THE CYCLES OF LIFE

There are three main cycles that control the ebb and flow of life as we know it. We observe them all and havedivided these cycles into segments and given them names relevant to us and our purpose... anei...

First is the daily cycle of planet Earth. The 24 hour repeating cycle of day to day life. Thus we use cycle markers to help us control and define the rise and fall of daily life... like Waenganui Po, Te Ata Hapara, Te Atatu, Poututerangi, Te Ahiahi and Te Rakato... which basically registered the position of the sun, the fall of the shadows or strength of light.

Second is the monthly cycle of the moon. A 30 day rotation from new moon to full moon and back. We name each day... Te Rakaunui, Te Rakaumatohi and Whiro. In turn each day has an associated tide time... thus every Te Rakaunui has the same tide time (for us in Muriwai it's midday). We also have groups of days like the Tangaroa set and the Tamatea set which have early morning tide times and are favored for fishing. Yet they too are different in that the Tangaroa tides are linked to a moon getting smaller... while the Tamatea tides are linked to a moon getting bigger. Our tipuna observed and defined that cycle to give us a better understanding of that monthly cycle.

Third is the yearly cycle of the sun. The procession of stars that measure a single cycle of our sun based system. We divided the year into 12 monthly cycles... 3 per season and linked each moon to a star that helped define our seasons. We understood the relevance of the summer and winter solstice and had a clear idea about the spring and autumn equinox. Stars like Matariki, Takurua, Atutahi, Whanui and Rehua helped us define the seasons and provide an important narrative to guide us through the yearly growing cycle.

Our ancestors knew each cycle intimately and understood how the sun moon and earth are all linked by these three independent yet inter-locking cycles. After 600 years of observation in Muriwai... we have a very good knowledge of where, why and how these cycles influence our being. We also have an affinity with the land, the sea, the moon, the stars and the sun... We are the people... we are the Ahikaroa (long burning fires)... MAURIORA...

I AM AN AUTHOR

HERE ARE MY BOOKS. Originally published by REED... now by PENGUIN... I am very proud of my efforts... All are written from a Tamanuhiri perspective... All were motivated by my children... and all are dedicated to my moko's. My first book... Nga Tai Korero (Traditional Maori Legends) was published in 2000. In 2006 it was awarded a Gold Best Seller Award and to this day continues to be my most popular. If you wanna find out how to purchase... check out google... MAURIORA

TRADITIONAL MAORI LEGENDS: Among the fourteen stories from around New Zealand are old favourites like Maui and the Fish; Paikea and the Whale; Tutanekai and Hinemoa; Ngatoroirangi; Rona and the Moon; and Maui and the Sun. Each story is told across two pages, with text of about 250 words accompanied by a large, colourful illustration by Warren Pohatu. Both in his ebullient artwork and his energetic retelling of the tales, Pohatu succeeds in bringing tradition stories of the Maori to life for a young audience.

MAORI ANIMAL MYTHS: Animals were much more than a source of food for early Maori - they were considered part of the great family to which we all belong. Some were cheeky, others were wise, while others still were dangerous and cunning. In some cases animals worked with humans to educate or guide. Yet they all had a role to play and a destiny to fulfill. In this beautiful book, Warren Pohatu introduces us to special members of our animal family and shares their stories with us. He retells legends of the past in which animals played a special part, and emphasises the bond we can all share.

THE MARAE: This booklet provides a brief overview of the physical and spiritual structure of the marae, the meeting ground of the Maori people. Hopefully it will help explain the importance of the marae to Maori, the customs and rituals surrounding it, and the significance of features like the wharenui. In modern society a marae’s role is largely governed by its location. In rural areas the marae retains its traditional role as the centre of all village life and the hub of tribal activity. It continues to provide both shelter for the people and a platform from which to guide them.

TANIWHARAU: This book focuses on the special relationships between various taniwha around Aotearoa and the local people of the land. It celebrates the many and various kaitieki (kaitiaki ranei) that inhabit our whakapapa and punctuate our oral histories. These magnificent creatures came in all shapes and sizes including lizards, sharks, whales, kiwi, pigeons, dogs and even giant eagles. Some were a weird mix of creatures; half man-half dog, half bird-half woman but all had a special place in the history of the various tangata whenua who claimed them as guardians.whakapapa and punctuate our oral histories. These magnificent creatures came in all shapes and sizes including lizards, sharks, whales, kiwi, pigeons, dogs and even giant eagles. Some were a weird mix of creatures; half man-half dog, half bird-half woman but all had a special place in the history of the various tangata whenua who claimed them as guardians.

