Important message and content on COVID-19...

As an indigenous researcher/inquirer, I've been watching a lot of content on the internet to school myself on the Coronavirus that we now know as COVID-19. Of all the information that I've skimmed through, I would highly recommend this video for understanding the virus from a medical, research and non-partisan viewpoint.

It also show the difference between the stance of the west and the perspective of Asian countries who seem to be fairly better than the European and now USA. This partly because of cultural differences but also in their political differences in that what is now happening to the US might be just the tip of the iceberg if Italy is anything to go by i.e. attitude on social distancing, closing borders, lockdowns etc.

Some of these measures seem extreme but as this medical researcher explained, this is like biological warfare with an enemy (COVID-19) that has unique properties that scientists, researchers and medical professionals are only coming to terms within the last 3 months and an even shorter period for NZ.

I am so thankful for our current Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern and her quick response to this pandemic which is, as many have described, is bringing the world to its knees with now some 192/195 countries affected around the world.

This is definitely no laughing matter and although those in their twenties have higher rates of infection with some being more blaze and cavalier about recovering quickly from the virus, they actually put others in danger by unknowingly carrying the virus to older age groups who are more susceptible of succumbing to the virus and dying due to complications.

It also sets in motion our response as mothers and fathers, aunties and uncles, children of elders etc. on how we can prepare ourselves and our families as best we can and have a better understanding of what we can do within our own households to stay safe...

Be safe, be kind...

Before our family went into lockdown, four days ago, our youngest wrote a little note for us as an encouragement which I thought to share with you today.

It's a reminder about being kind to each other whilst sharing time together in an intimate space and also being mindful and safe especially if going outside or shopping, taking a walk etc.

Some of the new languaging that I've learned over the last few weeks since COVID-19 or Coronavirus became a very real part of our lives includes:

• bubble - an imagined sphere that surrounds you and the immediate people who are living with you during the lockdown.
• social distancing - keeping your distance (around 2 metres) from others.
• pandemic - an epidemic (an outbreak of a disease or virus etc. that has spread within a geographical area) that has spread throughout countries and continents that has affected a large population.
• lockdown - remaining 'locked' within your home and in your 'bubble' as directed by the government in order to control the virus by not infecting others through social interactions.
• flattening the curve - bringing about means such as 'social distancing' in order to not have so many people catching the virus and steepening the curve (a statistical graphic). Fewer people infected means a flatter curve.
• community transmission - this is a concern for any government in that this means that a person/people have caught the virus within a community and is not traceable as to how they received it i.e. usually through travel, or infected by someone that they know.

There are probably more terms that you've come across but these come to mind with a reminder once again to keep in touch with your loved ones and neighbours especially those who are in the vulnerable group of the elderly over 65 years and those with health conditions etc.

As yesterday, with my brother in Melbourne, who video called us through Messenger, as a group, with my brother in Sydney, my sister and mum a few blocks away and sharing about what's happening in Australia with people working from home and the lockdown in NZ, it just brought us one step closer in supporting and sharing with each other but what's happening and sending our love to our families overseas.

An important time to reach out and contact those who might otherwise be lonely, scared or depressed in these uncertain times. Love and God's blessings of protection be with us all...

Diary - Day 1 of Lockdown...

Last night I decided to write a day by day diary of my experiences during this unprecedented time of the Lockdown as expressed by another writing on Facebook.

What the writer wrote about that made me think about doing the same was that it was like those who kept diaries during the various World Wars which allowed people to know how they were feeling and what they were thinking or going through to read later or to pass on to grandchildren and great-grandchildren etc. in later years of this event.

I also think it may also help those who like to express their feelings on paper rather than out loud and it gives time to consider what's going on in light of all the media hype and doomsday messages some are sharing.

In my diary, I've got space for things that I'm going to be doing during this lockdown period and they are categorized as:

• Spiritual i.e. daily devotions, prayers, inspirational reading etc.
• Creative eg. writing, creating poetry and artworks, colouring, painting, drawing etc.
• Physical eg. going for walks outside, exercising, moving furniture as in housework, dancing around, cleaning and tidying etc.
• Academic/Mental eg. Phd rangahau/research work, reading academic articles, books, writing paragraphs etc.
• Health i.e. Healthy foods recipes and cooking, catching up with lots of sleep, resting and relaxing etc.
• Emotional eg. connecting with my family and friends through Facebook, texting, messenger, listening to music and singing/dancing along etc.

