Kaumātua wisdom: I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific

Kaumātua wisdom: I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific

Kua rongo ake au…

Kia tau te whakaaro pai

Aroha tētahi ki tētahi, āhurutia ā tātau tamariki

Ki te aroha, nā, he aroha pai ano hoki mōu ake

I have learned that…

It makes good sense to say

We are here to learn to love one another

And for the sake of our children, accept ourselves.  

Moa - Birds, Mana and Maori Culture
Moa – Birds, Mana and Maori Culture

Kuo rongo ake au…

Ko au puāwaitanga o te kākano

I ruia mai i Rangiatea e kore au

E ngaro noa

I have learned that…

I’m a seed scattered across the Pacific

From my ancient home of Tawhiti

I will therefore never ever be lost

The Maori legend of Pania: Kaitiaki and taniwha of the reef retold in street art
The Maori legend of Pania: Kaitiaki and taniwha of the reef retold in street art

From Words of a Kaumātua by Haare Williams, edited by Witi Ihimaera

Dr Haare Williams MNZM has been Dean of Māori Education and Māori Advisor to the Chief Executive at Unitec. He was General Manager of Aotearoa Radio. He set up a joint venture with the South Seas Film and Television School to train Te Reo speakers as producers and operators in film and television. He has worked closely with iwi claimant communities and was responsible for waka construction and assembly at Waitangi for the 1990 commemorations. He has published poetry, exhibited painting and written for film and television. He was a cultural advisor for the Mayor of Auckland and is Amorangi at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Published by Content Catnip

Content Catnip is a quirky internet wunderkammer written by an Intergalactic Space Māori named Content Catnip. Join me as I meander through the quirky and curious aspects of history, indigenous spirituality, the natural world, animals, art, storytelling, books, philosophy, travel, Māori culture and loads more.

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