35 year Anniversary for TWOA...

I'm really blessed to be a part of an organization that supports second chance learning and giving Maori, Pasifika and other minority adults a chance in an educational setting that can positively impact the family and often transformational too.

Since 2010, I joined the organization as a Student support advisor in helping to advise or support students in their academic work (particularly the degree and Masters students) and then also helping them with applying for financial aid from the government, or scholarships or applying for jobs with new CVs.

My role has since changed to teaching (and learning) through Indigenous research which was my goal when I first left Uni those many years ago in wanting to continue researching but now in a more genuine way through connecting with indigenous ways of thinking which is so refreshing!

Yesterday marked the 35th Anniversary since the Wananga became officially recognised as a tertiary education entity and I've come to respect the pioneers who came together and risked so much so that others would benefit from their sacrifice i.e. using their houses as collateral for the building loans whilst the government, at the time, took it's time recognising it.

Now it boasts thousands of students each year joining in and often moving onto better jobs or more opportunities, positively impacting the family financially too. It has also allowed me to grow in my thinking about the differences between research and indigenous research which is a more powerful influencer and informer...

First online class using zoom...

Today was my first day of online classes using 'Zoom' for my Tikanga (cultural practices) with Indigenous Research (Rangahau) class.

What was interesting about using this platform was needing to have the ability to move between multiple screens whilst talking with students and anticipating the next documents that need to be shared.

It's not difficult to do but it does require focusing and requires multi-tasking skills and remembering to share the screen that the students will see. It's also important to ensure that the videos that have been embedded into the powerpoint is also able to be heard on screen (note to self).

It's a platform that I've been using for the last couple of years and I'd highly recommend it for digital meetings i.e. non-contact where each person's screen (through the device's camera) shows up on your screen. So that it can cater for a two-person zoom or even for an audience of over one hundred using multiple screens.

This really changes the face of teaching in that one doesn't even have to be face to face in the teacher/learner relationship. However, the downside of it is having to sit in one place and trying to focus whilst carefully listen when there are other things happening around you or trying to focus on the lesson when you'd rather be sleeping.

Another advantage of the zoom is that you can be in your PJs and no one would know if you decide not to share your screen or you could even upload an avatar and no one would know what was happening behind the screen.

Suffice to say that it was a very interesting day with many lessons learned by both the student and the teacher...

End of Lock down, Alert level 4 to 3...

Today marks the 33rd day and the last day of our National COVID-19 at Alert level 4. Tonight at midnight we go to level 3 with some leniency on the restrictions including allowing food outlets with drive-thru or pick up/drop off capabilities that are contact-free. Although I must say that I haven't missed takeout food one bit and have saved some funds as well.

Today was a commemoration of ANZAC day although it was officially on Saturday 25 April annually. Although there was quite a difference with the Lockdown restrictions that many stayed at home and had special commemoration celebrations within their bubble.

Today for our family devotion, my beloved shared this song on screen so that we could follow along with it. It also happens to be a nice version of this being my favourite worship song, especially with the harmonies too.

This music reminds me that although we are still stepping out during these uncertain times, we can still have faith that there is someone watching over us as in a "way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness... my God that is who you are". It's about never giving up!...

Thankfulness in Day 28 of Lockdown...

We're now into Day 28 of our national lockdown that was supposed to finish at midnight tonight but with Monday's announcement, from our Prime Minister, that it was being extended for a further 6 days, I did heave a deep sigh of relief.

Not that we would be opening soon but that we would be given a further few days to consider what to do as we work towards the level 3 alert stage of our national response to COVID-19. We are still being encouraged to work from home, to homeschool online and social distance keeping our 'bubble' safe with essential travel only.

Compared to nations overseas such as USA, Italy, France, Spain and the UK etc. who have suffered heavy losses of citizens to this virus I feel we still need to step cautiously into level 3 as we haven't yet managed to stamp out the virus totally from our shores unlike many of the Pacific Islands to date.

As I went out for a shopping trip yesterday, I was surprised to see so many cars on the road and even on the motorway as I passed by overhead. I guessed that with the announcement of an impending opening of lockdown level 4 next week, many have also relaxed and are making travel arrangements beyond what's deemed essential.

As a parent with elderly parents, I'll still be trying to keep my children at home for as long as possible as well as working from home and keeping our bubble contained as much as possible as there is still an element of risk with Auckland having the most cases of the virus since the lockdown.

Our thanks and appreciation go to all the essential workers i.e. doctors, nurses, supermarket staff, delivery workers etc. who have daily risked their lives in being outside their bubble, during the lockdown, to support our nation.

