NZ Maori Blog

2007-07-05T18:01:00.001+12:00

Atamira Maori in the City

If you are out & about over the weekend call into the ASB Showgrounds in Greenland.

An exciting event for the first time, featuring:
Corporate, business, art, hokohoko community market and kai stalls
Kete Aronui Gallery of visual arts, media, film and ta moko
Live demonstrations of whakairo, stone carving, metal arts
Two days of LIVE traditional and contemporary musical performances
A family-friendly showcase and celebration of Māori Arts and Culture
The best of Maori food, film, fashion, music, art, culture and design, all occurring at one venue - The ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. Entry - Free.

Maori in the City - Programme

Saturday July 7th 2007
10.00 a.m.MAORI IN THE CITY Trade Hall & Food Hall Opens
10.00 a.m. KETE ARONUI Gallery Opens
10.00 a.m. ATAMIRA Live Music Stage Commences
4.00 p.m. Trade Show & Art Gallery Closes
4.00 p.m. Music Stage Concludes

Sunday July 8th 2007
10.00 a.m.MAORI IN THE CITY Trade Hall & Food Hall Opens
10.00 a.m. KETE ARONUI Gallery Opens
10.00 a.m. ATAMIRA Live Music Stage Commences
4.00 p.m. Trade Show & Art Gallery Closes
4.00 p.m. Music Stage Concludes

Saturday 7th July 2007

ATAMIRA Live Performance Stage
Main Auditorium - Logan Campbell CentreFREE ENTRY, performance schedule:
10.00 a.m.: Kapa Haka – Auckland Girls Grammar School – 20min
10.30 a.m.: Northern Advocate – 20min
11.00 a.m.: ILL Semanrtics – 20min
11.25 a.m.: Kuupenga Kohanga – 15min
11.50 a.m.: Whirimako Black – 20min
12.25 p.m.: Billy TK Jnr – 40min
1.15 p.m.: Urban Beat – 20min
1.45 p.m.: Nat Rose – 20min
2.20 p.m.: Ruia – 30min
3.00 p.m.: Kapa Haka - Manaia – 25min

Sunday 8th July 2007
ATAMIRA Live Performance Stage
Main Auditorium - Logan Campbell CentreFREE ENTRY, performance schedule:
10.00 a.m.: Kapa Haka – Auckland Girls Grammar School – 20min
10.30 a.m.: Zero T – 20min
11.00 a.m.: Nesian Mystic– 30min
11.40 a.m.: DZIAH – 20min
12.10 p.m.: Che Fu – 60min
1.20 p.m.: Ask Your Aunty (Panel TBA) – 20min
1.50 p.m.: Kapa Haka - Piripono – 25min
2.25 p.m.: B Hill – 20min
3.00 p.m.: 1814 – 30min

Maori Television In NZ

http://www.maoritelevision.com/

Will The Flag Fly In 2008

We may be one country, but it seems we are not together as one people. Generally, Transit NZ (who are responsible for our roads, bridges, etc including the Auckland harbour bridge) considers requests from nations wanting to commemorate their country's national day, by flying their countrys flag alongside the NZ flag on the middle span of the harbour bridge. So a Maori soverignty group, Ata Tino Toa sought permission to fly the Maori independence flag from the harbour bridge on Waitangi Day, 6th February this year. Transit NZ denied the request because in their words, the flag did not represent a country. A few days later, they flew the flag of the European Union on their national day, which does not represent a country either. It seems Transit's present criteria allows for any flag to be flown that is recognised by the NZ government and the United Nations. So what they are trying to say ? That the NZ government does not recognise the Maori flag ? That is the way it seems, so we can only wait for February 6th, 2008 to see if Transit NZ will allow the Maori flag to be flown on that day, but don't hold your breath. No doubt they will change the policy by then and only allow one flag to flutter in the wind from the middle span of the bridge - the NZ flag.

2007-02-11T11:16:00.000+13:00

It Doesn't Smell That Bad - Does it ???

