Go check this out today fam. The 1 Million People Project is holding a fundraiser at Tea Culture, which is part of Te Karanga Gallery on K Rd. These people are trying to raise $1 each from 1 million people to buy some land that they can build a self sustainable community on. Part of it will be a interactive, ecological, educational visitor centre. The website mentions tree-houses, secret tunnels and wind turbines. Sounds like something we can all get behind! And in this current political climate it's quite cool to see a group of people trying to buy back some of that land and do something really beautiful with it.
These photos are actually from a few months ago when the Fairy Shop first reopened but I've only just found them now while looking for something else. My laptop is about as well organised as everything else in my life.
Like many parents of little girls I've tried to avoid pushing Haeata in the direction of traditional girly things. She had a digger before she ever had a doll and when she was a baby I dressed her in any damn colour I liked. However, despite all my efforts she still loves everything pink, fluffy and sparkly. Which is the fairy shop all over.
Haeata and her cousin had a feast of fairy cake, crackers and pink milk and then raced around the store trying on costumes. Of course they begged me to buy those dresses for them but at $90 a pop I told them to try their grandparents.
I've said it just recently but I'll say it again, I'm very lucky to have a mum that knits. I'm still trying to finish a blanket I started knitting when I was pregnant with Haeata. It's not even big enough to turn into a scarf.
Denim dress - Country Road (but actually $6 at an op shop) Olive green tights - Cotton On Pink chucks - Cotton On (for like $5 or something crazy)
Actually, it's better than a remix. It's an edit of the 12" inch disco mix that Peter Mac chopped up so that the poi create new beats with all the same sounds. That 12" is now infact available for download on amplifier but here is Peter's amazing mix for your listening pleasure.
We put it on at Kapa Haka yesterday, handed out the poi and just let the tamariki go a little crazy. Haeata spent the remainder of yesterday excitedly telling everyone she saw about the new poi song at kapa haka.
One of my earliest memories is of my dad taking me out at night when I was about 5 years old to hear Margaret Mahy read stories at the Dunedin Library. I don't remember what she read but my memories of the night are magical. My younger sisters and brother had to go to bed while I was allowed to put on my favourite skirt suit (I called it my Princess Di outfit. It was 1983) and go out with my dad. I remember their were stars in the sky. I remember the library all lit up and transformed by dark. And I remember this woman sitting in the corner of the library, full of magic and wonder, weaving a different world into our minds while we sat there.
A friend of mine posted this great animated video of one of her stories on Facebook last night. It brings back so many great memories. Play it for your kids today and let her stories secure themselves in their memories too.
Ko tenei Te Wiki O Te Reo Maori! Anei etahi mea pai mo koutou ki te tautoko tenei kaupapa.
It's Maori Language Week! Here are some things you can do to support the kaupapa...
This page has some great tips for beginners. Pronunciation, basic kupu (words) and korero ngawari (easy phrases).
And on this page they have some great suggestions for how you can celebrate Te Wiki O Te Reo Maaori in your own way.
Sadly I haven't been able to find a single event happening in the city in relation to Te Reo but I'll keep looking at keep you all posted.
Meanwhile....
Me haere tere koe ki te toa (Countdown) ki te tiki to koutou papakupu Maaori (kore he utu!) hei mahue koe.
Make sure you get down to your local Countdown store to pick up your (free!) phrase books. Get in there quick or you'll miss out!
Anei etahi korero ngawari
Here are some easy sentences (Try using them with the kids this week)
Morena/Ata marie!
Good morning!
E oho! Maranga!
Wake up! Get up (out of bed)!
He aha o moemoea?
What dreams did you have?
E mate kai ana koe?
Are you hungry?
Kaua e ngaungau.
Don't bite.
Tangohia o hu.
Take off your shoes.
Kaua e whakama.
Don't be shy.
Whengua to ihu.
Blow your nose.
He tino pai to mahi.
You've done a good job.
Kei runga noa atu koe!
You're the best!
Tino nui toku aroha mou.
I love you very much.
E moe.
Go to sleep.
And for those of you with teenagers already....
Kei te puta koe i ena kakahu?
Are you going out dressed like that?
As a disclaimer, my own Te Reo is still pretty basic. I had a lot of help from some very patient friends with this post! But whatever Reo I do have, I try to use with Haeata. We say wai for water, kai for food, kanikani for dance, mahana for warm etc... and other simple phrases like some of the above. We sing waiata, watch cartoons on Maaori TV and count to ten in Te Reo. This week I'm going to teach her "I love you" and use every kupu hou I know!
Exposing kids to other languages is never a bad thing and exposing them to Te Reo in particular gives them a much deeper connection to our country and a better understanding and sensitivity to our culture. Just start with the basics! Maori TV have recently cut their morning infomercials and have started showing language programs all morning so if you're at home switch it on and start to absorb!
