In the Beginning Earth Breath on me Earth the cool breath of life Earth the slumbering pūriri Earth the misty valley Earth the departed sun Earth the tingling blue sky Earth the dark sheen of a woman river Earth the mottling tides tumbling ashore Earth the sweeping godwits Earth our home Earth the giving landContinue reading “Words and Music: Earth the slumbering pūriri”
Tag Archives: New Zealand history
Birds, Mana and Maori Culture
Māori iwi have long held beliefs and customs about the native birds of Aotearoa New Zealand. Birds or Ngā Manu had a vital place in Maori tribal life as they provided food, beautiful feathers for adornment and their strengths and personalities were a rich source of metaphor and poetry. Their behaviour was use to predict theContinue reading “Birds, Mana and Maori Culture”
Travel: A roadtrip through the remote Eastern Cape, New Zealand
People seldom visit the Eastern Cape of the #NorthIsland because of its complete isolation from the rest of #NewZealand #Aotearoa. Here are some humble gems from this oft forgotten edge of the world #travel #beach #roadtrip
Day out in Wellington: The Terracotta Warriors at Te Papa Museum
The first week that we moved to Wellington we went to see Te Papa Museum’s landmark exhibition: Terracotta Warriors: Guardians of Immortality. Enshrined in darkness and dim light, the exhibition feels like being submerged into the underworld. The exhibition offers you a rare opportunity to have an intimate and immersive encounter with remarkable treasures from 2,000 years ago, from the tomb of Qin Shihuang, China’s First Emperor. I highly recommend it!
Travel: Wellington’s Chinese New Year Lantern Festival
#Wellington’s annual #Chinese New Year Festival went ahead in early 2020 despite COVID-19. The waterfront became a sea of dancing colours with luminous koi fish, red dragons dancing, and illuminated Māori wahine and much more #travel #NewZealand
Dolphins as Taniwha in New Zealand
Dolphins are mystical beings full of intelligence, compassion and consciousness. For different Māori iwi, dolphins hold sacred significance and they are known as taniwha. They are considered tapu (sacred) and possessing a powerful mauri (lifeforce). What are Taniwha? Taniwha (pron. tan-ee-far) are mysterious creatures that dwell in the sea, rivers, lakes or in caves. TheyContinue reading “Dolphins as Taniwha in New Zealand”
Words and Music: Kua rongo ake au
Kua rongo ake au…. Kia kaha rā te puāwaitanga o tōu kaha Kei konā rā te puāwaitanga o tōu rangatirangatanga I have learned that… We can enjoy our jobs by changing our attitude Always do more than what you’re paid for, One day you’ll be paid for more than you do Kua rongo ake auContinue reading “Words and Music: Kua rongo ake au”
Kaumātua Wisdom: Raparapa
The spiral begins at the marae which is the forum where every word and the silences in between are heard te whare tangata cycle of birth in the whare nui where Rongo of the peaceful arts ascends and connects us to the universe and nature to the propensity to give, receive and return and toContinue reading “Kaumātua Wisdom: Raparapa”
An excellent MTB adventure in Huka Falls, Taupo
Come along with us on this amazing 17 km mountain biking track located close by to the town of Taupo is a scenic loop crossing Huka Falls. There were great panoramic lookout points along the way which feature the powerful Waikato river, bright green belts of forest and tracts of farmland. From atop high vantage points you can spy on somnambulent livestock dotted on the far hills.
Comforting Thought: A cat represents our shared humanity during the worst of times
A cat represents our shared humanity during the worst of times Readers of this blog will remember I reviewed the biographical book about the doomed Karluk and her crew in the enthralling book ‘The Ice Master’ by Jennifer Niven. That book briefly mentions but doesn’t highlight the plight of the plucky feline on board namedContinue reading “Comforting Thought: A cat represents our shared humanity during the worst of times”
Content Catnip 