The other day, when I was walking to a friends place, I caught a whiff of a smell which sent me back many moons ago. I smelt it even before I was anywhere near the friends house but I knew the smell had to becoming from his place and it was. I stood at the gate for a couple of minutes and just took it all in. He had just returned from up north and there he was in the kitchen, cooking away on the stove with all the windows in the house open. He was cooking porridge even though it was late afternoon, but it wasn't real porridge in the true sense of the word that one normally cooks in the morning for breakfast. It was maori porridge, which as I said sent me back many moons ago as I remember cooking it in the house with all the windows closed. For maori porridge, all you need are a few cobs of corn, an old hessian sugar sack and a creek with running water. Put the cobs in the sack with a couple of rocks to weigh it down so it stays under the water, tie off the end, put it in the creek and forget about it for 2 to 3 weeks. By which time, the corn is rotten. Scrap the corn off the cobs into a pot, cook it up and there you have it - maori porridge. Don't forget the cream & sugar. Where does the need for all the windows of the house to be open when you cook maori porridge ? Try cooking it with all the windows closed and you'll get the picture or a boot up the bum like I did. I must of had a cold that day I was cooking it, because I couldn't smell anything. (hehe) Believe me, once you have smelt it cooking, it's a smell you don't forget.

Vaka Moana

The story begins 4000 years ago - 3500 years before European explorers ever thought to head south.
Our Pacific ancestors launched their ocean-going crafts in the world's largest ocean. It's one of the world's greatest stories that has been recreated at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain. It open on December 9th in the museum's newly created exhibition dome. After 3 months in Auckland, the exhibition will travel to Japan; Taiwan; Australia and The Netherlands. Negotiations are also underway for it to continue on to France, USA and Canada. On display in the exhibition are almost 200 objects from the Auckland museum's extensive Pacific & Maori collections as well as from other NZ and international collections. These include full-size sailing canoe's; large scale replica's; navigation tools & instruments; paintings; engravings and charts. Maybe a once in a life time chance to see such a great exhibition under one roof or one dome.

Tohu Wines

Nga hua a te whenua - Our Gift From The Land. Tohu Wines is a stunning example of an indigenous New Zealand winery that is now firmly established as a quality wine label. Tohu's vineyards are situated in Marlborough and Gisborne, two of New Zealand's premier wine growing regions. Tohu Wines is the first indigenous wine company producing wine for the domestic and export markets. True to Aotearoa's (New Zealand's) indigenous culture, Tohu Wines are superb examples of varietal excellence with a unique and distinct appeal. True to Maori culture, to Tikanga Maori, there is a strong spiritual aspect to everything grown by Maori on the land. This land is a gift, and we are truly blessed to be a part of this beautiful land.

Maori Festival

The vibrant Te Matatini National Festival is a Maori performing arts festival featuring a kapa hapa competition; contemporary maori dance; drama; poetry; storytelling; visual & fine arts and traditional art forms of oratory, carving, weaving and ta moko (tatoo) to be held at the Arena Manawatu in Palmerston North on February 22nd to the 25th.

The Maori Flag ?

All week, some maori's have been complaining that Transit NZ will not allow them to fly the maori flag from the top of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. They say that maori's as a nation should be able to find the flag as flags of other countries are flown on their national day. That's news to me - I didn't know that we, maori's were a separate nation of NZ and that we even had a flag. So much for been "one country". Only after been denied the opportunity to fly the flag from the bridge, which they now say has no wairua or value to the maori anyway and thus was an inappropriate site for the maori flag, they have now decided to fly the flag from No Tree Hill. It was One Tree Hill, until someone tried cutting down the lone pine tree that was there. They didn't get to cut it right down, but later on it was cut right down. What's the point of flying the flag from there ? If they want to fly the maori flag, why not fly it at Bastion Point ? As for the harbour bridge, there would of been a lot of maori's that worked on helping to build it.

The Maori King Not Attending

So much for the maori King - who has been accused of snubbing the countries largest iwi, Ngapuhi, after declining an invitation to attend the Waitangi Day commemorations at Waitangi at Te Tii marae at 4pm on Monday. You would of thought with him, been the highest maori in NZ and in his first year of rein, he would attend. He can travel to Dargaville to open a dining room on Sunday but can't or won't attend Waitangi on Monday/Tuesday. Oh well, more food for the rest of the maori's and their visitors. One of whom is Mr Key, the National Party Leader but I don't think they will give him the key to the door, just yet. He will visit the marae in the late afternoon and then attend a dawn service on Tuesday at 5am.

