Kia ora,
This is just a heads up that Primo seems to be down for some people. It seems people can click on the links for Primo, but only receive a white screen back!
We have placed in an ‘IT emergency’ and we will let everyone know when things are back to working order.
If you are one of the people that has had this issue please let us know so we have a better idea what might be causing this.
Thanks!
By Poharama Nopera, Learning Advisor
Māhuru doesn’t just mean September. The translation of Māhuru (beginning of Spring), refers to the fact that the earth has now acquired warmth.
As such, it also represents a time to promote the planting of crops for our Māra Kai (Gardens.)
Different narratives are shared by many Iwi. Traditionally the month starts during the period of either Rakaunui (the full moon) or Whiro (the new moon) depending on what part of Aotearoa, Te Wai Pounamu you live in.
Māhuru is also the name for the star constellation, scientifically known as Alfard – whose appearance in the northern night sky heralds the arrival of the season.
This is the time when the days become longer and warmer, and where much labour-intensive work is performed, with the ploughing of earth and the tending of gardens; and for many farmers – the birth of kararehe (animals).
More recently, it has been signified as a period in which to acknowledge Te Reo Māori, with efforts such as Māhuru Māori language week. It is a time in which we can celebrate much activity, and to support each other as we acknowledge our heritage and culture.
The Kūmara (Sweet Potato) is an important food source, that has many health benefits; containing a variety of nutrients, vitamins and is high in fibre.
Kūmara is generally planted during Spring and flourishes during the warmer months.
There are many different varieties of Kūmara that were grown traditionally, one of which was the Taputini. These Taputini were scraped of its skin, sliced into thin strips, and dried by placing on large rocks that retained the heat of the sun throughout the day and night. These were regarded as an absolute delicacy.
The Kūmara also has an interesting origin story. Scientists have found that the original source of the Kūmara is only in South America, near present day Peru, where it is still referred to as the ‘Kumar.’
In addition, the Kūmara is also mentioned in a well-known Whakatauki or proverb :-
‘E kore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka! – The humble kūmara does not boast of its own sweetness!’
As it is renowned for its sweet flavour, as opposed to the many varieties of potatoes that are available today – this proverb is an encouragement for people to be modest while discouraging arrogance! So, the lesson is……………..be a kūmara! 😊
New words (kupu):-
Te Pātaka Kōrero -Ara Library
He Kurutete Pihinga– Plant and Seedling Swap
Māhuru – September / Beginning of spring
Rakaunui – The full moon
Whiro – The new moon
Aotearoa – New Zealand
Te Wai Pounamu – South Island
Kararehe – Animals
Words relevant to planting / gardening:-
Whakatō – To plant
Kākano – Seed
Whakatipu – To grow
Māra Kai – Food Garden
Hauhake – To harvest
Putiputi – Flower
Hua Whenua – Vegetables
Hua Rākau – Fruit
Haumie Tiketike – God of uncultivated foods (produced naturally in the wild)
Ronga Ma Tāne – God of cultivated foods (such as the kūmara)
Kia ora Team!
Due to staff shortages, the library will open at 8 AM on weekdays until further notice. We apologise for the inconvenience 😢 We’re hoping to reopen in the early mornings in the next few weeks 🙂
The Library at all Ara Campus will be closed on Monday 26th September as we officially remember the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
This is a one off public holiday announced by the government last week and will be observed right across the country. There will be a national ceremony to remember the Queen in Wellington on that day.
Our normal hours of operation will resume at 7 am on Tuesday 27th September.
On the 14 September members of Ngā Tamatoa and Te Rōpu Reo Māori Society delivered the Māori language petition containing more than 30,000 signatures to Parliament. This inspired the first Māori Language Day in 1972 and was followed by celebrations of Māori Language Weeks from 1975 onwards.
For more background to the reo petition of 1972 read these articles from a range of news sources.
In the Wairoa Star article above, Dr Joseph Te Rito, who is also the brother of Ara’s Kaumatua Poutama, Harry Westrupp, shares his part in driving the reo petition of September 14 1972.
Visit Te wiki o te reo Māori – Ao Māori – Subject Guide and get inspired to learn more reo.
Attend this Māori Language Petition (Te Petihana) event online on 14 September commemorating this significant time for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Schedule
Opening karakia and speeches: 11:30am
Te Wā Tuku Reo Māori – Māori Language Moment: 12pm
Livestream
The event will be broadcasted live on:
Whakaata Māori website
Māori+ app on Apple or Google Play
Māori Television channel on TVEvent details
Parliament forecourt, corner of Lambton Quay and Molesworth St, Pipitea Wellington
Wenerei 14 o Hepetema (Wednesday 14 September)
11:30am – 1pm
Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori.
Language is the life force of Māori.
A blog from Barb Clendon, Kaitoko Ako/Learning Advisor, Woolston campus
Spring is here! The weather may not be very settled, but at least it is warmer than in winter. What a great time to get out and enjoy the beauty of Aotearoa by reconnecting with unspoilt nature!
Mason Durie, in his symbolic map of improving health, Te Pae Māhutonga, explains the importance of connecting with nature and also of building healthy lifestyle habits. There are so many extraordinary places to experience renewal and connection, especially in Te Wai Pounamu, the South Island. What better way to have a healthy break from the city/screens/sitting at work than to enjoy a walk?
Last spring, my husband and I went to enjoy the Hooker Valley track, near Aoraki/Mt Cook. The weather wasn’t great, but that added to the experience. It meant that there were a lot more waterfalls than usual.
The Hooker Valley track is categorised as an easy walking track. It is fairly flat, 10km return that takes about 3 hours to walk, including time to enjoy the views of lakes, rivers, mountains and alpine plants. The alpine scenery is spectacular. On a clear day you can see Aoraki/Mt Cook. This was not one of those days.
The hebes were flowering beautifully, though.
Luckily, we are well practised in hiking in the rain, so we were prepared with good footwear, warm layers and waterproof raincoats. Well, one of us was. We knew to keep our phones in waterproof bags. Well, one of us did! We had water bottles and snacks in our daypacks, and towels and a complete change of clothes in the car. We needed them!
We really enjoyed the fresh air, the alpine plants, the total change of environment. Well, one of us did! The other one said they were wet, cold and miserable, especially when it started to snow.
There were hardly any others on the track that day, but when the weather is nice there can be quite a few. It was fun to chat to the two other travellers that day. They were walking in to stay overnight at the fully restored historic Hooker Hut. I did not envy them trying to get their gear dry.
Our bright horizon lay in a warm hotel room and in the hot pools at Tekapo!
Remember to always check current track conditions before you go – things can change very quickly. Keep safe and enjoy!
Sources & More Information:
Department of Conservation. (n.d.). Hooker Valley Track. Hooker Valley Track (doc.govt.nz)
Durie, M. (2003). Ngā kāhui pou launching Māori futures. Huia.
Durie, M. (1999), Te Pae Māhutonga: a model for Māori health promotion, Health Promotion Forum of New Zealand Newsletter 49.
Frost, R. (2018). Aoraki Tai Poutini : a guide for mountaineers (4th ed.). New Zealand Alpine Club.
Pickering, M. (2017). Best day walks in the South Island . Author.
Ara Library Blog 