Showing appreciation to Doctors and Nurses...

Yesterday, spent a good part of the morning looking for flowers and bouquets which was very difficult to find under alert level 3 with most florists closed and those stores who were open weren't stocking any live flowers or plants at all.

These were due to some instructions that I'd been given by my dad to pick up some flowers as a token of his appreciate to the nurses and doctors who had kindly looked after him whilst he was in hospital for a short operation.

He was discharged yesterday and now taking it easy at home with some R and R. Anyway, my lil' sister and I ended up making up a bouquet ourselves and picking up some live plants and a 'Favourites' chocolate tin.

As under level 3 there is only one nominated visitor per patient, my sister was the one who was able to share my dad's thanks as well as ours as a family for the loving and caring support of our father during his time away at the hospital. 

 My sister said that they were so happy that they even ripped into the chocolate tin and had a ball choosing their 'Favourite'. This was a beautiful gesture on behalf of my father as I know that many nurses often work long and late hours away from their families and this is something that I want to do if ever I go to the hospital.

May God bless them in the good works that they do for others and may many more show their appreciation for the blessings and support that they are for many...

Pepeha a beautiful Maori cultural concept ...

Pepeha is a Maori cultural practice or tikanga that I have found to be a beautiful way of connecting people to their ancestry and historical natural landscape/s through identifying those environmental markers that resonate with them.

Usually beginning with identifying a mountain and then a body of water through to ancestral links, the captain of their ancestral waka (large canoe that their people came to Aotearoa in), the iwi or larger tribal group that they belong to, their ancestral lands and marae (ancestral meeting house), their important family names and finally the individual's name.

In the graphic beside, I used a website called www.pepeha.com to draft out my pepeha and it also provides the Maori and English version that I would be able to recite.

This is usually used in times when people are first meeting each other in Maori hui (meetings) but lately I've found that in many other meetings people have adopted this way of introducing themselves to a group even if they aren't Maori.

What is interesting about it is that not only is it an interesting way of introducing yourself within culturally acceptable Maori terms but it also links you to your ancestors through the identified markers that are shared. It also allows the audience to connect with the speaker in knowing their ancestral identifiers.

There is also another App that I have shared with my students on Google Playstore which is called "1miriona" and that too allows the user to add their information to a template and then produces a more detailed pepeha that one can take around with them and recite if needed.

Definitely a beautiful way of sharing important parts of your genealogy and links to the natural world and sharing with the next generations...

God daughter's teams tribute to our PM...

 This is a big shout out to my cousin Faavae's daughter (my God-daughter Sam(antha) and her husband and friend for their song tribute to our PM (Prime Minister) Jacinda Ardern. It was quite a surprise to view on Facebook and thought to share it as a new remix (rendition) of the popular song 'Jai Ho' from the movie 'Slumdog Millionaire'.

In September of last year when I attended a family wedding (nieces wedding) in Samoa with my family, I also shared on my blog a beautiful song that Sam dedicated to her cousin the bride and new groom as the song that my cousin danced to with his daughter. So touching and so beautiful.

So glad that she is sharing her talent with her family, her friends and beyond, and therefore had to share this. I hope that our PM gets to view this as Sam not only a busy mum and degree student (although she may have finished her studies?) she has also had a disability since she was young of being blind but that's never stopped her from pursuing her goals.

Well done Sam, your team and your amazing song tribute and looking forward to viewing many more YouTube video clips in the future. A big Fan!!!

Zoom Wananga weekend classes...

  This weekend has been the third weekend this month that I've been busy with weekend Zoom Wananga (Maori indigenous classes of higher learning) using the digital platform of Zoom that allows students and teachers to share information digitally.

It's been a real privilege to collab-orate with some amazing kaiako (teachers) on some very interesting topics. Last weekend our collaboration effort included kaiako from both Te Wananga o Aotearoa where I work and Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi where I study with some kaiako teaching at both wananga. 