Have a look at the previous post for details & websites about Waitangi Day.

2007-01-29T13:21:00.000+13:00

Time Again To Head North

It's that time of the year again to head north for Waitangi Day on February 6th. I can't for the life of me - getting old(er) - remember the last time I stepped on to the soil at Waitangi. Some friends are going north but it all depends on the hour that the celebrations finish as it is work as usual on the 7th.

Waitangi Day

Conflict in the early 1800's between European settlers & Maori people arose because of the exploitation of land by some colonists. In 1839, the British Government sent Captain William Hobson (who is burried in the Symonds St Cemetery, which I mentioned in Morbid & Murder) to NZ to secure British sovereignty. In order to do this, Captain Hobson drafted the Treaty of Waitangi with advice from his secretary James Freeman & James Busby who had lived in NZ since 1833 as the British resident. Missionary Henry Williams, then translated the Treaty into Maori. On February, 6th 1840, at Waitangi, the Treaty was signed by 40 Maori chiefs, before travelling to other parts of the country. Copies were made and more than 500 Maori chiefs signed them.

The Treaty Of Waitangi

This website provides a concise account of the Treaty of Waitangi and the events surrounding it. Many historians and specialists have contributed to the material on this site to ensure it is as accurate and balanced as possible. Their contribution is gratefully acknowledged.

King To Open Whare Kai

The Maori King , Tuheitia will open the new whare kai (dining room) at the Oturei Marae in Dargaville on Feb 4th. He is then expected to attend the Waitangi Day celebrations at Waitangi on February 6th. It will be the King's first visit to Oturei. A wero (challenge) will take place around 11am and the King will unveil a plaque naming the whare kai. It has been callled Atarangi Te Reo Aroha O Te Whanau. Atarangi Te Tuhi is the name of a respected kuia , wife of a local Maori Methodist minister, while Te Reo Aroha O Te Whanau loosely translates as looking after manuhiri (visitors) by the people of Oturei Marae.

North Will Get Their Own Fulltime Coroner

A fulltime coroner to be appointed for the North should be filled by someone familiar with Nortland maori and the significance of tangihanga. The coroner who will be Whangarei based will also hold hearings and inquests in other smaller Northland towns. This appointment will be valued particular by the Maori community given the importance of the coroner in relation to tangihanga - death related procedure and protocol. In some parts of Northland, especially in the far North, maori make up 75% of the population.

2007-01-14T09:35:00.000+13:00

Protecting Marae From Fire An interesting article, worth sharing because of the great photos.

Orange & Watercress Salad
from Mana Kai

1 large bunch watercress; 1 large spanish red onion; 3 oranges.
Wash the watercress and pluck the leaves off the stalks. Slice the red onion into thin rings. Peel and slice the oranges. Combine them all lightly in salad bowl. Dress with orange vinaigrette just before serving.

I Love Watercress !!!

The joys of watercress, but this was a sight I never saw when we went picking watercress in drains on farms, etc. I must of been going to the wrong farms. (hehe)

Maori Potato, Bacon and Watercress Salad

You will now find Maori potatoes at most green grocers. 1kg Maori potatoes, Huakaroro variety; 6 rashers bacon; 4 spring onions; 3 oranges; 1 bunch watercress; 100g packet rocket. (if you can't get maori potatoes, use normal pototoes or kumara)
Scrub potatoes and cut in half. Cook in boiling, salted water for 15 minutes or until tender. Cook bacon in a frypan until crisp. Drain on kitchen paper. Cut bacon into even-size pieces. Wash spring onions and chop finely on the diagonal. Grate one tablespoon of rind from an orange and reserve for the dressing. Peel oranges, removing white pith, and cut into segments. Mix potatoes, bacon, spring onions and oranges together with watercress, rocket and dressing. Serves 4 Dressing 1 tablespoon orange rind 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ｼ cup oil 1 tablespoon honey 2 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons wine vinegar 1 teaspoon iodised salt Freshly ground black pepper Mix orange rind, mustard, oil, honey, orange juice, vinegar, salt and pepper together.

2007-01-01T07:06:00.000+13:00

2006-12-23T12:12:00.000+13:00

MERI KIRIHIMETE !!!

