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...

Before They Pass Away

Ka mau te wehi cuzzin... from Tamaki to the globe at large... Stunning images by photographer Jimmy Nelson... A few years back he started accumulating images of remote and unique cultures photographed with a traditional 50-year-old plate camera. Many awards followed. When he started to successfully and internationally exhibit and sell these images, this created the subsequent momentum and enthusiasm for the initiation of Before they Pass Away.

http://beforethey.com/tribe/maori

'POSSESSION'

On Thursday I will be at an Artist Event in Hamilton... to talk a little about Ngai Tamanuhiri, Te Kuri and our sacred patuwatawata RANGIHOUA... and basically to support Jean E Loomis and her show called...

'POSSESSION'
An exhibition of 12 screenprints at ArtsPost 27th September to 28th October... Artist’s Event Thursday 3rd October at 5.30pm

1769 October Sunday 8th: 'About four o'clock in the afternoon, we anchored on the north west side of the bay.'
(Extract from Cooks Diary.)
These prints are based on Te Kuri o Paoa*, known to New Zealanders as Young Nicks Head an iconic headland important to Maori and Pakeha.

Many countries have iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty. In Aotearoa this headland is significant to Maori and Pakeha as the important point of first encounter between two cultures. It was here as well that two models of land 'possession' clashed. The existing model of occupation/guardianship was based on care of the living land and its resources to be passed on to future generations. Colonisation introduced the individual/corporate model where resources were exploited, trees cut and minerals mined for profit.

In the 1860’s 1.25 million acres of Ngai Tamanuhiri land was confiscated by the crown and sold to settlers. In 2002 Te Kuri came up for sale and Ngai Tamanuhiri made a bid for their land but an absentee United States citizen also negotiated to buy the headland. Members of Ngai Tamanuhiri occupied the Pa site in protest and marched on Parliament but the sale to the American went ahead with New Zealand Government approval.

Today these two models of possession have a wider constituency, but the clash continues over the sale of state assets, oil and gas exploitation on the East Coast, deep sea oil drilling in Cook Strait, gold mining on Coromandel and the far north, and open-cast coal mining on the Denniston plateau. The struggle is still between kaitiakitanga /guardianship and exploitation.

In preparation for this work I first approached the headland from the sea, a route familiar to Maori and Cook. I spent some time drawing and living at Muriwai Beach at the base of the headland. My research involved reading and listening to locals tell stories how for generations they had camped each Christmas at Murphy’s Beach an activity that is no longer permitted under present ownership. I climbed the headland before dawn to the old Pa site Te Rangihoua the view was awe inspiring but I also felt a great sense of loss - this place no longer belongs to New Zealanders.

Recently the Waitangi Tribunal Treaty Settlement returned 200 acres of land to Ngai Tamanuhiri plus the cliff face of Te Kuri as a National Reserve. On the back of a Gisborne bus is a large bill board showing a view of Young Nicks Head with the motto 'Our Place' - but it's no longer our place - just the cliffs.

An Artist’s event is planned for Thursday 3rd October at 5.30 pm. I am very pleased to announce that Warren Pohatu an illustrator and designer originally from Muriwai in Gisborne will open the exhibition.

Jean E Loomis

KNOWLEDGE IS A LIVING THING

We are all vessels of knowledge to one degree or another and we all play a part in maintaining or developing that pool of knowledge for our future generations. Obviously as technology advances our knowledge base is expanded and by the sametoken as we get further from our past some knowledge becomes obsolete and is often consigned to the record of our history. Knowledge is a living breathing entity and as the generations come and go... the knowledge accumulated is passed on and the next generation becomes custodians of that collection... thus the knowledge lives.

Today we are the conscious portion of that knowledge base and it is our duty to share what we know and forward it to our children, grandchildren and beyond. Thus our genealogical record... our whakapapa... transcends many generations to tell us who we are... and where we came from. It measures our mana... it gathers our wairua... and it enhances our aroha. We are who we are because of our whakapapa... and I am very proud to be me... to be MAORI... MAURIORA

(the artwork is called TIWHANARAU... and represents the many tiwhana - or forehead design patterns- that go into making me who I am)