There should be more given to them in a show of appreciation as many wouldn't have had the choice to work as being more of a necessity. Having been in that situation, many years ago before having a family, I deeply appreciate their circumstances and hope for blessings upon their families in these uncertain times...

Faith, Hope and Love movie trailer...

During our national lockdown, I've managed to bake more than I usually do, spend quality time with my children more than at work and watch many interesting movies on Netflicks, more than I usually do amongst other things.

One movie that my beloved chose to watch on the weekend with me is called 'Faith, Hope and Love'. It was an interesting movie because it featured an Australian actress/dancer as the leading lady (I could instantly tell by her accent) and she played the part of a divorced dance studio owner who was single and needed a dance partner to help pay for renovation for her dance studio.

The other interesting feature was that Christian (Catholic?) themes were discussed throughout the movie with references to Christian history, praying together, bible studies etc. that are often not seen in contemporary films.

I'd highly recommend this movie as a light-hearted film about two single people coming together initially to fulfil the quest of winning a dance competition but ultimately winning the heart of the other and they lived happily ever after (sorry spoiler alert after the fact!)...

Wedding Anniversary of 56 years...

Wedding Anniversary of 56 years of Mr & Mrs U. F. L. Tauau

This week my family celebrated the 56th Wedding Anniversary of my parents with many digital well wishes from their children, grandchildren and great, grandchildren in Australia, Samoa and New Zealand etc.

Even though we're not able to all be together at this time with lockdowns and border closures internationally, we are so thankful to God for this special couple who have been a powerful witness of what faith, hope and love can accomplish.

My parents met back in 1963 when my father was working on the Tofua ship, sailing between Samoa, Fiji and NZ, and my mother was emigrating to NZ.

It must have been a bit exciting and scary for her as she was the first in her family to leave for NZ but as he took her bags to her shared cabin, he must have reassured her that all would be well and they kept in contact since then and the rest, they say, is history.

My parents are now both in their 80s and we thank God for every day in every year that we're able to spend together with them. They have especially been a blessing in my life in instilling a powerful faith witness in the importance of working together in marriage and in being blessed with their shared talents as a creative and teacher (my mum) and as an organizer and leader (my dad).

I also believe that the DNA that they share into the next generations will also carry on their faithful and loving legacy that my children and my siblings' children have and may God continue to bless them all their days...

Risen - Easter Sunday Hope...

Today, I wake up to new hope with the promise of Easter Sunday that after the present darkness there is light and life. This weekend I was able to watch with my family a 2016 movie called "Risen" on Netflix.

I had been searching to watch Mel Gibson's (director) "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) movie as I couldn't find our DVD copy and came across "Risen" in my Easter search. It gives an interesting perspective on the Easter story (although some graphic scenes in the beginning i.e. violence etc.)

It also features versatile Maori actor Cliff Curtis (I still remember him from 'Once were Warriors' movie debut) as Jesus and opens up at the time around Jesus' crucifixion and what it may have been like in the political situation after the empty tomb of Easter Sunday.

I hope this is a movie that gives hope at a time when many might feel disconnected to God because of the worry of why bad things can happen to good/innocent people. For me there's an understanding that where there is good, there is also evil - but remain in Hope, Faith and Love...

Easter Friday reflections on Day 16 of Lockdown...

The cross as symbolic of my Christian faith

This Easter Friday there are many things to reflect upon in Day 16 of our COVID-19 Lockdown. As Christians, this will be the first time that many believers have not had the opportunity to worship together with friends and family on this special day.

This morning, I, like many Christians around the world traded in attending an Easter service for watching it online. For me it was watching our Senior Paster Paul de Jong on www.lifenz.org

For my family and I, it's a time of acknowledging the powerful story of our faith in the Easter story starting from the Passover and then in remembrance of the last supper, the betrayal, the crucifixion of Jesus and then the ultimate Resurrection.

The 'Stations of the cross' are another timely reminder of the Easter story as observed in other church faiths i.e. Catholic and Anglican etc. and I, unfortunately, was not able to attend our annual 'The Watch' which is a contemplative session before Easter but will be observing www.lifenz.org/easterwatch

It's also a time to reflect on what is currently happening around the world with the fight against COVID-19 coronavirus and how there are many frontline workers who are sacrificing their lives for the lives of many.

This is a time of prayer to be thankful for our health and also praying for protection for those who are working directly with those who are sick and especially for those who have lost loved ones to this novel virus that is no respecter of persons.

As far as the National NZ strategy goes it has cautiously been lauded as a success insofar as in comparison with other nations who locked down later with higher death tolls. Although behind every statistic there is an individual, a family and a story. It's for these nations with their high death tolls that we will be praying for...