2006-12-21T10:04:00.000+13:00

Te Puia, Rotorua is New Zealand's premier Maori Culture & Geothermal visitor experience.

KORERO MAORI
Tēnā koe! Haere mai!
Kua tuwhera a Kōrero Māori hei taonga tautoko i te hunga e hiahia ana ki te kōrero Māori, ki te whakanui rānei i tō rātou mōhio ki te reo Māori.
Kei konei ētahi akoranga, ētahi rauemi reo Māori, me ētahi tohutohu hei whakakaha ake hoki i tō mōhio ki te reo Māori.
Nau mai rā – kōkiritia!

Hello! Welcome!
Kōrero Māori is for everyone who wants to speak the Māori language, or learn more about it.
You can find interactive conversations, language resources, and advice to help you increase your knowledge of reo Māori.
Make yourself at home – and give it a go!

2006-11-19T12:13:00.000+13:00

Maori Mark

Creative NZ launched the maori mark - "toi iho" - in February 2002 and in July that year, the first recipients of the mark were announced. There are now nearly 150 artists who are licensed to use the mark on their work. They traverse a wide range of artforms, including performing arts, music, literature and visual arts. As a brand, it carries positive connotations for any work associated with it

Helping our kids to learn

Team up with your kids, their teachers and your whānau to encourage and support your kids as they learn. Research shows it makes a big difference to their future.

Some Maori Websites

Maori TV
Mana magazine
Urban Maori Radio

Mai FM

Ngati Whatua had a dream..............to create a radio station, which embraced multi-culture Auckland and which also sent a message to all people to stand proud and to look forward to their future. Mai FM was born out of that dream and a radio brand was created. The kaupapa of Mai FM was to promote tikangaMaori and Te Reo Maori. The brand represents the aspirations of the young at heart, it celebrates difference and embraces tomorrow.
Today, Mai FM is leading the way as the number one music station with the most listeners in Tamaki Makaurau.

Early NZ Maori Postcards

2006-10-24T02:46:00.000+13:00

WAITANGI

2006-10-15T08:30:00.000+13:00

Kia Ora, With last weeks posting, a friend asked - What, where, when, why ? So been the good friend that I am, I went searching (his fingers must be painted on) on the web to have a look for a good website to to do with Waitangi Day.
I know the area like the back of my hand, as many a time I wandered the roads around Waitangi / Paihia, an area where I was brought up from about age 10 until I finished school in form 2. From there I went on to a year at high school, but I was still only 14 when I left. I was out of the school so quick, the door didn't even hit my bum on the way out. So yes, despite what you think or what friends tell you, I did go to school - well, some days I did. After all, friends had to have someone that would eat their lunch.

Anyway on with the story in hand.......... I found this website !!! There are a lot of things to see & do in the area. Have a browse, form a picture in your mind and close your eyes !!! Pretend that you are standing there.........on holiday !!! Watch out that you don't "trip" over the "pink pig" !!! Take care.

I'll be back..............

2006-09-30T10:36:00.000+12:00

Waitangi Treaty House Grounds

The Waitangi Treaty Grounds overlooking the Bay of Islands, is New Zealand's pre-eminent historic site. It is a place of belonging and enjoyment that is central to the life of the nation and special to all New Zealanders.
It was here on February 6th, 1840, that the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between Maori and the British Crown

Te Whare Runanga

To commemorate the gift of the Bledisloes, Sir Apirana Ngata, with Tau Henare, initiated plans for a carved Maori meeting house to be built on the Treaty Grounds. Te Whare Runanga, named Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was presented to the people of New Zealand on the centenary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi on the 6th February 1940.

This photo shows the inside of the meeting house. (Click on the photo to make it larger)

Hinemihi

Under a big old oak tree, in Clandon Park, Surrey, England stands a "little part of NZ", in the form a old carved whare (meeting house) called Hinemihi o te ao tawhito, which was built in 1880. After the Mt Tarawera eruption in 1886, the whare was purchased for 50 pound, by the Governor of NZ, Earl William Hiller Onslow, dismantled and taken to England in 1891. The whare was one of the only buildings left at Te Wairoa village, which was almost destroyed by the eruption and which killed over 150 people. One of the two carvers, Tene Waitere and his wife took shelter in the whare with 50 other people during the eruption. The eruption also destroyed The Pink & White Terraces, then known as the Eighth Wonder of the World.
Hinemihi, which became an attraction in England for thousands of visitors as well as a beacon for Britain's maori community is going to be restored to its former glory as time has gradually decayed the whare. Jim Schuster, one of the carvers helping with the restoration, is a great-great grandson, of Tene Waitere.