This is just a shortlist that is not exhaustive but something to think about especially in not getting bored over this time as for me four weeks isn't enough time to do all the things that I can think of to catch up on and to create during this time but also being mindful that this will not be an easy time for others who are doing it hard during this time...

Faith and calm in the face of a storm...

Bible stories by Maria Tauau 

In this time of uncertainty, it's a good time to consider what and how to share with children, in your family, of hope in these seemingly dark times of rising death tolls of COVID-19 victims, repeated messages about washing and decontaminating surfaces and the list goes on.

Instead of the many negative and scary stories that are being shared daily in very real-time, each night I read a bedtime story/stories to our youngest of biblical stories that share hope in times of darkness and always of light overcoming darkness i.e. a universal phenomenon.

We also have daily discussions to check into how she's, and the others, are feeling especially in light of the urgency of the Level 3 Alert stage that NZ is as we get ready within the next couple of days towards a full lockdown (from midnight Wednesday).

I also wanted to share an untitled artwork that my lil' sis' (Maria Tauau, 2019) drew last year, depicting different biblical stories within the shape of a cross. This is the time that many people will draw strength from their faith circles and we both have strong both that's been forged over the years.

We're also considering a two-women art exhibition at some stage during her two year Masters in Applied Indigenous Knowledge studies that started this year but that's on hold whilst we, as a family and nation, follow through with our government's instructions to self-isolate for the next 4 weeks at the very least.

Beyond that our prayers for one another as well as being kind to one another is very important in the coming days...

Church at home and prayerful...

Viewing www.https://ncov2019.live for International statistics on COVID19

This week I'm spending church at home with the unprecedented move of many churches, where 100+ people who congregate together have been banned, so some churches who already have online platforms are streaming their services live for their faithful viewers and others are considering YouTube videos of their pastors/ministers for their congregations.

I'm also mindful that as I live in the relative safety of my home in South Auckland, NZ, isolated islands in the southern hemisphere, but there are countries overseas that are battling bravely against what they would have deemed a plague in days of old.

Italy, in particular, has lost over 4,000 people to COVID19 (coronavirus), topping China where the virus was believed to have originated from and between 31 - 33% of people worldwide have recovered from this disease as some have succumbed to the illness and others are still in serious conditions.

In viewing www.https://ncov2019.live, a website that was developed by a 17 year old in Seattle, this young man was able to sweep information from various countries' websites from around the world to give an interesting picture of how this virus to affecting our countries all over the world.

As an indigenous researcher, (former geographer) I use quantitative and qualitative information that is available to me from all difference sources to inform the decisions that I make personally and also for the consideration of those around me to keep them informed as well.

From this website, I've learnt a lot in that 172 of 195 countries in the world have been infected and that one can also check the countries in real time (at the time of the data being updated for each country) of the devasting affect that this virus is having of sweeping around the world leaving devastation in its wake.

It reminds me of the research that I did for a book that we released last year called 'The 1918 deadly epidemic in Samoa' in that hundreds died but the difference was that many did not know of the what to do to curb the devastation and again it affected mainly the mature adults and not so much the young.

Therefore, it gives a picture of how very real the concerns are and that even though NZ is at the second stage of a level 4 stage of the virus of affecting NZ, parents of children and caregivers of our most vulnerable our elder seniors need to heed the very real advice of social distancing, regular handwashing with soap and staying home. All of this with a lot of prayers...

Celebrations in unprecedented times...

Birthday cake from the Cheesecake shop

This week we celebrated our youngest's 9th birthday in unprecedented times. We had to make the decision between having her celebrations at the pools as we had planned or to have a small family celebration with social distancing encouraged from the threat of coronavirus.

After some discussion, we decided to have both with the first at the pools for only a short time with portable party foods to take home for those wanting to come and go, and then continued our celebrations at home with three generations.

