I thought I had to stand on my whenua to be Māori, But I know it lies waiting for me to come home, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to know my whakapapa to be Māori, But I still feel my tīpuna guiding me, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to be brown to be Māori, But my body is mesmerizing as I swing my poi, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to know my reo to be Māori, But I use the voice I do have to speak for justice for my people, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to be loud to be Māori, But powerful steps through my journey have been unuttered, no doub ..read more

A sour taste left in the mouths of many, and one that is very topical this week as COVID-19 fatigue takes hold to the point where some North Shore influencers made the decision to selfishly disregard the lockdown rules  as if they don’t apply to them. A party attended by 50 of New Zealands next apsiring influencers… what could possibly go wrong? Why has it caused so much of an outrage across the country? These are questions that clearly the partygoers are struggling to comprehend. Let me get my dry-humping fix while people video and post it online – because I can… The party’s host has bee ..read more

My mother asks me, “what do you want to do? Who do you want to be?” I reply in distress “I don’t know…” My mother tells me, “I know your good at sports, I know you can go a long way with it if you put your mind to it. I reply “Yeah, I’m okay, but isn’t their other things out there to do?” My mother tells me, “If you don’t continue on with sports, then what are you going to do? Schools not exactly working out for you, so you should think of getting a job.” I think to myself, “What if I do get a job? What if I fail at sports? What if I become the best athlete, I can?” Will that make my mother h ..read more

Often, when we think about mental health awareness, we think about our loved ones, and how to notice and support them when they’re struggling. However, in a world that often feels like it moves too fast to stop and check in with ourselves, often it’s hard to notice when our own mental health is slipping. We’ve put together a mental health checklist to help you check in with yourself and offer some ways you can be supported Are you eating? When we’re busy it can be easy to lose track of regular eating schedules, which often can create drops in energy and irritability. This can be a sign that ..read more

2am adventures are therapy for the soul. I miss calling my friends saying I’m outside, Going to Maccas and sitting there in comfortable silence. 2am adventures are therapy for the soul. Late night escapades to places I definitely shouldn’t be, But the adrenaline pumping through my body doesn’t regret it. 2am adventures are therapy for the soul. Picking your drunk friends up from the club, Laughing as they stumble into your car   2am adventures are therapy for the soul. Drunk walking always makes you feel invincible. It’s always a wild gamble the morning after though.   2am adventure ..read more

Your choice, you choose…  Their culture, our culture  Her culture, his culture.  Their rights, our rights  Her rights, his rights.  His rights, her rights  His culture, her culture.  Wai ka hua, wai ka tohu?  He tika rānei, he teka rānei  Tāu i mahi ai, tāna i mahi ai  Tā rātou mahi, tā tātou mahi.  He toa takitini, he toa takitahi He toa takitahi, he toa takitini.  Takitahi nei te toa ..read more

Many earth giants Roam the land, the peak is high Where is my maunga? Healing, cleansing, wai The call of Tangaroa Where is my awa? Wayfinding, nomads People of navigation What is my waka? Feeling, connecting My tīpuna call me but   Where is my marae? My people, come home Refill your wairua tank Do you feel it yet ..read more

I decided to get vaccinated, and this is my story of why. I want to be clear, that everyone is entitled to their opinion, their choice. This piece reflects my own thought process in making the decision. I have empathy for our whānau who may have experienced a negative outcome because of our health system, who distrust the healthcare system and the vaccine as a result. I have empathy for those who wish to get vaccinated, but due to being immunocompromised, must place their faith in their communities in the hopes that they will protect them. I have empathy for the single parents and the overwork ..read more

I decided to get vaccinated, and this is my story of why. I want to be clear, that everyone is entitled to their opinion, their choice. This piece reflects my own thought process in making the decision. I have empathy for our whānau who may have experienced a negative outcome because of our health system, who distrust the healthcare system and the vaccine as a result. I have empathy for those who wish to get vaccinated, but due to being immunocompromised, must place their faith in their communities in the hopes that they will protect them. I have empathy for the single parents and the overwork ..read more

I thought I had to stand on my whenua to be Māori, But I know it lies waiting for me to come home, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to know my whakapapa to be Māori, But I still feel my tīpuna guiding me, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to be brown to be Māori, But my body is mesmerizing as I swing my poi, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to know my reo to be Māori, But I use the voice I do have to speak for justice for my people, no doubt I am Māori.  I thought I had to be loud to be Māori, But powerful steps through my journey have been unuttered, no doub ..read more