Week 2
Kōhine Oranga-tiratanga
Ko au te taiao ko te taiao ko au
This week's Oranga-tiratanga adventure took us to Arataki Visitor Centre, in Te Waonui a Tiriwa (Waitakere Ranges). Upon arrival, Te Kawerau ā Maki Education Lead, Josie Hatch-Wall shared the whakapapa of her iwi--introducing her ancestors represented in the pou (pictured here).
Inside the centre, Josie shared the history of the ngahere, noting some of the indicators of the declining forest wellbeing, and outlining the reasons for Te Kawerau ā Maki enacting a rāhui (cultural protection) in 2017. She described how Kauri dieback had impacted the ngahere and how human activity played a massive role in spreading the disease-explaining the need for shoe cleaning stations and reduced access. This kōrero would be further explained by our guest speaker, Professor Donnabella Lecap-Bulger.
Whaea Donna is a molecular microbiologist from Auckland University of Technology, and she taught the girls (and our wider team) some basics about microbes, how they operate, and the specific way certain microbes can lead to the dying Kauri population. She then got some of the girls to participate in a cool exercise, using invisible dust and an ultraviolet light. After walking over a mat covered in the dust, we turned off the lights, shut the curtains, and used the UV-light to detect how the dust was transferred wherever the girls had walked--demonstrating how our actions can have an impact on Kauri health. There were some really insightful questions from a number of budding scientists in the group. We were really grateful to have both Josie and Donna share their wisdom with us all.
Inside the centre, Josie shared the history of the ngahere, noting some of the indicators of the declining forest wellbeing, and outlining the reasons for Te Kawerau ā Maki enacting a rāhui (cultural protection) in 2017. She described how Kauri dieback had impacted the ngahere and how human activity played a massive role in spreading the disease-explaining the need for shoe cleaning stations and reduced access. This kōrero would be further explained by our guest speaker, Professor Donnabella Lecap-Bulger.
Whaea Donna is a molecular microbiologist from Auckland University of Technology, and she taught the girls (and our wider team) some basics about microbes, how they operate, and the specific way certain microbes can lead to the dying Kauri population. She then got some of the girls to participate in a cool exercise, using invisible dust and an ultraviolet light. After walking over a mat covered in the dust, we turned off the lights, shut the curtains, and used the UV-light to detect how the dust was transferred wherever the girls had walked--demonstrating how our actions can have an impact on Kauri health. There were some really insightful questions from a number of budding scientists in the group. We were really grateful to have both Josie and Donna share their wisdom with us all.
"It let me learn more about nature and it’s source and also that the things around us should be looked after and that not only to look after things around for us but also future generations ahead"
ORANGA-TIRATANGA IN PRACTICE
Later in the day, Whaea Tracey taught the girls about tuning into themselves and trusting their intuition--introducing whatu manawa, manawa, and pūmanawa (our three hearts). In small groups, she invited us all to practice trusting that intuition, sharing what we see or feel when we close our eyes and focus in on another person. We would take that learning with us as we braved the wind and rain, to learn about some of the medicinal rongoā amongst the rākau.
As a last koha back to the ngahere and Te Waonui a Tiriwa, we practiced a sound exchange. First, we listened to the many sounds of the ngahere: wind, trees rustling, tūī chattering and other birds tweeting away. Then, some of us had ukutangi (clay wind instruments) we made last term, others used their hands, sticks, or the gravel beneath our feet to create a collective sound offering back to te taiao.
As a last koha back to the ngahere and Te Waonui a Tiriwa, we practiced a sound exchange. First, we listened to the many sounds of the ngahere: wind, trees rustling, tūī chattering and other birds tweeting away. Then, some of us had ukutangi (clay wind instruments) we made last term, others used their hands, sticks, or the gravel beneath our feet to create a collective sound offering back to te taiao.
"The way we look after te taiao will reflect on us"
Ko au te taiao ko te taiao ko au teaches us that we are part of the environment and our actions impact its wellbeing, just as it impacts us.
It was really lovely to see the girls' growing appreciation for the role of te taiao in their own wellbeing. Many described a sense of calm that comes with being in the ngahere, others knew that their rivers or moana were where they felt most strongly connected.
Just like microbes, the conditions we live in can determine how we respond or thrive. Also, like microbes, we can impact on those around us: sometimes good...sometimes not so good.
A key takeaway from one of the girls was: if we take care of te taiao, it will take care of us.
It was really lovely to see the girls' growing appreciation for the role of te taiao in their own wellbeing. Many described a sense of calm that comes with being in the ngahere, others knew that their rivers or moana were where they felt most strongly connected.
Just like microbes, the conditions we live in can determine how we respond or thrive. Also, like microbes, we can impact on those around us: sometimes good...sometimes not so good.
A key takeaway from one of the girls was: if we take care of te taiao, it will take care of us.