Our youngest had such a great time with friends and family whilst enjoying her day despite our earlier reservations. It's still something that I would carefully consider before going ahead in these uncertain times but it seemed okay at the time.

However, since then the status of NZ has been lifted to a stage 2 level of concern with social distancing encouraged and now groups of over 100 people banned. Therefore church services have been stopped with alternative arrangements made and group meetings have been postponed until further notice.

Schools at this time are still open with Early childhood centres encouraged to stay open and to have individuals who are sick stay home but I've decided to have my children stay home and glad that the Uni that our eldest goes to has decided to go to online forums to deliver lectures and notes etc.

My workplace has also encouraged me to work from home and to deliver my first class via a digital platform so will be busy this weekend working on zoom lessons, a Facebook class page, Google classroom and our TWOA Te Wananga o Aotearoa digital platform called 'iakoranga' all of which I've been using (Google classroom sparingly) since last year.

So for now, no more birthday celebrations for another couple of months until May but with Easter just around the corner, we'll see what this holds for our families in the face of the impending COVID19 (coronavirus)...

Importance of Early childhood education centres...

Our middle daughters red velvet cupcakes

Yesterday was a big day for our Aoga Fa'ata'ita'i (Samoan ECE Early childhood education) centre in our local PIC Mangere church in hosting our first fundraiser for the centre since joining the board.

My task was to design the tickets and posters with some social media promo and cooking the chicken as well as asking our middle child to bake red velvet cupcakes for the occasion which was a bonus.

A big THANK YOU!!! to all who were able to attend and who supported our cause as we plan and look forward to the months ahead with an ERO Education Review office visit as well as sharing thoughts and ideas for upgrading our aoga.

What I've noticed in the past few years is the number of Early childhood centre business franchises that have popped up around Mangere that provide generic services for local families' daycare for their pre-school aged children.

For my children growing up, my top priorities were to have my children at a centre/s that were local, with similar cultural and Christian values as well as a safe and caring environment. For the educators to be able to share in the Samoan language, songs and Christian values was very important to me as they were the teachers then become like parents to our little ones whilst we are away at work.

I believe that I was blessed to have our local church provide that Samoan and Christian ECE care for our daughters with many neat memories and I want to ensure that that service continues for many other local families wanting the same for their beloved treasures.

However, with the many new centres that I see, I would encourage mothers or caregivers to look beyond the new facilities, the pick-up and drop off, food provided and to observe the care that is given to the children as in the Christian and cultural values/principles that may or may not be taught to children as it's often spoken about how the first three years of a child's life are when a child learn's exponentially and when many things are hard-wired into their personality, learning etc.

The ways that the staff interact with parents and children i.e. the tone of the ECE centre and the ways that children interact with each other. The reason why I write this is that our children are very precious and vulnerable in any situation but with the corporate centres they need us to be vigilant in their observations of what is going on...

Preparations for 2020 Polyfest...

Mt Roskill Grammar Tongan group Fiefie night 2020

Preparations are well underway for Polyfest 2020 with high school groups in Auckland gearing up for competitions (and non-comp groups) with songs finely tuned, dance moves and choreography brushed up to it's finest and uniforms with finesse.

Last night my family supported our middle child in her Tongan group's Fiefie (Happy) night where the group performed for their family, school and friends in the school hall. They raised over $8,000 and gifted some to their fine tutor, Mafi.

I'm definitely looking forward to watching her dance on the Tongan stage come next week Friday well the competitions ramp up at the Manukau Sports Bowl. I'll definitely be busy with people from all corners of Auckland swarming into Manukau to view and cheer for their favourite groups.

However, we have also been told to go on standby in case there is an outbreak in Auckland of the coronavirus and the Polyfest is called off, much like the Christchurch shootings of last year, that stopped the Polyfest from proceeding the day after the shootings.

I'm really proud of our middle in joining the Tongan group as the Samoan group is more competitive and demands auditions but the Tongan group is open to all and as our eldest performed in the Tongan group last year, it's becoming a family tradition with our next child following suit.

The other neat thing is that students are also able to gain NCEA National certificate of educational achievement from their dance with many gaining Excellence credits from the time and effort that they have put into perfecting the moves for the dances.

