Thinking of both my grandfathers this morning and how now, after spending 6 months reading trauma literature, what it must of been like on their return. On my mums side (North Island Maori), my grandfather was blown up in battle … Continue reading ANZAC Day: Let’s Talk About Trauma

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?

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.

I’ve always been struck by how the tools promoted to achieve meditative states seem quite foreign to a Maori way of being.  To pull yourself away from everyone, to be alone, to be on you own, to be without anyone, always seemed … Continue reading Maori and the Next-Level Meditation!

As Māori, we don’t deal well with shame or whakamā. Yet, our people are riddled with it. Whakamā impacts our social, spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. It sits at the birthing place for our addictions, obesity, violence, aggression, depression and … Continue reading The Great Māori Shame Legacy