ARTIST PROFILE WARREN NR POHATU

TOI TAMANUHIRI

Graphic Designer, Artist, Illustrator, Author, Blogger, Social Networker, Opinionist, Researcher, Story Teller and Philosopher. I was born and bred in the heart of Ngai Tamanuhiri (Muriwai) and have always considered myself to be Tamanuhiri tuturu. All four of my grandparents were born and bred Tamanuhiri and thus I have whakapapa connections to all core hapu. For the past 30 years I have worked in the visual communications arena and have many years experience in the Auckland Design industry. I have published 4 children's books and 7 calendars thus far and I'm currently working on an illustrated record of my whakapapa by way of an e-book that is due for release in late 2014. All my publications are based on my genealogy as I have spent 30 years researching our tribal histories. I am absolutely passionate about my family story and my whakapapa and this is reflected in my work. I am also fully committed to the original art form... which is korero. Our oral traditions are the basis of all other art forms and without the words and stories of our ancestors nothing else exists. Our art is basically the hard copy of many, many generations of our oral record. In 2002 I spoke before the Waitangi Tribunal at the hearing in Muriwai and as lead speaker it was my honour and privilege to explain our story. The many generation since Tane separated his parents... the 50 or so generations since Maui fished up our land... the 28 generations since Paoa landed at Papatewhai... and the 9 generations since the Endeavour achored off Turanga. My passion is our story. MAURIORA...

https://www.facebook.com/warren.pohatu
https://www.facebook.com/Tamanuhiri
https://www.facebook.com/MAORIBOYZ
https://twitter.com/MaoriBoyOne
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=119723579&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile
https://plus.google.com/u/0/116079530399017315622/about
http://warrenpohatucreative.blogspot.co.nz/
http://warrenpohatu.blogspot.co.nz/

THE OLD LONG CUT AYE

Yesterday we were over the Shore picking up some stuff from the bros work site. As we drove back we got caught in peak hour traffic (5.00pm). When we got the the northern side of the bridge I said we should go round the back of Pt Chev. But the bro reckons yeah... nah... I got a better way (clue)... TRUE I thought... that is the better way.

Anyway old speedy gonzales shoots past that off ramp... and heads off the Cook Street off ramp... then sweeps round back to Wellington road... back over the motorway toward Freeman Bay... then left onto Howe and up the hill to K road. He turns right on K-road and heads up to the lights at the start of Great North. He follows Great North to Grey Lynn... down to Western Springs... and 40 mins later...we finally get to Point Chev... (20 sets of lights all up)... most... if not all red... just for us... to matou nei waimarie...

When we get to the lights at Great North and Pt Chev Road... I say BRO... If you had listened to me we would have been here 20 minutes ago... This has got to be the longest short cut ever... in fact this is an official long-cut... Bei If you'd open your bloody ears... we'd have been having tea by now... even the peak hour motorway would be faster... ANYWAY... next time you wanna show me a short cut... DON'T
‪#‎dontletothersdriveyouaroundthebend‬

RESTART TRY AGAIN

When all hope is lost... when the whole world is collapsing around you... and you're under attack from all sides... things start exploding in your face. When you're down to your last chance... things are going crazy... you're outnumbered and overwhelmed... then your hit... and suddenly you go down... hit the wall... and finally crash and burn... BOOM game over...
WELL... just hit restart... and have another turn... ‪#‎lifewithouconsequence‬

THE LEADER

A brave leader knows when the war is won
A wise leader knows... when the war is lost
Knowing your limits is a sign of ones strength

MY AVERAGE IQ...

I need a few more real academic friends... just so I can get my average IQ score up... EVEN HIGHER THAN IT IS ALREADY... u know it... lol

A WAIRUA

Everybody is anonymous in cyber-space... 
but some people... are a lot more anonymous 
than others... who really knows what?

SMART TECHNOLOGY... DUMB USER

This idiot really takes the cake aye...A Wellington man who had 94 videos from up the skirts of 180 women or of them undressing in bathrooms has been given ten months home detention... the old filming up the skirt gig... There's always one idiot out there and this 36-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of making intimate visual recording. I guess thats one of the down sides of having such smart technology... Some people do dumb things with it. Just look at how much pornography is available on the net. With all the benefits modern technology brings... there is also a dark side to the world wide web and governments everywhere need to exercise more control. Easier said than done... but we must try something... doing nothing is getting nowhere.






(check out my facebook page)

RUAUMOKO: THE GOD OF EARTHQUAKES

Ru ana te whenua - the earth starts to tremble

Ruaumoko represents the unborn child and to this day remains inside the womb of his mother Papatuanuku. Originally his parents Rangi and Papa 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 yet. He remained with his mother but Ruaumoko was not exactly happy with his plight either ...or the actions of his older brothers. As his parents were prized apart by Tane Mahuta… there was hardly time to adjust to the separation when a battle began that saw Tawhiri attack his brothers with violent winds and storms. From within his mother Ruaumoko could feel the battle rage above… he felt the pain of his mother as the rain and wind cut deep into her flesh.

As the anger welled up inside him... Ruaumoko began to kick and stomp inside Papa’s womb. This made the earth shake violently and the land rolled and twisted. Thus the unborn child of Rangi and Papa is seen by most as the god of earthquakes, thunder, lightning and volcanic activity. Many believe Ruaumoko turns his mother over to signify the difference between the cold months of winter and the warm months of summer.

