peopleofaotearoa

[peopleofaotearoa]

#sketch for upcoming #painting #Maori #warcanoe (Taken with Instagram)

[peopleofaotearoa]

cottoncandycane:

Love his work (Sam Phillips)

[peopleofaotearoa]

Long time...

It’s been a hectic 4 years now that I’ve been on this journey. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve been really mad. But now I can 

write a 5000+ word essay in te reo Māori.

 I can conversate quite well in the language too. 

I know my mums side of the family (meaning I know her whakapapa and her pepeha, I’ve even met a lot of family members along the way). 

I can jam a few Māori songs on the guitar. 

I even have a teaching degree in kura kaupapa Māori. 

I have attended a Matatini, a few Māori festivals, a Coronation, a Kura reo, and many other events that pertain to different aspects of the culture.

There is more to the list but I’m just going to say I have learnt so much in the last few years that has opened my eyes. I’ve felt the pain of our ancestors just by researching and talking with people about our history, I’ve been mad at the closed-mindedness of this generation and the lack of respect from our government. Māori don’t fight for land because of greed but because of the fact it holds our mana, our hītori, our right as tangata whenua. We see the beauty in this country rather than the profit that the corporations see it as. 

This journey has most definitely had ups and downs but you just have to press forward, and hope for a brighter future. “Ka whawhai tonu mātou, ake, ake, ake!”

Anyways that was one weird post but hei aha.

[peopleofaotearoa]

[peopleofaotearoa]

Niho Wheku

Lovely chunky piece of material here. Contemporary wheku that is light around the neck, but is heavy in the hand. You can feel the mana in this material. It’s always a worry when you carve it. The wairua of these creatures deserves as much respect as you can muster.

[peopleofaotearoa]

But we can learn. And if the knowledge is given to everyone, we can have lots of leaders. And soon, everyone will be strong, not just the ones that've been chosen. Because sometimes, even if you're the leader and you need to be strong you can get tired.

[peopleofaotearoa]

[peopleofaotearoa]

Inia Taylor and Tiki Taane !! doing Rihanna a traditional tattoo. :D

#RobynRiahannaFenty #Tattoo #TattooMaori #tattooGirl

[peopleofaotearoa]

AOTEAROA!!

[peopleofaotearoa]

Te Matarae I Orehu- Puhia te Kanara (Poi)

[peopleofaotearoa]

Letting go.. 

[peopleofaotearoa]

PUKANA!

Maorasian at heart :)

[peopleofaotearoa]

TINO RANGATIRATANGA!

[peopleofaotearoa]

[peopleofaotearoa]

I love this poi! It’s one of my faves :)

[peopleofaotearoa]

Do you ever just stop for a second and think how beautiful New Zealand actually is and how lucky you are to live here?

[peopleofaotearoa]