The collab included bringing some 60 - 80+ students from both Wananga and classes from 4 - 6 kaiako together to discuss, consider and learn from each other, guest speakers, video and other interesting information sources.

My particular discussion of choice was a Powerpoint presentation on the topic of Rangahau (Indigenous Maori inquiry) within Whakapapa or genealogy of fostering Intergenerational echoes. There I was able to share my personal journey in working on my families' gafa (Samoan word for genealogy).

It was neat to be able to share some of my experiences with our class and also receive feedback and other information that was added to my own learnings. That's another reason why I like teaching at the Wananga because kaiako or ako means both learning and teaching.

So now I can relax and take a break and catch up on some paperwork and some of the other important things that I need to do during this Alert level 3 lockdown. The rain this weekend has also been neat in discouraging many to go outside and much appreciated whilst I take some R and R i.e. rest and relaxation.

5000 new 18 year olds eligible to vote...

This year's election has been postponed from 19 September to 17 October. Those few days difference has allowed our eldest the opportunity to vote as her 18th birthdate was a few days after the first election date but how with the revised date she is eligible to vote.

I still remember how excited I was when I was finally eligible to vote as a bonafide adult but it was interesting for me to watch on TV and read about the many who choose not to exercise their right to vote even though they are eligible to.

What non-voters don't realize is that when they do not choose to exercise their vote, then they leave it to the majority to make that choice for them. As a democratic country, it's a real privilege and right to have that choice unlike many countries around the world who fight for democracy in wanting to have that ability of choice.

At this election, not only are we electing our M.P's (Members of Parliament) and ultimately our Prime Minister but we are also voting on two referendum topics of: Euthanasia (the right to end life) and supporting the legalization of Cannabis.

I won't be supporting either in believing in the sanctity of life in my Christian beliefs similar to my stance against the legalization of abortions that was hurriedly passed through when we went on our first lockdown. 

I also won't be supporting the legalization of a drug that is more harmful within our communities although I would be more accepting of medicinal drugs that are helpful for health reasons only. It will be interesting in the outcomes as polling seems to indicate that both topics would be supported by the majority of people.

Whatever the outcome, I will take the time to exercise my right to vote for a party and local MP that I feel both shares similar values and ideals for our society. With the extra 5000 people whose birthdays were positively affected with their right to vote as 18-year-olds, like our eldest, I hope that they will take the time to consider their freedom of choice to vote...

Making re-useable face masks...

The fight against COVID-19 in this second wave has brought about some new learnings that are being encouraged around the world as well as the stay home in your bubble, washing hands, disinfecting spaces, social distancing at 2 metres etc.

Wearing of face masks has now also joined the battle against COVID especially as initially health experts and governments all over the world were in two minds of the effectiveness of using masks although many Asian countries were encouraging the use with some even making it mandatory.

New Zealand has now weighed into the conversation with our Health Ministry encouraging everyone to wear a face mask when outside in public to stop the spread of the virus. They have stopped short of making it enforceable because then it becomes problematic with lots of viral videos around the world showing how many dislike being forced to wear masks even if it does save lives.

In watching this conversation unfold earlier, my mother sewed up some masks in our first lockdown which we used with the support of my younger sister and her YouTube videos. This time I thought I'd try my hand at it with my newly purchased mother's day sewing machine (on sale) that was purchased and to give it a workout.

The fact is that the reusable face masks aren't always easily purchased at your local store although the once use only ones are easily found but can rack up costs if used only once per day. Upon researching on YouTube videos, I combined a couple of ideas and made up some of my own with left over materials so that they are lined with an outside and inner materials. 

I've also cut up an old Tshirt (my daughter's idea) as she wanted a black facemask and that's the beauty of creating your own facemasks in that you can use any thinly woven materials such as those pictured here with pastel colours, pacific tapa, Christmas cotton etc.