Merry Xmas Whanau... ma te atua koutou e tiaki...

RANGINUI...

Let the colours dance across my screen... let the image emerge from my imagination... let the story be told... I AM AN ARTIST... this is my world

Ranginui: the great sky father
Ranginui is the great father of the sky… he’s the vast expanse of the endless heavens while his wife Papatuanuku is the earth mother. The two have been married since forever… originally they were locked in a loving embrace that blocked out all light. Ranginui held tight to his beloved Papatuanuku. They had many children, all of whom lived in the tiny space between their parents. It was very dark and very cramped… nobody was exactly happy with the situation. As the children grew up they became even more annoyed at the living conditions. But Ranginui and Papa would not break their embrace.

Soon the children gathered deep in the darkness to discuss the problems of living in such conditions. Tangaroa was very keen to separate his parents but felt he was not nearly strong enough to complete such a task. Tawhirimatea apposed any talk of separation and threatened his brothers with eternal war if they even attempted to break them up. Tumatauenga scoffed at his brother’s emotional outburst and demanded their parents be separated immediately. Otherwise he would kill them himself. Rongo and Haumia were vegetarians… they didn’t want any killing or bloodshed… and Ruaumoko wasn’t even born.

Then Tane-Mahuta stood up, “Calm down - Let me try” he said. Tane thought for a while then lay with his back braced against his mother. He raised his feet up and placed them on his father. He took a deep breath then pushed his feet up as hard as he could. Tane strained with all his might and eventually he was able to pry his parents apart. Little by little they began to separate. Just then Tawhirimatea roared with anger then rushed off past Tane and the others to join Rangi. AS he left… he vowed to wage war on all his brothers and ever since then Tawhiri has sent hurricanes and storms to wreak havoc upon his family. Meanwhile the light flooded into the world… it spread quickly into every corner of the land… and life, as we know it, was born.

This is Te Ao Marama (the world of warmth and light)… and the true beauty of Papatuanuku could at last be seen. Her gorgeous green cloak, her impressive snow topped mountains, her abundant valleys, her lush rivers and her generous beaches simply confirm her as the mother of absolutely everything. Ranginui also looked magnificent as the rich blue of his skin soaked up the light. An exhausted Tane shook the beads of sweat from his body… they flew into the air and became the many stars of the night sky. Tangotango, a son of Tane Mahuta, then placed his own children Ra (sun) and Marama (moon) into the sky so we could differentiate between night and day. Thus the ever changing cloak of Ranginui is impressive at anytime… the sun, the moon and the stars all hang like taonga from the sacred korowai of the 12 heavens.

Sometimes Rangi weeps for his beloved Papa… sometimes he smothers her with his warmth and light… every day is different… but their love affair will never ever end.. MAURIORA

IO TE WANANGA

IO is the first word of our story... IO is the beginning of all things. In 2002 I was asked to speak on behalf of the Ngai Tamanuhiri people in front of the Waitangi Tribunal. It was my job to tell our story in our own words. I wrote the following takutaku specifically for that hui... and they represent the first words out of my mouth... they are they beggining of our tribal story... our path from the great creator.

Io te kupu tuatahi o te korero, Io te mea timata, Io te wananga
Io Taketake, Io Tikitiki-o-te-rangi, ko Io Matua-Kore e, Io e, Io e
Ko Te Pu, ko Te Weu, ko Te More, ko Te Aka, ko Te Ahunga
Ko Te Aponga, ko Te Kuneiti, ko Te Kunerahi, ko Popokonui
Ko Popokonao, ko Hineawaawa, ko Tamaku-te-rangi e tu mai nei
Ka puta mai te tama ko Ranginui…ana ko tera e tu ana kei runga ra
Ka noho ia i a Papatuanuku…ana ko tenei e takato kei raro ra
Ta raua ka puta nga tama atua ki te whai ao… ki te ao marama
Tu te winiwini, tu te wanawana, tu te mana o te runga rawa
Nana te ringa kaha e mau manaaki i a tatou nei ia ra, ia ra, ia po
Ka hoki te mahara ki te uriuri, ki te tangotango, ki te kerekere, ki te nakonako... Ki te tiwhatiwha o nga po i whea tatou nei e timata… ka tau ha
Whakatau te rangi o runga nei, ka tau ha whakatau te papa o raro nei…
Ka tau ha, ka tau ha… whakatau mai ra… whakatau mai ra…

