I was recently talking to students about whakapapa - genealogy.

I explained that when a woman is pregnant she is referred to as being hapū. By doing this, the child within her is recognised as belonging to multiple sets of whānau - families.

The embryo as it forms, is given structure and substance by iwi or bones. Ko iwi, ko iwi is a saying that recognises 'bone calling to bone'. Family, like blood/DNA, will always return together. Iwi further gives reference to the nation-hood of the child.

The act of birth is known as whānau. From the moment the child takes its 1st breath it becomes and belongs to a group of people that love and are responsible for its 'best life'.

The placenta that has fed it within the womb is called whenua. Whenua references land and all the bounty it supplies human-kind with.

Whaka-papa places these layers together within and without. It connects us to nations, to lands, to collections of people and to those more intimate in our upbringing.

To me it is the foundation of all existence and as a woman I carry the honor and history of those whaea tipuna before me and birth, through my daughter, their continuation through moko-puna.

He taonga, He moko-puna!
Our absolute treasures, the reflections of our fore-bearers!
A joy to behold and to spend time with.