As usual, I have music to go with everything so here is the beautiful and incredibly talented Ria Hall singing in both English and Te Reo.
Aww man, how insanely adorable is this little girl?! And how great is that jersey? I found this photo on tumblr and was redirected to a flickr stream from Iceland. Bet they got some bad ass woolly jumpers over there.
I'm lucky enough to have a mum who knits so Haeata has no end of hand knitted goodness to keep her warm all winter. Still though, a lot of her best jerseys and cardies were scored at second hand shops. If you don't have a knitting Nan on hand then check out your local op shop, weekend market or even Trademe.
A trip to Christchurch is also highly recommended. We visited a friend there last winter and the op shops were over flowing with amazing hand knitted gems. All super cheap too.
As part of the Matariki festivities there is going to be a Kapa Haka Super 12s competition down at The Cloud on Saturday. Just like the rugby tournament, there will be 12 teams with 12 members, each allowed to perform for 12 minutes so expect it to be pretty dynamite. The 12 teams will battle it out for a share of $10,000 cash until there is only one group left.
The competition is running from 10 - 5pm and entry is free. And while you're down on Queen's Wharf check out the markets with Maaori arts, crafts and clothing.
As well as contemporary Maori art for sale, there will also be raranga (weaving) and whakairo (carving) demonstrations, live traditional and contemporary music, taonga puoro (traditional instruments), traditional Maori healing practitioners AND a papa takaro (playground) set up where market goers can play traditional games!
Today we're heading out (in the beautiful sunshine, thank you Auckland!) to the Big Day Art at the wonderful Auckland Art Gallery. There will be live music, workshops where you get creative and one of our city's best dance crews is performing.
The Pick n Mix season is back on at the Aotea Centre. Today rap crew The Hypnotics are performing and then running a workshop. Learn how to beat box!
The Wynyard Explorer is back for the school holidays and look at that, finally a sunny day! Kids are just $1 and along with a ticket for the tram they have to sleuth around and find answers to questions about the area so it actually fills up a good hour.
The Auckland Museum have a bunch of cool things to do today as part of their Camera exhibition. Plus a giant camera you can climb around in!
Botany Town Centre has got all kinds of things happening during the school holidays including today. Some free, some for a small price. Check out today's schedule here.
Billy T : Te Movie is showing for free at Manurewa Marae at 4pm today! They're also showing four short Maori films before hand. Everyone is welcome, just bring a gold coin for tea and biscuits at intermission. Love that's it's a nice and early so you can all have a bit of a night out.
This weather is pretty perfect for the zoo which is great because today there will be a guided walk around Te Wao Nui, the beautiful native bird sanctuary, as part of Matariki. It's hosted by the Auckland Museum and so there will be some Taonga Puoro (traditional Maori instruments) specialists coming along for the walk.
On Sunday afternoon ditch the kids with the grandparents for an hour or two and go see the free film screening at the Art Gallery! Four different short Pacific Island themed films as part of the new HOME AKL exhibition.
Of course if you'd rather lounge on your couch in the sunshine, the kids can still learn how to beatbox thanks to these helpful videos from Biz Markie!
To celebrate the opening of the Home AKL exhibition, the Auckland Art Gallery is throwing another Big Day Art on Saturday. Entry to the exhibition will be free all day and there are a whole lot of free events planned for the day. Interactive drop in sessions where kids and adults alike can make art as well as a great line up of performances.
Don't forget you can get a voucher at the gallery for $4 all-day parking at the Victoria Street car park. Bargain!
10am - 12pm: Drop-in session - North Atrium Weaving with Home AKL artists Louisa Humphry and Kaetaeta Watson
11.30am-12pm: Lower Grey Gallery
Enjoy traditional Tongan singing with the Fofo'anga group
12:15pm: Prestige Dance Crew - North atrium
1pm-3pm: Drop-in session - North Atrium
Building sculptural landscape withHome AKLartist Janet Lilo
2pm-2.20pm: Artist talk - Level 1 exhibition spaces
Artist Angela Tiatia gives short talk on her works Material Culture and Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis.
2.30pm-2.50pm: Artist talk - Level 1 exhibition spaces
Join artist Leilani Kake as she introduces her video work Ariki Tupu'anga.
3pm - 3.30pm: Poetry - Level 1 exhibition spaces Contemporary Samoan poet Courtney Meredith is joined by other Pacific poets for an emotional spoken word response to Home AKL.
3.30pm - 4pm: Tatau Dance - North Atrium
Tatau Dance finishes the day with their renowned high-energy and fast-paced Samoan dance.
T-shirt - Trelise Cooper Kids (Second hand of course! I paid just $6 for it!) Cardie - Cotton On Hat - From the St Vinnie's shop in Mangawhai Pink Cords (from last week's Style post) - Cotton On Yo Gabba Gabba Vans - Qubic
