Rachel Miller - new works exhibited at Village Arts

Book: the peoples faces by Lisa Cherrington

"In this sensitive, insightful and eerily atmospheric novel, Lisa Cherrington takes her professional knowledge, combines it with storytelling flair, and explores the difficult and complex life of a family affected by mental illness...Who is caught in the middle when Western and Maori forms of knowledge about the mind collide?Twenty-something Nikki's city life has just reached a crisis point. Her brother, Joshua, is in a psychiatric hospital again. He has been alternately beguiled, troubled and tormented since childhood by visions of people-faces, visions that are entwined with the ancestral homelands of Northland (Hokianga) and the dolphins that swim in the surrounding seas.Together Nikki and Joshua must travel home to confront the people-faces. Their journey takes them back to their childhood, and straight to their family's heart. ."

Lisa Cherrington is Ngati Hine and Ngapuhi and is a Maori Senior Clinical Psychologist. Her professional interests are working with Maori whanau experiencing cancer, Maori models of therapy, use of te whare tapa wha in clinical settings, use of Maori mythology and Narrative therapy. Lisa currently works for Massey University and has researched and written publications on Maori mental health.

Must read book, borrow it from your local library or buy a copy from Huia publishers.

In the spotlight: Nga Toki te waka

A welcome return of a special Waka arrived at Te Pewhairangi, the Bay of Islands, for the largest gathering of traditional canoes since 1990.

After a five-year absence from Waitangi celebrations, the grand dame of waka, Ngatokimatawhaorua, celebrated its 70th anniversary this year on the water.

The waka played a major part in ceremonies for the 170th commemorations of the signing of the Treaty. Organisers are expecting the largest flotilla of waka - up to 23 are attending, bringing 1000 paddlers.

In 1940 Ngatoki was commissioned by Princess Te Puea to mark the 100th year of the signing of the Treaty. Selections for the final 80 kaihoe or paddlers had been made and many understood that it would be a special honour to get onboard this year, Mr Conrad said.


"The waka is a living thing, it has its own wairua [spirit], and you know when you're sitting on it you're sitting with your tupuna [ancestors].

Ngatoki also made an appearance in the Hokianga last week at the re enactment of the signing of the treaty at Maungungu Mission house which hundreds attended. There is a special significance with Hokianga and the original Matawhaorua and Ngatokimatawhaorua waka which journeyed from Hawaiki captained by Kupe and then by his descendant Nukutawhiti which he finally settled in Hokianga.

Kaua e rangiruatia te hā o te hoe; e kore tō tātou waka e ū ki uta.

‘Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoe will never reach the shore.’

This proverb serves to emphasise the importance of all working together to succeed in any joint project

Will Kupe return to the Hokianga once again

From New Zealand Herald "Iwi debates Kupe's return" by Yvonne Tahana

He is a mountain of a figure in Maori oral history, who left these shores claiming he'd never be back.

But now Hokianga Maori are debating whether bones Tahitians claim are Kupe's should be brought back to New Zealand.

A delegation from the Hokianga were invited to Maupiti Island last year to talk to local people about koiwi/bones and other artefacts first studied in the 1960s by a Hawaiian archaeologist. In the past decade they've also been re-examined.


During the visit, Maupiti people told the delegation that, based on their own oral traditions, they believed the bones were Kupe's. They also asked if Maori would be open to taking them back to New Zealand.

No decision was made but Ngapuhi, Te Rarawa and other northern iwi are discussing the situation.

                                    


There are many sides to this debate, korero, discussions about their return to Hokianga. Yes, our Hokianga oral traditions say Kupe returned to his home in Hawaiki...the question is was he welcomed back? or did another family line, chiefly line take his place as Ariki?
If they were welcomed back to Hawaiki with open and loving arms then why the heck are they wanting them to come to Aotearoa!!!!
Automatically, my alarms start ringing.

 The people are split in Hokianga, are split within Ngapuhi and Te Rarawa. Some say bring them back to Aotearoa so they can be worshipped and great monuments can be erected. Others, say no; let them rest in peace in Tahiti.


Either way a decision needs to be made. WHAT DO YOU THIHK? If you have any more information about this kaupapa let us know.

Heartland Hokianga video online

Hokianga Heartland 1993