Te Wairoa Today

The site of Te Wairoa today is known as the Buried Village and as a tourist attraction is well worth visiting if you are ever in the area.

2006-09-17T12:01:00.000+12:00

This is a monument to Te Rauparaha, a wise and feared leader of Ngati Toa, and his nephew Rangihaeta. They lived around the Wellington area in the 1820s- 1850s. The monument is on a walkway in the hills in South Wellington.

Puha & Kumara

2006-09-07T18:50:00.000+12:00

Puha or Rauriki is a green vegetable native to New Zealand. It was one of the staple green vegetables of the Maori people and is still eaten today. Puha can be found growing wild. The ‘smooth’ leaved puha is the most popular. The slightly bitter and ‘prickly’ leaved puha is also eaten. Whilst it is not grown commercially it is occasionally available and there is certainly demand for it in some areas.

Kumara is also known as sweet potato. It has been grown and eaten in New Zealand since Kupe brought it here from Hawaiki in the tenth century. The earliest variety was bushy with very small tubers, but a bigger sweet potato was introduced later. Growing on a creeping vine, it became known as kumara and is the one we now eat. The majority of our kumara is grown in Northland in the Northern Wairoa region where soil type and climatic conditions suit kumara perfectly.

The most common kumara variety is Owairaka Red - red-skinned with creamy white flesh (also sold as Red).
Gold kumara (also sold as Toka Toka Gold) has golden skin and flesh and a sweeter taste. Orange kumara (sometimes sold as Beauregarde) is the sweetest, with rich orange flesh.

MAORI FOOD !!!

2006-09-03T19:17:00.000+12:00

The traditional foods of the Maori people built splendid men and fine looking, strong women and all of these foods were gathered from New Zealand's soil or waters. With the coming of the pakeha and his food, however, the Maori people are forgetting some of their own foods and adopting more and more of the pakeha foods.But Maori food is good, very good. Kumaras are in almost all respects, as valuable to the body as the white potato. Of course, if kumaras, or potatoes, are peeled thickly much of the nourishment is lost. The best way of all to cook kumaras is in a Maori oven, in their skins, after careful washing. Every Maori knows that this is the way to get the true flavour of kumaras.
Secondly, puha or rauriki, is a green vegetable which can be compared favourably with cabbage, silver beet or spinach. In addition the Maori method of cooking puha, in which all the liquid is drunk, is superior to the common pakeha practice of straining off and throwing away the vegetable water. The more puha that is eaten the better.

The Maori people have always been great fish eaters. May they ever remain as fond of it for fish is a fine food — one of those which build strong muscles. Octopus, sea eggs, rock oysters, crayfish, kuku paua, pipis, toheroas, pupurore — only milk beats these as a body building food; they are much better than red meat for building strong bones and teeth.

Again, New Zealand coastal waters are rich in such fish as hapuku, rawaru, tarakihi, snapper, kahawai, mango, patiki, kuparu, kanae, tope and countless others. Fish since mankind began has been one of his staple foods if he was fortunate enough to live near the sea or a river, and if he did not he was prepared to barter much of his possessions for the precious fish, or dried fish. Long before we knew anything about the components of foods we knew that fish was good for building muscles and for preventing the disease known as goitre.

Fresh water eels should never be despised for they, like the oil from the livers of fish, contain a substance which makes our bones strong and straight and helps to keep our teeth free from decay.

Pakeha food such as meat, bread and tea has come and come to stay, but do not neglect your own excellent foods, your puha, your fish and your kumaras.

*The heliacal rising of Whanui, the star Vega, was the sign generally accepted as denoting the time for the lifting of the main crop of kumara. The first person of a village community to observe this star in the early morn, at once roused the Pa with the old and well-known cry —‘Ko Whanui … E Ko Whanui’, and so the community set to gathering the crops after which came ‘nga mahi a Ruanui’. These details are taken from Elsdon Best, Games and Pastimes of the Maori.

