Kat Poi’s Post

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Programme Manager | Co-Director I Board Member I Values conversation and execution equally | Never gives up the right to be wrong I Being Māori-Pacific is my biggest asset

Discussing race is inherently political. In Aotearoa NZ, conversations about race necessitate conversations about Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Here are some of the words I've heard recently. These are resonating for me in advance of the Toitū Te Tiriti Activation Day tomorrow. I offer these with humility and for your own consideration. 🌿 With respect to participating tomorrow or not, make a responsible decision...a mokopuna decision. 🌿 Māori are not in a transactional relationship with the government, we are in a transformative situation-ship. 🌿 When the tide rises, we must all rise. Like a rewana. Because we are "bred" differently. (This one made me giggle). 🌿 For the government to assume that they can repeal legislation after legislation; and take Te Tiriti out of legislation is wrong. Tomorrow is about sending a clear message not to do that. 🌿 Making mokopuna decisions means we need to activate on all fronts. We can do that because we are magic. Wishing us all deep breaths, loads of courage, and the ability to move in to action with informed perspective, creative brilliance and a mana-enhancing commitment to ourselves and one another. At the very least, navigating the troubled waters of ongoing, systemic, treaty injustice demands integrity, care and compassion. Mauri ora ki a tātou! [Image is of a whakataukī card that comes from a pack of cards sitting on my desk. It reads, 'Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa' which can translate to, 'Let us keep close together, not far apart'].

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Tracy Haddon

Developing futures through Māori innovation

4mo

My favorite is the Rewana analogy. If we leave rewana too long the bug can go sour and die. Too look after our Rewana bug we must give it enough resources (ingredients - flour & sugar) for it to grow and to be able to continue making rewana for the next batch (generations). If we are splitting the bug and gifting it to others the early start up needs the most care, attention and resourcing to see it reach its potential.

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