Day two of Hui

Last night we did the general mihi, with personal introductions of where we come from and who our family are and everyone had to sing a waita of their choice. Heta was head of our group, very mixed as most were, and we chose to sing 'Run Rabbit Run' in Maori, very simple but met with great applause because of that. The evening was not as long as I would have thought, just about two hours, and most  adjourned for a cup of tea before the lights were out at eleven. But that was not the end, as the excitement had generated such chatter which lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. One person in particular had to be asked to be quiet as as she continued to laugh and chat like a steam train at full speed. 

Hopefully tonight she will be asked to keep quiet after lights out.

Heta catching up communications

...Maori whanau who have passed on decorating the walls....

...the morning after at the ceremonial raising of the flag...

Chanel on verandah...

...morning sunshine makes for a fine day ahead...

Another korero with two members of Parliament, the Maori Leader of the Caucus and another very powerful Maori woman politician, both of whom spoke with great skill and gusto. These women want to see the causes of their people to be put to the fore as they should be for total equality, especially acknowledging gender identity and the varieties of which that exist everywhere. We are not just a black and white race, nor are we just gay and hetereo, we are all those in between - trans, intersex, bi, and still deciding. This must be recognised at a State and political level for all of the future generations not to have to suffer the indignities that our generation and the ones before have suffered.

Basking in the sun before a bus tour begins.

This Hui, still on the second day, has opened my eyes to a wonderful vibrant community which should be an example to all the world with what it is achieving in the name of social and sexual equality and community participation. All this with such a sense of joy and pride is a privilege to experience.

Picnic lunch on banks of beautiful Waikato River..

....where we all had a packed lunch and met two local dogs from the National Marae

The back of the CEO of NZ AF, Shaun Robinson

However the day was not over by half. 

In the late morning we had a twenty minute bus ride to, and a guided tour of, the National Marae which had been opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1974. The history of The Waikato, this rich agricultural area and also the meaning of the enormous mural in the dinIng hall of the Marae was explained by our knowledgeable Maori guide and we met two lovely dogs who had been swimming in the wide and beautiful Waikato River. The Marae was situated right on the edge of rhe river in the most superb position.

On returning to our Marae and a pigs rib dinner, true Maori cuisine, we were treated to more informative talks with some wonderful waiata singing. A new speaker who had replaced the cancellation then appeared and proceeded to stun the large crowd with a fantastic power point presentation of the history of the Maori Kings which were essentially a part of rhe Waikato region. Her talk was straight from the heart. Mamae was her name, and she was the resident historian in the National Marae and also the owner of the two dogs we met at the river's edge. 

In a fascinating and unexpected delivery (she volunteered at the last minute to replace the scheduled speaker) Mamae was the star of the night and remained with us for a cup of tea after the  talk and we exchanged deatils and I took some photos of the group. She is in the process of writing a true history of the Maori Kings and kindly presented us with a small precursor of same. A marvellous end to the day and an exceptional lady.