Pronounce This !!!

2006-09-03T12:15:00.000+12:00

A Real Tongue Twister !!!

A few people have asked what is the maori language like and is it easy to learn. Well, try pronouncing the following word which is not only the longest maori place name in NZ, but also the longest in the world. If you can do that, the rest will be as easy as !!!
Are you ready, here it is.........

Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

In english it means - The brow of the hill where Tamatea (the man with the big knees, who slid, climbed and swallowed maountains) who travelled the land, played his flute to his loved one.

It seems that the "word" has had a copyright applied to it, but only after it had a prefix added. If it has had a prefix added, any english teacher will tell you, that if you add a prefix to any word, then it is not the same word. So what's the point in getting a copyright applied to protect it from inappropriate use. I don't think anyone in their right mind or their left mind is going to "pinch it" !!!
It will be one of the things on the agenda, tomorrow when the Waitangi tribunal meets at Waipatu Marae in Hastings to hear the indigenous flora & fauna cultural inttellectual property claim - otherwise known as the Wai 262 claim - often described as the "grandfather" of treaty claims. In 3 days from Monday, Ngati Kahungunu will present evidence, covering everything from commercial rights to waiata and natural health remedies, the allocation of other resources, habitat loss - and how the HeretaungaPlains has been transformed by colonisation.

2006-08-28T07:13:00.000+12:00

The lighthouse is at the very tip of the North Island. All you see is "sea".
On the small map of the world, we are the black speck just below Australia. Hopefully you can work out where you are.

Cape Reinga is the northernmost part of New Zealand. Its distinctive 10.5 metre tall lighthouse (165 metres above sea level) is a landmark - the light from its beacon can be seen 50 kilometres out to sea. It is said, that standing there looking out to sea is a amazing experience. Apart from the Three Kings Islands, faintly visible on the horizon, 64km northwest of Cape Reinga, there is nothing but ocean. (The vast Pacific Ocean stretches almost another 16,000 km north to the Bering Sea). It is here also that another great Ocean, Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, joining with it to create turbulent waters, with waves up to 10m high, during storms.

Cape Reinga has always been a place of great consequence to the Maori people,including myself. Tradition says that when a Maori person dies, the spirit after hovering for a time above the body, makes a final journey to Cape Reinga, where it turns and farewells the land, that will soon be lost to view.
The spirit then descends down to a wild & rocky promontory, known as "Te Rerengawairua" - the spirits that leap. A lone pohutukawa tree growing on the lower eastern side, of which the roots are exposed enable the spirit to climb down to the rocky promontory for its final moments on this, "its last place" on this land. In the sea, close to the promontory is a deep hole - as the waves flow in, long masses of seaweed, obscure the entrance, but as the water recedes, the hole is fully revealed. It is then that the spirit dives in, to begin the long journey home to Hawaiki - the mystical homeland and place of orgin, where the spirit will be reunited with its loved ancestors.

Haere Mai / Welcome

2006-08-23T20:35:00.000+12:00

The Final Farewell & A New Maori King

The Final Journey

2006-08-20T09:31:00.000+12:00

Tomorrow's Tangi

TVNZ and Maori television will present a live simulcast of the Maori Queen, Te Arikunui Te Atairangikaahu's tangi. The timing may depend on the progress of the delibarations by tribal elders gathered to choose a successor.The TV coverage is expected to start at 8am on Monday 21st, with the crowning of the new Maori monarch and will follow the final stages of the tangi and Dame Te Ata' s last journey up the Waikato river by waka.

State Highway 1 will be closed - from Huntly from 10am to 4pm with detours in place, as thousands are expected to line the State Highway (green) from Ngaruawahia (to Taupiri Mountain, 10 minutes north of Ngaruawahia to pay their respects to Dame Te Ata as the waka makes its way up the Waikato River (blue) to her final resting place, on the eastern side of Taupiri Mountain.