With the Polyfest being the largest Polynesian dance festival in the world kicking off on Wed 18th March (which also happens to be the birthday of our youngest) it's going to be interesting to see if it is called off as a precautionary measure of the virus that's sweeping through China and Europe, and now American.

Only time will tell...

'Tu i luga' Stand up - by Kapa haka group...

https://www.facebook.com/TeNamuHuia/videos/500392470887684/?t=7
(highlight and right-click to view this video)

Yesterday I was told by a colleague (thanks Kristen) at work that a Maori Kapa Haka (dance and singing) group had performed a special tribute performance on a competition stage to those had passed away during the measles outbreak last year.

The kapa haka group sang a stirring rendition of Lole Usoalii (one of my favourite Samoan female artists) song 'Tu i luga' stand up which brought tears as I reflect on some of the difficult events in Samoa's history and recently the measles epidemic that took 83 lives last year.

When I read the info around the song, I thought that it was written in 2009 after the Tsunami hit Samoa but then found out that it was written in 1997 as a tribute for those Samoans fighting outside of Samoa (in the armed forces?).

Here are the lyrics that I attempted to translate from an unfinished one that was posted on the internet. Enjoy...

Rise - Tu i Luga

Lole Usoalii

Mua ina mua

Mua o, mua o, mua o (x 2)

Samoa lau atunuu pele                                     Samoa my beloved country
E le galo oe i taimi faigata                                (I) won’t forget you in difficult times
Tumau pea lau gagana                                     Remain still in your language
Fausia pea lou va'a                                           Still build your canoes
Faamalosi                                                         Be strong

Manatua pea aso anamua                               Still remember ancient days
Fa'aaloalo i tagata matutua                              Respect to elderly people
Fa'avae oe i le Atua                                         You are founded on God
Aua lava e te fo'i i tua                                       Don’t you ever go back
Talofa e, Samoa e                                            Poor Samoa
Tupulaga fo'i mai                                              Youth return back

Chorus:

Tu i luga i lou malosi                                        Stand up in your strength
Aua e te fefe i le oti                                          Don’t be afraid of death
O le Atua e, puipui oe                                      God will protect you
Iesu o le leoleo mamoe                                   Jesus is the shepherd
Fa'amalosi                                                       Be strong

(x 2)

This is the story of my warrior people
This is the story of all Polynesia
Where the warriors rule and reign
Born as warriors and died as kings

Samoa e

I wanna thank you for my freedom

I give thanks for a certain destiny

Cos you fought and died for me

Showed the world to live in peace

FaaSamoa

Teine Samoa (Samoan girls)

Outou tama toa (You brave men)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

(Chorus)

$10 Supper tickets fundraising this Saturday...

$10 Supper tickets on sale to view our Aoga and pick up Suppers :)

It's that time in my life again, since joining the Board of our church's (Mangere PIC) Samoan aoga (Early childhood school) and getting back into fundraising and supporting our teachers in working together on our Strategic plan, annual plan, board plan etc. Never a dull moment. (Thanks to Alice for supporting :)

I've even thought to add a cupcake as a bonus to the rice, sapasui, bottled water and chicken that's on the menu to satisfy those with a sweet tooth. Everyone is welcome to come and pick up a $10 supper and then meet with the Board and our helpers as well as to have a look around our Aoga.

I can also bring along some Samoan or European music for those who like to siva (dance) and we can all have a kanikani (the word Maori for dance). So hopefully the weather will hold up for the weekend for the BBQ'd chicken that we're planning.

I must say that we've come a long way since our Aoga first opened in 2002/3 in the new building which was purpose built for three schools i.e. Cook Islands, Niuean and Samoan. When I and Ulalei, Alice, Ae and others were on the first new komiti before it was officially opened and our eldest attended with my mum taking her (she's now first year at Uni).

But then I'm reminded that our Aoga is even older in that it started back in the early 1980s (maybe even late 1970s) and our present Chairperson was on the first komiti (committee) back then as well which is neat for continuity. At that time the aoga used the Hall No.1 for the children and mothers, grandmothers, aunties etc. would attend. That's also where my youngest sister Maria attended who is now studying on her first year Masters degree.