I couldn't come up with any elastic, so have gone for ribbons instead that's because with my corsage and buttonholes flower art that I love to create, I also had some leftover ribbons. So I would highly recommend to view some ideas on YouTube and then venture to make your own. There are some also that you can make up that don't require sewing or you can hand stitch instead.

I gave some out to my family members and they have been rigorously tested as I did in taking a fast walk around our neighbourhood with our masks on when it was dizzyingly and they definitely passed the test. Especially as my glasses would usually fog up when using my former facemask (although they did when it started raining and it was cold).

Otherwise, I'm also looking at how I can make up (with a team) some to give out to our local church community and to those who desperately need them in our communities as when I went shopping yesterday at our local supermarket, many weren't wearing masks. Perhaps with a koha (donation)?

More food for thought as we battle this virus, look out for each other and also keeping ourselves entertained with creative mask making....

Baking starts again...

In this second wave of COVID-19 Lockdown level 3, out comes the baking trays, recipes, baking ingredients and new innovations like our eldest's chocolate and peanut butter/caramel centred cupcakes.

As we've been encouraged to stay home, save lives and not go out unless you need to go for essential shopping etc. So from our last experience, we started baking as many bakeries are still closed and it's worked out better and probably saved a lot of $ too.

We've also found it to be a good way of sharing the love with our neighbours and those needing food support such as our seniors (elderly) and those not working etc.

Baking is also a good way of using older fruit such as banana, apples and pineapple etc. to make crumbles, cakes, pies etc. It's also a good idea to bake together with children and this teaches skills that help to encourage them to continue baking even after the lockdown is over (which we hope is soon).

Anyway, happy baking out there and long may the yeast last longer in shopping aisles as well as flour etc...

Second Wave COVID-19 Lockdown...

This is a pic of my beloved yesterday, as he completed a  Facebook live pushups challenge as our family waited in the line of a local COVID-19 testing station (incidentally still awaiting the results) as there has been community outbreak in our community with someone testing positive at a local school and Early childhood centre.

If you look in the background, it's a local hotel that has been turned into a Quarantine facility for those returning from overseas. We were able to observe a perimeter fence with people exercising in the carpark now make-shift courtyard and a security guard onsite ensuring that no one would leave the facility. They also had Courier drivers dropping off parcels at the edge of the fenced-off area wearing masks and keeping their distance.

This was yesterday on our third day of an Alert level 3 lockdown with another announcement that was made last night by the Prime Minister that we would be extending our level 3 Auckland lockdown for a further 12 days until the 26th of Aug at midnight with another review to be made on the 21st of Aug of the progress made to that date.

It's becoming very real, in this second wave as with the first wave there were few areas that our family had been in contact with that had been diagnosed with the virus but this time it's within our community. It's also a reminder to be very vigilant as the source of the origins of this second virus is still unknown to date and a timely reminder to stay home and save lives.

This time, after I teach morning classes via zoom during the weekend, I'm thinking to try my hand at sewing up some masks as my mother did for us during the last lockdown, some of which have gone astray. I'll be using the new sewing machine that I received for Mother's Day during the last lockdown.

I'll post up my creations with more thoughts on this second wave but most importantly to keep vigilant and to keep praying for our families and our nation at this time of uncertainty. As repeated in the messages "we can do this", "we've done it before", "stay safe" and "stay kind"...

Cook Islands language week 2020...

Kia orana, this week is Cook Islands language week where schools and communities all over New Zealand get to celebrate the various languages of the Cook Islands and to learn more about the different islands that make up this archipelago.

In being brought up in a church with Niuean and Cook Islanders, I learned to appreciate the similarities and differences between our nations and it was like having a wider extended family that stretched beyond ethnic and blood relations to families of faith.

I even joined a church dance group, many years ago, whereby I learned Cook Islands and Niuean dances which are so different from Samoan dancing in hand and feet movements, as well as music. The Cooks have more of a drum dance and hip-swaying movements which I love and are similar to Tahitian and Rapa nui dances.

