Comforting Thought: Saying sorry will go a long way

Kuoa rongo ake au… Akakoa iti noa te kuru pounamu He taonga tuku iho kia kaha, kia toa, kia māiai, kia mataara kia manawanui I have learned… A thoughtful note to someone you’ve avoided Saying sorry will go a long way

Phone someone today and say, ’I care…’

Kua rongo ake au… I tēnei rangi tonu toro atu Tōu ringa ki tō tamaiti, whāngaia tōu hinengaro Patua he waea ki tetahi atu, ki atu, ’Ko au e whakaaro nui atu nei, kia kaha’ I have learned… Today reach out  Hug your child Pat a cat, appreciate our country, Phone someone today and say,Continue reading “Phone someone today and say, ’I care…’”

Comforting Thought: Rangimārie

Kua rongo ake au… Mā te karakia me te inoi Me te noho puku Ka tau te rangimārie ki a tātau katoa I have learned that… everyone can do a karakia Kua rongo ake au… Mā te āta katakata āta harikoa anō Mā te hiki ake i te wairua E tau tonu ai te māramatangaContinue reading “Comforting Thought: Rangimārie”

He Waiata Pepeha

Tere mai taku waka Tākitimu e Tū ana te maunga Haumia e Rere ana taku awa Waipaoa e Tau ana te whenua Rāwhiti e Tere mai taku waka Tākitimu e Tū ana te maunga Haumia e Rere ana taku awa Waipaoa e Tau ana te whenua Tūranganui a Kiwa e Tākitimu Haumia Waipaoa e MāhakiContinue reading “He Waiata Pepeha”

Comforting Thought: Destiny doesn’t create success, determination does

Kua rongo aku au.. Ētahi ka tau ki tōna taumata Nā te whai rawa rānei Kō te tini maha ka ū tonu nā te kaha rawa O tē whawhai manawapū I have learned that… Some succeed Because they are destined to But most succeed Because they’re determined to ~ Haare Williams, Words of a Kaumātua

The Sky Bastard Who Ate My Ancestors in New Zealand

Here is another rough diamond plucked from the caverns of Content Catnip’s vault, this post from 2014 and resuscitated for your enjoyment. I still love megafauna just as much, even now. Introducing the Sky Bastard who once sparked universal terror in the hearts of my Māori ancestors. Common Name: Haast’s Eagle Scientific Name: Harpagornis moorei (DiscoveredContinue reading “The Sky Bastard Who Ate My Ancestors in New Zealand”

The Māori Goddess Taranga by Robyn Kahukiwa

In Maori legend, Taranga is the mother of the god Maui and her husband is named Makeatutura. When Maui is born prematurely, Taranga wraps his body in her hair and throws him into the waves. In the ensuing years, sea-creatures care for Maui, hiding him in the sea coral and kelp until one day following aContinue reading “The Māori Goddess Taranga by Robyn Kahukiwa”

The Songs of Tangaroa ~ Ngā Waiata o Tangaroa

Te Au o te Moana Our nation was born in the bosom of the ocean where the sea leans on the land Our stories are intimately written in the narratives of ocean canoes sailings driftings taniwha whirlpools discoveries making our world wider The salt in our veins brought us together to find each other TheContinue reading “The Songs of Tangaroa ~ Ngā Waiata o Tangaroa”

Words and music: Go East To Your Mountain

Go East of your mountain Where he founded a home Rest there – nothing said Rest there – nothing unsaid Go East beyond the swelling Richness of oil, siphoned To a father of a dying majority You might see the clear water Go east to my fortress There look through my mountain Again see theContinue reading “Words and music: Go East To Your Mountain”