Ka hui mai nga tama, ka hui mai hai wehe matua, hai wehe wahanga hoki
Ko Tane-Mahuta…tera ki te ngahere hai whakapiripiri mai tatou
Ko Tangaroa…tera ki te Moananui-a-Kiwa hai whakamautai
Ko Tawhirimatea…tera ki te rangi o tona papa hai pupuri hau
Ko Tumatauenga…tena ki runga papa pakanga hai kanohi mo te riri
Ko Haumiatiketike, ko Rongomaitane…
ko wera ki te whenua hai hua mo tatou nei te iwi Maori
Ko Ruaumoko kai raro ra e ru tonu mai ra, ru tonu mai ra…ru ana te whenua e!
Ka tau mai nga waka atua ki uta ra, ki uta tapu nei, ki uta pumau e
Hai tahuhu mo te whakapono, hai kinaki mo te taumata paepae
Hai turanga mo nga kaka-wahanui o tena… o tena… o tena taumata
Huri noa ki te taumata tirotiro o Tamanuhiri ko Matiti…e tu ki te po, tu ki te ao!

Na Tane Mahuta te ringa hangahanga wahine mai i te kurawaka
Ka hongi, ka ha, ka ora, ka tu a Hineahuone ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama
Ka moe i a Tane, ka puta mai ko Hinetitama…Aue te mamae, aue te riri
Aue te whakama o Hinetitama na te mea ko tona papa ko tona tane
Katahi ka ngaro atu a Hinetitama, katahi ka puta ko Hinenui-o-te-po, Hinenui-o-te-po

Ka rere atu a Hineahuone. Rere atu ki te taha o te teina ra ko Tumatauenga... Ta raua ka puta mai ko Tiki tangata tuatahi e…te kakano o te ira tane... Ta Tiki ka puta mai te tamahine ko Taranga, ka noho ia i a Makea-Tutara... Ka puta tetahi o nga haututu rongonui o te motu nei ko Maui tera…ko Maui Potiki... Ko tona waka ko Nukutaimemeha e takoto tonu mai ra kai runga Hikurangi maunga... Kai Hikurangi te tauihu, kai Hikurangi te taurapa, kai Hikurangi te tangata tu mai waenganui hai hopu ika, ko Maui-tikitiki-a-Taranga tera

Ta Maui ko Papatiraumaewa, ta Papatiraumaewa ko Tiwakawaka
Ka whai ko muri nga uri penei…ko Ranginui, ko Rangiroa, ko Taranui
Ko Tararoa, ko Ngaitewharekiki, ko Ngaitewharekaka,
Ko Ngai Riko, ko Ngai Reka, ko Ngai Peha, ko Ngaitaketake
Ko Ngaitehurumana ko Toi Kairakau, Toi te huatahi ranei

Ta tenei huarahi o Toi ka puta mai ko Rauru-ki-tahi kai runga tana Ikaroa
Ta Rauru ka puta mai ko Nga-Puna-Ariki-o-Whatonga kai runga Te Hawai
Ko Apakawhio, ko Rongotewhaiao, ko Rongoteamarama, ko Tuhiatetai
Ka puta mai te rangatira ko Te Whironui, nana te waka ra ko Nukutere
Ki a ia he tamahine ko Huturangi, ka noho ia i Kahutiaterangi
Ki a tatou nei o te ao marama ko Paikea-Ariki tena…he tipua, he tangata
Ka u Paikea ki Ahuahu, Tau mai ki Rototahe, Tau mai ki Whangara-mai-tawhiti...Ko Whangara te putahi o te tangata; ko Whangara te rekareka o te korero

Ka moe a Paikea i a Huturangi, ka puta mai te tama ko Pouheni
Hei rua takutaku, hei puna mohio, hei tira mo nga tapu o runga Horouta
Ta Pouheni ka puta ko Tarawhakatu, Ki a ia, ka puta te tama ko Nanaia
Ka noho ia i a Niwaniwa ka puta mai nga rangatira rongonui o te motu
Te tuakana ko Porou-Ariki-te- Matatara-a-Whare, te-Tuhi-Mareikura-o-Rauru... Me ki, ko Porourangi te kakano o te whanau whanui o Ngati Porou
Ka huri ki te teina ko Tahu-Potiki-te-Tuhi-Mareikura-o-Oho a-Tamawahine
Tena ka hikoi atu, tena ka hoki mai ki te pouaru ko Hamoterangi

Ka haere raua ki tua o Te Kuri, ki Maraetaha ka puta mai ko Rakaroa
Ka moe a Rakaroa i a Iramanawapiko ka puta mai ko Tahumurihape
Ta Tahumurihape ka puta mai ko Uenukunui raua ko Tamatea-Upoko
Ta Uenuku ka puta ko Rakaitotorewa, Ta Tamatea ka puta ko Ruakahutia
Ka noho Rakaitotorewa i a Ruakahutia ka puta mai te tama ko Tamanuhiri
Noreira…ko Tamanuhiri tenei e tu ana; ko Tamanuhiri tenei e tangi ana
Ko Tamanuhiri tenei e tu takataka haere ki te whai ao, ki te ao marama

Ko Oraki te maunga, ko Tarakihinui te awa, ko Ngati Rangiwaho te hapu
Ko Te huauri te mana, ko Tamanuhiri te tipuna, ko Hinenui te wahine
Nana te korero…“ taku he ki te huatea, no muri te huauri”
Tihe Mauriora!