Thoughts and prayers to families around the world due to this pandemic...

COVID-19 Letterbox drop

Day 13 of Lockdown and still keeping busy with much to do but our prayers and thoughts to go families in USA and especially in New York, the new epicentre where a very real pandemic war is waging against the COVID-19 virus.

Our prayers also go out to families in Spain, Italy, France and Germany and other places in the world where families are losing loved ones to this very present scourge and an invisible enemy that is no respecter of persons and is taking the young but especially the older generation and those with health preconditions.

I'm thankful that our nation locked down earlier and that we are not looking at such a large death toll as comparable to other nations but the end is still not yet in sight as over one thousand people in New Zealand have tested positive with the Coronavirus with more to come.

I think it's also good to see that many in our nation and around the world are taking this situation very seriously with empty streets apart from those going too and from work as essential workers and people going on minimised shopping trips for home basics and a quick exercise in a local area in order to save lives.

The world has certainly changed in less than a month and I don't think it will ever be the same again. I know for our family, that it has brought us closer but also mindful of the space that we need in being able to do our own thing and then come together as a family to share in a devotion and lifting up others in prayer with full acknowledgment that there are those frontline workers who are putting their own lives at risk in order to save lives.

 As we are currently in Alert level 4, in a recent letterbox drop every family in NZ received information about the four levels at which we are currently functioning with discussions underway as to when we will move back to a level 3 status.

We only have to look at Wuhan China to see that although they were locked down for over two months, there is still some uncertainty in opening up with fear of a second wave of infections hitting the population that could be even more difficult to contain if the right measures aren't taken into effect. It seems as if the world needs a miracle right now...

Day 10 Lockdown and reflecting on Samoa in 1918...

Illustration from 'The 1918 deadly epidemic in Samoa'

Day 10 of Lockdown and reflecting on what happened around 102 years ago in 1918, in Samoa, with the Flu epidemic/pandemic reaching the shores via a boat i.e. SS Talune from Auckland, New Zealand.

One of the reasons I wanted to write the story of my late great grandfather who died as a result of the epidemic, was that I wanted people to know about that devastating historical event that was almost forgotten and how it wreaked havoc upon Samoa for generations to come i.e. many families are not aware of some ancestral lines because of the missing information from that generation.

Now the numbers make more sense with Samoa losing around 10,000 people as the estimates that were given (illustration is shown of the information that was printed at the time) were believed to have been conservative saying that 20% of the population died as a result whereas I believe that it would have been more with a quarter of the population dying.

I was also in contact with a New Zealand journalist who lived in Samoa and believed it to be closer to one-third of the population. Now with the pandemic spreading from China and killing so many in Italy, Spain, USA and now making its way to the Southern hemisphere, we are reminded that even with the technological advancements in knowledge and medicine that this biological warfare has ended the lives of many but with still many more recovering that there is hope that a vaccine, antibodies or another cure/vaccine, etc. from those cured of the infection could help to save lives.

We are blessed to have information that now helps us to consider social distancing, isolation, staying in a bubble, washing hands with soap and water, keeping away from surfaces that could be harbouring the virus, testing for the virus, 2-metres distancing between people in queues etc. that my great grandfather's generation didn't have...

One week since Lockdown...

Empty local streets and parks

Yesterday, I emerged out of the house at 1pm and decided to get some fresh air and a change of scenery on Day 6 of our Lockdown. I took our youngest out for a bike ride with me accompanying her on foot and it was quite eerie to see lots of cars parked outside of homes but no sign of movement outside of homes.

Very little traffic passed us and no one else was walking out in the heat and when we did see one family exchanging pleasantries with a parked car with passengers outside their driveway, we decided to cross the road and maintain the two-metre social distancing recommendation. We only saw a couple of families with children outside but many were on lockdown in their houses.

After walking around out block, the heat was too much for our youngest and so we decided to head back home and passed the corner park that is usually occupied with children but from a distance, we could see a white sign written in red that it was prohibited to be on (not that we were going to go there in the first place). Needless to say, there were no children on that park.

What this has done for my extended family is that many are reaching out and calling in and checking on my elderly parents, messaging, video chatting and texting from all over Auckland and overseas in seeing how everyone is and how each is managing.

Our prayers and thoughts go out to those in the front line of this silence war: the shopkeepers, supermarket workers, shelf fillers, the doctors and nurses, sanitation workers, medical suppliers, those in the food supply chain, electric and internet providers etc. and the list goes on for all those still working in the essential services to ensure that for those of us who are on lockdown - that we continue to stay home and save lives too!...