LOGIN:
In July 1986,when the rangatira, John Rangihau, presented Puao-te-ata-tu to the Minister of Social Welfare at that time, Dame Ann Hercus, the report was prefacted with a whakataukī well known to all. The letter of commital from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on a Māori perspective for the Department of Social Welfare ended:
“Tama tu, Tama ora, Tama moe, Tama mate”-“You stand, you live, you sleep, you die”
It is imperative that the wishes of the people who promote a philosophy of self-help, “Tama tu, Tama ora, Tama moe, Tama mate”-“You stand, you live, you sleep, you die”-be fulfilled. The people are now ready. Thus our report “Te Puao-te-Ata-tu”. Your role now Minister is to address and implement the matters raised in the report. We offer you our sincere greetings for you act as the helms person, the navigator and the guide for your Maori people in a new age through and beyond the year 2000
This whakataukī, Tama Tu, Tama ora, Tama moe, Tama mate, has been a source of motivation for so many initiatives – kapa haka; rangatahi activities; sport and recreation. And so it was that when Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa approached us to promote ‘every body active’ through He Oranga Poutama we turned to these words for inspiration.
Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa has a further set of goals:
‘Tama Ora’ comes from the whakataukī ‘Tama tū tama ora, tama noho tama mate which translates to ‘An active person will live while a lazy person will not’. These are words of encouragement to urge rangatahi to participate in physical activities and exercise so that they can make good choices for their own health which will also benefit their whānau. This funding pool hopes to see rangatahi thrive in physical activities and exercise so that they can set goals and make significant progress for the health and wellbeing of themselves and their whānau.
This is a new fund which draws on matauranga Māori to enable wellbeing – the mana, tapu and mauri of oranga. The two figures in our design represent rangatahi striving to achieve through physical activity, maintaining their own rangatiratanga represented by the pou kanohi. The mataora and moko kauau are tohu of whakapapa and rangatiratanga also. The Tama Ora fund is open to those entities leading our Navigator Tinana and RUIA initiatives. Submissions are due in by 5pm on 21st September.
Tama Ora will also be driven by a focus on the RUIA goals. We want to cross-fertilise those goals with our own nga pou o RUIA:
Whānau Ora – wellbeing in the context of whānau
Te Ao Māori – culture and identity
Mana tangata – leadership and self-determination
Wananga – learning, connectivity, participation
Auahatanga – innovation and enterprise
Te Ao Tūroa – mahinga kai, natural environment, sustainability
Te Pūtake – strengthening capacity and responsiveness.
This week we want to celebrate the inspirational healer that is Te Aomihia. Te Aomihia was brought up by those of an era whom utilised varying traditional Māori methods and practises of treatment to heal utilising native plant (rongoā rākau; water (wai); incantations (kaupare) and knowledge as ahi kaa (keepers of the home fires) and kaitiaki (guardians) of Te Taiao (the natural environment). More recently she graduated with the Massage Therapy and Wellness Diploma at Otago Polytechnic. She was also the recipient of the program’s Ambassador-award.
Traditional Māori healers (Tohunga) used MiriMiri as a means of healing injuries, releasing old tensions, and balancing bodily function. Te Pūtahitanga o Te Waipounamu has supported KOHA and Te Aomihia since 2016. Over the last five years we have seen her creating magic in shearing sheds and hauora days; with kaumātua and with young mums. She has established rongoa mirimiri clinics, and was so happy to move into the Puna (Wellspring space) in Dunedin where she utilised mirimiri, romiromi and contemporary massage.
On Thursday TeAomihia Rangihuna announced that with deep regret, KŌHĀ will cease all activity. In her words, “It is purely a personal decision, one that has been a long time coming and given currently worldly and national circumstances, I might consider timely”.
"It is purely a personal decision, one that has been a long time coming and given currently worldly and national circumstances, I might consider timely”.
Recently we asked those whom Te Aomihia had worked with, what was the best thing about Kia Ora Hands Aotearoa (KOHA). The responses are provided below in their fullness. They give expression to the gratitude, the appreciation and the awe with which we all see Te Aomihia and her contribution to the healing journey.
Receiving quality mirimiri
The warmth of people and healing of treatment.
sometimes i have nasty thoughts that enter my head – but after my mirimiri its calms you and makes u peaceful
relaxing and feeling a huge release and safe/ feel good I am a bigger woman and she makes
me feel very comfortable.