Ngaruawahia (bottom left corner of the photo - the township is on the left over the bridge / the marae is just on the left hand side before the bridge)

2006-08-19T12:02:00.000+12:00

DAME TE ATAIRANGAKAAHU

1931 - 2006

A week of mourning has begun in New Zealand for the Maori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikaahu, ONZ, DBE who died at her official residence Turongo, late Tuesday afternoon after a long battle with kidney disease. She was 75.
She was the sixth and longest serving monarch of Waikato's King Movement, but over the past four decades of her reign her status and influence extended well beyond the Maori community into the national affairs of the whole country.
From shop assistant and farmer's wife, to mother, grandmother and much-loved Maori monarch, it was quite a journey during often turbulent times for Maoridom in New Zealand over the past 40 years.
Dame Te Ata was proud of the positive changes she had seen for her people in that time.
"New alliances and friendships have been formed," she said.
"The people have organised for their language, health and tribal affairs. Many more of our young people are making great strides in education, entering the trades and professions and creatively organising for their own employment."
Dame Te Ata succeeded her father King Koroki as the sixth leader of the Waikato-Tainui Kingdom - which was established in the 19th century in an attempt to end tribal conflict and unite Maori against further land sales to the European settlers.
"The founding King Potatau worked hard to achieve unity between the tribes and ... at all levels from storekeepers and settlers to the Governor himself, and that is a tradition that has supported me over these years."
Dame Te Ata was a tireless advocate for her people, its culture and its language.
Her reign has coincided with a resurgence of Maori to the point where it is officially the second language in New Zealand.

Dame Te Ata is lying in state at the Turangawaewae Marae, Ngaaruawahia, before her burial on August 21st alongside her ancestors on Taupiri, the sacred mountain of the Waikato where all the paramount chiefs are buried.

2006-08-19T00:01:00.000+12:00

Kia Ora / Hello, The following site I have posted up...........

Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa / National Library Of New Zealand.

Search & browse all 76 issues of the magazine - Te Ao Hou The New World
The magazine was published by from 1952 to 1975 by The Maori Affairs Department, in Aotearoa / New Zealand. (Aotearoa means - The Land Of The Long White Cloud)
According to its first editorial, "Te Ao Hou" aimed to provide interesting and informative reading for Maori homes, like a marae on paper where all questions of interest to the Maori can be discussed.

"Te Ao Hou" provides bilingual content with articles in both English and Te Reo Maori.

Click on to the website and have a look - start at # 1 and scroll thru looking at the covers of the magazine. Issue # 75 shows not only our Maori Queen, but also Queen Elizabeth II.

Maori's Have Fighting Genes ???

2006-08-10T21:00:00.000+12:00

Haere Mai / Welcome, If you are reading this, hold on to not only your seat, but also your "jeans" for you could be flying by the seat of your pants if you really believe all this s*** !!!

Who in NZ, read the article in the newspaper yesterday headed -
"Maori said to carry warrior genes" !!!

You have ??? Then leave a comment. If you haven't read it or live in another country, do a web search - maori warrior genes - to read more about it. A couple of news sites also have video.

Scientists claim that maori men have a "striking-over-representation" of a monoamine oxidase gene - dubbed the warrior gene - which they say is associated with aggressive behaviour and has been linked to violence; criminal acts and risky behaviour. The same gene is said to also have links to high rates of alcoholism and smoking among maori's.

Scientists also studied another gene, dubbed the thrifty gene (I don't think it is worth saving) which is believed to be related to energy conservation and responsible for maori making it to NZ shores in the first place. It is also said to have a link to obesity with a high prevalence among maori. It is said maori specifically conserved their energy for long journeys and because of this survived, bringing their "thrifty" genes with them !!!

The time & money they spend reserching the so call warrior genes would be better spent on finding cures for cancer and other illnesses that are actually killing people.

I'm sorry, but to me that is a load of s*** !!! I am maori and I certainly don't have any fighting genes in me, nor do I want to binge drink, smoke or gamble. All it will do is open a can of worms - it doesn't matter what race a person is, whether they be black, brown or white, you give someone an inch and they will take a mile. Look for a rise in court cases where the person claims, it wasn't my fault - it's in my genes - my warrior genes !!! The "gene" doesn't go anywhere near explaining the problems maori are said to have, except around the "s" bend.
They are now collecting DNA gene samples from maori's to work out exactly what role each gene played.

They are more than welcome to collected my "jeans" - they are hanging on the clothesline !!!

It's not the memories I have, it's the memories I leave behind