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.

New Beginnings, Old Favorites

When Sue Cullen (then Wetere) approached me about a new programme she wanted to create, I was not initially that excited. I was tired to be honest. I had just finished work for Maori Congress and had been doing research for the then Maori Employment and Training Commission. I just wanted some time out to make pickle.

Sue was never one to be deterred. If she had a 'bee in her bonnet' then we were all going to find it! And so (for my part) in a small pub, on some tissues, I drew out what I thought could work. Sue did the rest. She gathered together a group of remarkable people, who all committed to 'the dream'.

The rest became history - a history that changed my life.

The ability to put together images and writings on subjects that I truely believed and was passionate about was life changing.

The fact that todate over 55,000 other people have participated in either Mahi Ora or Mauri Ora is mind-blowing!

Alot of things have happened over the 10 years of Mahi Ora release, as with life some are good and some are not so good but ALL have contributed to and shaped my future thinking and creative levels.

Wotz Wot is about to embark on a new set of learning models, some short term, some long, some small, some large but ALL will contribute to another generation of educators, learners and life change agents.