Care of Te Aomihia in how she would.
Let’s my body loose.
The miri.
Finally relaxing – making me feel welcome.
The great people who work here and take care of you.
Very worth while for anyone working in health services.
Peaceful and relaxing – powerful.
I enjoyed the whole process.
I felt the aroha, my spirit feels full.
Culturally respectful – Starting and ending with a karakia
Te Aomihia’s wairua and warm hands, the tranquil setting where I could tune out of life and go inside myself to allow healing.
The People. The whole process was amazing.
The atmosphere. Beautiful experience.
The people and their understanding.
Not just the massage which was amazing but the beautiful Karakia and song – very holistic and peaceful, gentle, warm hands – so peaceful.
Te Ao Mihia. her rongoa in mirimiri, romiromo and korero. Nga mihi nui.
The holistic approach and magic hands.
Te Aomihia ! ! !
Te Aomihia, her wisdom, her kindness, her skill. I can cry here.
Takes the pain away.
The welcome we receive and the massage makes such a difference.
We all love you Te Aomihia. Take care of you, and know, always, the healing and magic you have brought to so many lives.
The following clinics across Waitaha are happy to take bookings for COVID vaccinations.
All clinics are happy to take on large whanau bookings, we can also book into weekend clinics if that is their only availability. Please send Shanna Taula shanna.taula@hewakatapu.org.nz the following details if you have anyone you would like to book in
This week I was so humbled to be able to be on a zui with Navigators across Ōtākou. Mike Rangihika I think spoke for them all: ‘when we work collectively we move mountains’. There was some wonderful strategies shared about the different priorities and passions the Navigators created over lockdown. We heard about efforts to purchase sets of netballs and rugby balls to encourage physical activity and recreation.
Aunty G talked about her cooking classes – put three ingredients into Google and you’ll be amazed what the search engine comes back with ! Others talked about how do we really learn to learn; how do we establish long term resilience.
It was a boost to the soul to hear all these incredible advocates for whānau, sharing strategies and skills, in the collective pursuit of wellbeing for all.
The photo below features some of our Waitaha Navengers, hard at work, pulling together kai packs to distribute amongst whānau in need.
The situations for whānau remain dire; distressing and increasingly desperate.
As of last night, we have received 9,116 applications from whānau since 18 August (when lockdown commenced) encompassing support for 38,308 whānau members. Of those, 72% approached us with ‘high urgency’.
“Needing Kai and data for myself and immediate whanau (wife, children, pets, elders) that live with me in our whanau home.”
“I’m a single mum of two and really struggling after we lost everything in a housefire.”
“I’m pregnant and have been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum and unable to work. We are moving from a furnished studio with my partner and son into a house on Friday with no furniture at the moment so need to extra money we would spend on food to hopefully buy a bed.”
“I spent the last 5 years caring for my elderly parents. They both passed away within 6 months, my stepdad being the last in the 1st of this year. I miss them so much. I’m lost at 54 years of age. I start counselling this week. I desperately need the help.”
“My partner has been sick and is having to leave his job and he is not capable of caring for our children alone so isn’t possible for me to work until we can get help with his illness.”
“With Covid, we are down on food. I have had and still having strokes to the brain. I live with my partner who also is unwell. Medical needs and transport are costing a lot also winter and higher power costs.”
“My partner works full time and has to support us both… I can’t afford to pay for anything.”
“We have a new baby born on the 17th. Also two boys under four and two adults. The boys eat all day long. Our family needs a warmer bigger home. But a week without worrying about kai would be wonderful.”
“I am a single parent who needs to keep my house warm as one of my kids has breathing problems and being stuck at home with the colder weather lately have been using more power and food.”
Ten Tips
The speed and ferocity with which the Delta virus spread, and the consequent lockdowns took many of us by surprise. As we look to a future beyond the pandemic, there is much need for a new level of compassion necessary to change the way we live. We must keep in mind that it takes time to develop or improve mental immunity, it needs persistent efforts. Mental resilience is also an integral and extremely important part of mental immunity.
There are plenty of tips out there about how to be ‘mindful’ – to be present of the world around you. To be mindful means to pay attention to what is happening in the mind, body, and immediate environment and to remain present, while both curious and compassionate. Here’s a simple list that I have found quite helpful.