I AM MY FATHER'S SON

I AM an artist... I AM an author... I AM a student of whakapapa… 
I AM a keeper of the knowledge... I AM Tamanuhiri... I AM Maori... and I AM my fathers son... Today is my fathers birthday (Happy Birthday Dad R.I.P). I was born to tell the stories of our fore-fathers... THIS IS WHO I AM. I love to share what knowledge I have... I love to take people on a journey... through their own minds... into battle... into the ancient hangi pits... across the oceans of adventure... beyond the hearts of passion... and through the pages of time to see who we are... this is my fathers story...

My father Mataiata... was a carpenter, a shearer, a shepherd & a soldier. He spent a few years chasing the desert fox around Egypt… luckily... he came back.
His father Te Huauri was a farmer & soldier… he fought in the First World War and luckily... he came back.
His father was Mokiterangi... a significant land owner & a bushman up around Kopua.
His father was Eruera Pohatu... a prominent witness in the Maori Land Courts.
His father was Ihaka Ngarangioue and he was born during the small-pox epidemic.
His father was Tuhene... a chief from Te Mahia.
His father was Meke who met Captain Cook and was given a bag of potato.
His father was Te Rakato... a fighting chief of the Ngai Tahupo.
His father was Te Huki... the owner of a huge net that stretched the length of the coast.
His father was Tureia... a great priest & carver from Ngati Rakaipaaka.
His father was Tamatea-ahirau... a fighting chief from Nuhaka.
His father was Tu Te Kanao... a fighting chief from Moumoukai.
His father was Kaukohea... who helped move his whanau from Turanga to Nuhaka.
His father was Rakaipaaka who had a war over a dog.
His father was Kahukuranui... who had a great battle in Turanga.
His father was the great KAHUNGUNU a very impressive 7 foot giant from the north.
His father was TAMATEA POKAI WHENUA a great explorer.
His father was RONGOKAKO who he had a giant Kiwi as a pet...
His his father was TAMATEA ARKINUI... captain of TAKITIMU WAKA

These are the footprints of my forefathers... these are my footprints... and this is me... tenei au... tenei au... te hokai nei o taku tapuwae... ko te hokai nuku... ko te hokai rangi... MAURIORA

PARALLEL POST OF WARREN POHATU

I AM: Between December 12th 2013 and January 11th 2014... I'll be holding my first online exhibition called "I AM" ...which will feature the parallel posts of Warren Pohatu. This exhibition will obviously be online using social media platforms... Facebook, Twitter, Blogspot and Google.

It will focus on... who 'I AM' as a person? ...where 'I AM' from as a Maori? ...and what 'I AM' all about as an artist? It features my whakapapa, my home, some maps, our stories, my illustrations and some special photos that contribute to who 'I AM' to date. Each day I'll be posting information relevant to my art, my people, myself and my story. I'll also be sharing my special memories of growing up in Muriwai... as a village raised child.

This exhibition is about celebrating my creativity... and remembering who I AM and where I'm from... It's dedicated to my parents Mataiata Bartlett Pohatu and Rata Saunders Pohatu (nee Wyllie) who make a huge contribution to my existence... and also dedicated to my children and grandchildren... MAURIORA KOUTOU... Taku he ki te huatea mo Tawake Whakato... No muri te huauri mo Tamanuhiri

TE RAKAUNUI... (OCT-2013)

Today is Te Rakaunui (the full moon)... and this month the moon is controlled by the star Atutahi - the herald of new life. Atutahi is the planting star... and when the moon begins to wane... (usually 3 days from now) our tupuna would plant their seeds. From this full moon to the harvest moon of Whanui... is about 130 days... that's also the approx maturity time of kumara. Many vegetables have a similar maturity time... Onion (100-120) Potato (90-120) Pumpkin (85-120) Sweet Corn (70-105) and Kumara (100-125). Our parents and grandparents knew this stuff... they used the moon as a cosmic time peace... it's not exactly rocket science... it's observation... the world is governed by repeating cycles... MAURIORA...