Diversity Forum at Te Papa

Deng Adut, a Sudanese refugee now living in Sydney, was the keynote speaker at this day-long forum of Human Rights and Diversity appropriately held at 'Our Place', Te Papa.

'All of our stories can change the world'.

Deng Adutran away from school in Sydney as a refugee aged fourteen in year seven, because he didn't fit in. 

Following are some of his quotes:

Things that we don't talk about make us racist. When we have dialogue we are not. We must all fight this war against racism.

Nothing that comes easily is worthwhile. The most valuable thing in life is work.

New Zealand is too far away fom the racist countries, like US, Africa,Australia South America,

All the birds in the world don't discriminate against each other.

In your life the most valuable thng is to learn is that you can achieve anything you want to.

Andrew Fraser said Black people have a lower IQ than other people.

Deng is about to do his PhD and will stay living in Australia.

Professor Colleen WardexAmerican now Kiwi academic

Waitangi Treaty...

Opening of Te Papain 1986  ?

Karen MasonDirector of Te Papa Communities 

Dr Charles RoyalDirector of Te Papa Exhibition Renewal

Spoke to the post-treaty settlement experience - the common experience with the natural environment. Also about he Maori need to do more work on multiculturalism - there is a need to get on board.

Dr Chris Sibley -NZ attitudes and values researcher in social psychology, an academic studying racism and racial attitudes in NZ

This head boyTe Ariki Te Puni, of Palmerston North School gave a  spectacular speech, the best of the day about standong up to Racism..

MC Lizzie Marvellywas excellent, and related her experience of discovering that her mother really was Maori, but couldn't identify with her race because of backward thinking and Pakeha pressure..

'That's Us' campaignfightingbracism launched by Dame Susan Devoy

A good example ofsuccess in diversity. 

Peter Hughes CEO StateServices Commission

Both Worlds....gave a predictable speech.

Adorate MizeroMedia Studies student -was annexcellent speaker and encouraged us to listen to each other and share our experiences.

Sport for everyone the original Maori Rugby team

Tayo Agunlejikaleader of multi-ethnic football.

Guy Ryanwith Inspiring Stories empowering young New Zealanders was inspiring himself.

Picture of the future...

Dai and DalMy Kitchen Rules talked about their success

Pinaman Owusu-Banahenewas great in launching the first  African Fashion week in Wellington this year, giving lots of work to Africans 

Her route to success

African Fashion Weekin Wellington 

Diversity brings innovation Pearl Robin, a young Maori entrepreneur was also amazing in her progressive approach with social media. 

Although there were a few more speakers, after the break I decided to leave on this very high note of youthful entrepreneurial success and return home before my evening meeting later tonight at NZAF.

It was a great day of learning of the importance of diversity and the importance of our plural socety in New Zealand, and indeed world.

Spring weather

Today is a veritable Spring day although it's two days before the official beginning. Wellington is sublime on days like this as it doesn't have a high humidity. I catch the 14 bus for a change withGloria waiting for me in  the fron seat. After a nice Memphis coffee where Paul comes in for a chat, I then have time to visit the pharmacy for meds and take in the secondhand shops, being tempted in Recycle by a three-quarter black coat. I miay return if it's still there on Friday.

The boys are celebrating at Memphis

So they get a smile from me!

Afraid this is typical of Kiwi police, acting first thinking later.

But not with the likes of Helen Clarkstill a possible UN secretary 

Even in OZ Kiwis get lost and die...

Trans always in the news today

But this man should disappear!

A new Kiwi queen pole-vaulter...

Brazil's woes to the fore after the Olympics

This is an amazing documentarycalled 'Embrace' which I saw last night at the Cuba Lighthouse.

It was made by an Adelaide girl who formerly didn't like her chubby body but grew to love and embrace the difference.  She teaches people to celebrate being different from all the photographed skinny models, many of whom suffer from anorexia or bulimia. Congratulations to her, it is a great movie and the cinema was packed full of young Kiwi girls hopefully agreeing with her!

Dinner with Rajiv

Tonight is special as I have been invited to a vegan dinner by Rajiv, the one friend I have made through my membership with Interfaith. We are eating in Cuba Street at Aunty Mena's where I have eaten before.

This Chinese Kiwiis another achiever in the great Kiwi style

...from a green-grocer's daughter to a writer, director producer, wow!

Notting Hill carnival brings back memories ofBob Marly in 1973

Richie McCaw in news again,with his new movie.

Beautiful home on Oriental Baywill doubtless bring a big amount

This is more where I belong,in a gypsy caravan!