I visited Rarotonga back in the 1990s, so I'm well overdue for a trip there and would love to take my children for a visit too, perhaps if our NZ border controls are lifted? We had considered having our wedding there, as many have many years ago, but because Fiji was within our budget then Rarotonga remained as a second choice.

Most recently in the last few years, there's been talk about changing the name of Cook Islands to a name that is more fitting and indigenous to the people, however, to date there hasn't been a unified voice of agreeing to a name and the Cook Islands has remained although I don't know what Cook had to do with founding the islands because they were already present hundreds of years before he even arrived on their doorstep as an explorer.

Over the years, I've taught many Cook Islanders and have learned so much about the different islands and their features i.e. Pukapuka, Aitutaki, Rarotonga, Penryn, Manihiki etc. and the various dialects or languages formed due to the isolation of some of the islands.

Meitaki (thank you) and enjoy Cook Islands language week ahead...

MARKS OF MANA - FULL DOCUMENTARY — Coconet

MARKS OF MANA - FULL DOCUMENTARY — Coconet: Across the Moana the art of tatau is legendary - but the marks for women contain stories and meanings that are often little known, especially for new generations. 

These age old symbols of the Moko Kauae, the Fijian Veiqia, the Papuan Tep Tok and the Samoan Malu were made to celebrate the significance of the female role, but many were also created by female tatau artists. 

'Marks of Mana' explores the female history of tatau in our cultures, and the meaning behind these patterns linked like a necklace around the Moana.

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I highly recommend this Doco (documentary) to watch in gaining an understanding of the importance of tatau or even tattooing females in the Pacific. It's not everyone's cup of tea but in light of what we see with many women in Oceania or in the Pacific (including NZ) now becoming 'marked' it explains the importance why this phenomenon is...

Vast Oceanic history missing from Auckland's Maritime Museum...

This weekend, I was able to take my class to the Maritime Museum which is located at Hobson Wharf, near the viaduct harbour in Auckland city centre.

One of the highlights, even before stepping into the museum, was viewing the Tahitian 'Fa'afaite' waka that I had seen on video at last year's 250 year Tuia commemorations of Captain Cook's voyage to NZ.

The funny thing was for those initially celebrating Cook's 250 years to NZ was the realization from Maori and Pasifika communities that Pasifika communities had had over a thousand years experience of trans-navigation around the Pacific and Captain Cook had only just arrived 'yesterday' and was said to have "discovered" NZ when in fact inhabitants and been already living in Aotearoa for hundreds of years and that he hadn't even discovered anything (except for Europeans at that time).

In fact, to later discover that it was actually Tupaia, who was a master navigator and priest from Tahiti, who had helped Captain Cook to navigate to Aotearoa, of which Captain Cook main very little mention, if anything, in his captain's log as he wanted to take all the glory for himself.

Another fact was that it was in the journals of others who were aboard Captain Cook's Endeavour, who actually made mention of Tupaia, and it is through these journals that we find out that Tupaia played a pivotal role in Captain Cook's journey and liaising with Maori but he died before even reaching England in Indonesia of an illness he picked up there.

There have been some changes in the Maritime Museum, over the years, since taking my first class there a few years ago. The sad thing for me was to see that the film area which discussed the early navigation of Pacific peoples to Aotearoa had been taken out to make room for a cafe and Tupaia's replica map of the Pacific that had been drawn by Captain Cook was no longer exhibited.

All in all, class members discussed the interesting fact that even Maori sailing waka are missing from the exhibitions with so much importance placed on recent types of sailing craft. Even some indigenous types of canoes are displayed but none of the indigenous peoples of NZ.

Now that's something that would be interesting for the Maritime Museum managers to answer to because with so much missing from the Maritime Museum, it only tells a small part of the vast history of oceanic navigation of the Pacific by Pacific forefathers...