War hero and Victoria Cross medal recipient Willie Apiata recently expressed in the public that he is accessing professional healing services to help him come to terms with his war trauma. “People think I’m this tough Special forces soldier, but … Continue reading ANZAC Day: Lets talk about war trauma
It seems like every day I’m reading blogs and social media comments by Māori, (especially our wahine), who are giving well-meaning intentioned Pākeha woman a whiplashing for when they say ‘I’m only just trying to empower Māori’. This seems to … Continue reading A test for Pākeha who want to know if they are empowering Māori.
I often see well-meaning non-Indigenous who are trying to help with Indigenous cause. Before I get into the nitty-gritty of this blog, I want to frame it with this poignant, yet beautifully sad story and a lesson from a butterfly. … Continue reading Stop stealing our Indigenous struggle: A guide for the non-Indigenous Supporter
Politics and its commentary can be a platform of the most immature and puerile expressions of human behaviour. It is dominated with huge amounts of energy towards bringing ‘other’ parties and people down. It is rife with ‘othering’. Othering is … Continue reading Othering Ourselves: When Maori Attack Maori
So on one beautiful Sunday arvo in downtown Auckland, I was out having a couple of catch-up beers with the cuz, when we unexpectedly got talking to a Pakeha, let’s call him Joe. In his late thirties, living in a predominantly Pakeha … Continue reading Pakeha Anger: Why Do They get Mad at Maori?
I felt slightly sick when I heard Trump would be the next American president. I have deliberately over the last 12 months tried to make no mention of the circus known as the American Election because I didn’t want to give … Continue reading A New Indigenous Order: My Thoughts on the Chaos of the U.S Election and Trump Aftermath.
In my line of work I attend many conferences, most of which I struggle with because presentations are often unoriginal ideas and conversations are just cliché dialogues. I don’t usually go to gender specific conferences either and while at my … Continue reading Wahine Toa Leadership Conference and the Strange American Tie.
People don’t look at each other enough, and don’t make enough effort to understand diversity,m which would help them to accept that there are multiple and many ways to live and be in this world. Understanding other peoples and cultures can … Continue reading The Ugly Reflection in the Mirror: Why Indigenous People are Not Looked At.
