The paepae (tāne/wahine - male/female) are the voice of the whare (ceremonial meeting house), the cultural capital of the people, upholding the status, integrity and tribal traditions that have been practiced over the generations. The paepae leads the culture of the people.
Manaakitanga - real or plastic?
Hinemoa and Tutanekai - tupuna or modern day role models?
8 Tips for Resilience for Small Business Owners : A Māori Approach
Tarawera erupted in 1886. It was a cataclysmic unzipping of the mountain that split it in half. A firestorm engulfed the sleeping kainga ( village[s] ) on the lake’s edge, levelled the bush and rearranged the landscape. My koro (grandfather) was 9 years old. He lived at Te Wairoa. He survived the onslaught. His kainga is now a tourist attraction called, ‘The Buried Village.’ Koro says that none of them knew that it was the next day until they all heard the rooster crow. His nanny carried him out on her back. The survivors made their way to Rotorua township. Their lives had changed forever.
The Lockdown Kaumatua
My phone rang. The second week of Level 4 lockdown was in full swing. I didn't know the number. I spoke to the caller and was surprised. It was a volunteer from my marae. She wanted to know how I was and if I needed help with collecting anything. The following week another volunteer from Ngāti Whakakaue called. She was offering a care pack. I was humbled with the care and attention and impressed with the service. This was not aroha learnt from a management manual. It was aroha in action and a community taking care of its kaumatua and kuia.