Monday recovery

This past weekend was both an eye-opener and a reminder of how hard it is going to be to separate myself from the ties of this magnetic city. My weekend at the Marae, the major birthday bash, the return to my Dannss night, all contrived to make me realise I have planted seeds here which have already begun to grow. Tender as these sprouts may be, they are doubtless there and I can only now consider if by leaving, these plants will die. Or not, as the three hour flight to Wellie is just a short trip away!

The country of the vanishing prople...?

...and ones who have adventurous accidents!

Wallabies in disgrace in Wellington

The US has helped these poor Africans to have a life

Kings of Rugby....

But still no apology for being gay in the fifties, and being put in gaol!

Here is a real Mayoral candidateat 71 he knows about life plus he is very intelligent!

Visiting Tom and Brentwhile renovating their dining room.

It has been a big day, the end to an enormous weekend of learning and fun. There is so much on offer 

in this country it never ceases to amaze me.

Sunday performance

Each day I live in this mysterious, magical island kingdom, for that is what it is, a veritable kingdom with its chiefs and serfs, I learn and perceive so much more about the way the Kiwis have adapted to their post-colonial existence. It is these two wind-swept isles, the most Southern settlement in this hemisphere, that make you realise that to be creative is the only way to survive. As that is what the Kiwis have always been above all, creative. 

The Maori indigenous population is really only just now emerging from the reign of colonial rule, with the fabled Treaty of Waitangi shown to be a pretence of  equality, but in reality is the signing-off of white superiority over a believing and guileless Indigenous people, taking away most of the land and their rights in what was effectively a masterful coup by the ruling race, the White Man. The Maori, like the Australian Aboriginal people, had an advanced society oscsocial mores here when the whites came to impose their rules and culture. In many ways the original cultures were in advance, for example, sixty thousand years in Oz the Indigenous peoples had managed an extremely harsh land in a user-friendly way. They maintained all the natural benefits by living in tune with nature, which is exactly what the Maori culture did in New Zealand. Having dwelled the last two days on the Island Bay Marae, I have

learned how much the respect and custodianship, not ownership, of the land means to the Indigenous tribes, and it is exactly the same in Australia.

 It is sad reflection on today's generation that the loss of language, and subsequently culture, is a tragedy being felt the whole world over in European colonialised countries. Getting back to values of inclusive, non-judgemental living, where people are accepted for exactly who they are, not  just fitting in the the artificially created 'cultural norms' of binary sexuality and such is the way he Indigenouscpele operate.The groups I spend my time with here are of all sexual persuasions and physical representations, and they are proud to teach others how to relate to them as individuals,  not just males or females.

We have been present the whole weekend for a celebration of the seventieth birthday of Dana,an iconic transgender showgirl who is one of the exceptions who managed to survive to this age. Most die at a much younger age but Dana has survived and is justifiably to be celebrated, with Waiata (song) and Kapahaka, (dance) . We did this already last night at the Marae when Dana and few invited friends were welcomed and we performed for her and we all dined together. Tonight Dana is having another dinner for all her many friends and Tiwhanwahna and the Auckland mob come together to offer our respect. I have taken an hour to rest before the afternoon begins, supposedly at three o'clock, but more likely at five. The Maori certainly have a different feeling of the Western idea of time.

It should be quite an event and I am very much looking forward to it.

I slept in and needed a coffeethis morning at the renovated Trattoria in Newtown, very nice indeed, with a homemade croissant good coffee.

Front page pic of mother feeding her three year old baby boy, with her sister still all sleeping n the same bed, although modern medical experts don't like this practice.one which kany nations used to do, in the early tomes.

However medical authorities fail in certainareas, here in the supply necessary drugs...

And people are suffering too long because of this.

Police corruption is evident in many obtuse ways,here, by misreporting crime figures!

A Kiwii sportsman on his way backfrom a problematic life.

The ABs kill the Wallabies again to retain their coveted Bledisloe Cup

The innovation of the Kiwiin the digital age, the new form of writing is blogging with intent, not just yarning like I do, but as in this case, making political statements and being followed by millions. Duncan Grieve's blog is called 'Spin Off'.

Duncan Grieve tells stories 'his way', with profit.

At the Whera Café behind the most popular 'Bach' an Irish girl served me an excellent coffee and date scone to prepare me for the big birthday celebration at The Pines later this afternoon.

The front of The Bach...

Opposite the beguilng ocean.

The resplendant Danawith my good friends Karen and Peri at Dana's 70th birthday bash

This amazing Marae

With Twhanawhana friend Te Herikiekie,sporting a white feather ear-ring. The dinner-dance was excellent and the five piece swing dance band was magnificent.