It's so neat to know that our aoga has been so central to the lives of our young children with our youngest leaving the aoga in 2015 when turning 5 years old and she still says that it was her best school ever and that's why I'm there supporting and continuing the legacy of our aoga fa'aSamoa...

International Women's day commemorations...

Today Google acknowledges International Women's day

In case you didn't already know, today as in March 8th is International Women's day. It is a day that commemorates and encourages worldwide discrimination against women to end.

This year in New Zealand, we celebrate 125 years since women were given the opportunity to vote alongside their male counterparts.

In fact, New Zealand was the first country in the world to officially allow women the right to vote. This was years before America or even Britain gave women the freedom to vote as they were still treated in many respects as second class citizens, the weaker sex with sexism in society accepted as the norm.

This is no longer the case with many movements that now uphold the right for women to no longer be marginalized in politics, workplaces, education, health, and in domestic violence in homes etc. which for years was sanctioned as the norm.

There are still many hate crimes against women but it is no longer being tolerated as a norm, as there are now higher standards expected within the workplace i.e. anti sexual harrassment laws, anti domestic violence in homes and no longer the acceptance of women as being second class citizens.

Truly something worth commemorating as we have come a long way but there is still a long way to go. So don't forget to do something special for that special woman/women in your life who give so much, and ask for so little so that you can do something big in your life. Have a blessed Sunday...

"Generational Echoes"...

Our youngest with my parents 'a generational echo'...

This has been another busy week with so much to do and so little time but we do what we can with what time and resources we have. Thank you God!

Last night I was able to take my parents to see their granddaughter at her Siva (dance) Samoa practice with Elei dance at Te Puke Hall in Otara.

They've only been here for a short time and plan to celebrate her birthday mid-month but will fly back to Samoa by the end of the month so they'll miss the dance performance but they did get the chance to watch her in action with the many girls who were dancing with her and their parents/guardians.

What was so neat about this journey was in consideration of our next Mana Mangere writers' publication I have been consciously aware of much of the knowledge and understandings that my parents hold, now both in their eighties, that this precious knowledge and love needs to be passed onto the next generation.

What has been a blessing has been for them to see are the values that they passed onto their children being now passed onto their grandchildren and that's when "generational echoes" that have been passed down to us from our forefathers and foremothers through our parents and their parents are exampled.

I first heard this concept through a discussion by our senior Ps Paul de Jong this year at our Life South church and it resonated with me and when I started considering what we might write about from last year's discussion with our writers' group, I knew it to be about the importance of this idea of shared inter-generational understandings and ensuring that those things of importance are shared between generations while there is the time...

First time serving holy communion as an Elder...

I'm the one with the hat

Today was the first Sunday that I served communion as an Elder at our local PIC Mangere church. The interesting thing for me was that for over 50 years, I had watched my father and many other Elders over the years serve holy communion at my local church and finally it was my turn.

The significance for me was that it was something that I had wondered about all these years. The mystique of seeing the red drink symbolic of the sacrificial blood of Jesus and the bread being the body of Christ.

This is not meant to be a sermon but it has been an important part of my Christian life since being born again many years ago, in that, it reminds us that Jesus gave of his life for our sin i.e. in the empty cross that many still wear.

I am so encouraged that I now stand in a legacy that many people have stood in for many years and that my father got to see me serving as he has in returning back from Samoa just this week with my mother.

Again, I give thanks to an amazing God who allows us to experience these things without us ever planning for it and I was surprised to see our youngest taking photos as she was also aware of the significance of this moment for my family.

Although I must say that I was a bit nervous, having been my first time, and I walked out of the service far too early and then when I was heading out in the line to walk into church, I accidentally opened the door too far and almost fell over myself. Thanks be to God, just to remind me to walk humbly with my God.

But it was neat with all the ritual of serving the bread and then the drink with accompanying Elders from the Cook Islands and Niuean group - not to mention that my good friend and prayer partner over the years i.e. Cecily of Niuean descent was also blessed in becoming an Elder from the Niue EKLS.

So many abundant blessings today...