Some believe he married the great Hinenuitepo and together they rule the shadows of the underworld. Ruaumoko is known by other names and he remains angry at being left as an unborn child. From time to time he stirs within his mother and causes the land to tremble and shake. Sometimes this causes volcanoes’ to explode into life ...and sometimes it’s the volcanoes that cause the earth to tremble and shake… either way… it’s Ruaumoko at the center of that anger.

On the east coast the earthquake god is summoned by the rousing words of a leader... “Ko Ruaumoko e ngunguru nei” (it is Ruaumoko who roars with anger)…and the people of the land roar in response... Au...Au... Aue ha... and thus they start the famous haka Ruaumoko. -(about the atua who carved their sacred mountain Hikurangi). The power of Ruaumoko can never be ignored… just ask the people of WELLINGTON who continues to witness the destructive power of the earthquake god... Ruaumoko. MAURIORA WHANAU

Tauparapara (part): (no Rongowhakaata)
Kia hoki nei au i runga i te mauri o to tatou nei tipuna ko Ruaumoko… kia pa-patu-i-te-Onekura, Kia pa-patu-i-te-Ahrewa... Ki nga tuahu o te Rangi-tu-Roua o Ruamatua-mai-Hawaiki... Tu a te Kahukura ka tutu te Heihei, Tu a te Kahukura ka tutu te Roki Kahukura a uta, Kahukura a tai, ka pu, ka rea kei waho eeee….Kai to Ariki tapu, to mana whakatiketike, kia hukahukanui, kia hukahuka roa Tupore kau nuku, tupore kaukau e takoto ake nei eee… iii…
Maranga mai ra!, Maranga mai ra!

‪#‎randomactofeducation‬.

READ THE BREIF

In 1981... When I was at Design School in Wellington... we got a brief to present a 10 minute talk on ART. It had to be at least 10 minutes long... it had to be about an art form or artists that influence you... or an aspect that was important in your development etc. We could use as many visual aids as possible including photos... illustrations... diagrams or charts. We should use dates and quotes etc to support our delivery. We had 2-3 weeks to prepare and would have to present to the whole class, our tutors and maybe the head of School. This was an exercise in reading the brief and following instructions.

I spent the next few weeks preparing. Because I was the only Maori in my class/school...I decided to make my presentation about... our meeting house and Maori art. I titled it “Our House... Our History” and focused on the poupou, tukutuku and kowhaiwhai. I used photographs... I used some illustrations... I used diagrams to show the layout etc. I told the story of how the poupou and wooden carvings focused on the people, the whanau and iwi. I told about how the kowhaiwhai and tukutuku patterns focused on the environment etc. I told about the tribal history within the confines of our house.

I was pretty happy with what I prepared and was both nervous and keen to present. On the day... we all headed off to the seminar room to begin what was effectively an exam. No one really wanted to start... except the usual suspects... 3 or 4 of the leading students. There was some pretty good stuff to... a mix of modern art and some of the old masters. Leo Davinci was there... Monet made it there... the one eared guy... Mikey Angelo was there... as was the Bauhaus movement. So many heroes... so many perspectives... so many techniques... it was quite intimidating.

Then it was my turn. I got an gave a pretty good talk on our meeting house and how it had influenced my being... the carvings... the tukutuku... the kowhaiwhai. The audience was in silence... completely focused on my every word. They looked at each other... they looked at my artwork... they looked at the photos. I had about 20 illustrations on my flip chart... and after about 12-13 minutes I had flipped through them all... I made my summary... and finished. They all clapped and cheered... which was truly amazing... cos I said the whole thing in Maori.

Then the teacher said to me... wow... can I get a translation into English? I said NO... not unless everyone else gives me a translation into Maori. He cracked up... looked at me and said true... the brief didn't say it had to be in English did it? ...I got an A+... 

LONG LIVE THE KING

The birth of a little whipper snapper in Great Britain has generated much conversation all around the globe. It seems like a good time to take a good long look at the Royal family and their place in modern NZ. What real value do they add to our lives and how exactly does OUR-tearoa benefit from the COMMONWEALTH. Well I'm not sure about the rest of NZ... but Maori have benefited from the royals via the Treaty of Waitangi.

That treaty signed between IWI and the CROWN is the cornerstone document of our country... and it has given Maori the confidence... and the legal platform to fight for our rights. Our official connection with the Royals began on Feb 6 1840 and every time we celebrate the treaty, we celebrate that relationship. I am worried about the constitution conversation currently in progress. What is motivating that korero?

I wonder what will happen if we become a republic... what will become of the Treaty if the CROWN are no longer part of our structure. Will that impact on our rights. Is this conversation about releasing ourselves from the royal grip... or is it about finding another way round the treaty.
Good luck Will and Kate... and the little guy... nau mai haere mai ki te aomarama