GUEST BLOG: Wellington to Waiheke and back

Carla, a Māori Community Outreach Coordinator at Palmerston North City Library, reflects on her journey while on the Whiria te Tāngata programme.

Kei tēnā, kei tēnā, kei tēnā ano. Tōnā ake ahua, Tōnā ake mauri, Tōnā ake mana – Each and every one has their own uniqueness, life essence and presence

This was certainly the case when the nine of us from different parts of the country with all different backgrounds, ethnicities and roles within libraries came together to form the second Kākaho cohort for Whiria te Tāngata.

We had National Library, Public Libraries, University Libraries, Corporate Libraries. Some nearing retirement, some just starting out. Over the next eight-month period we would be learning and developing skills within the four workstreams of the programme, Waharua: Mātauranga Māori, Poutama: Workforce Capability, Purapura Whetū: Data, Research and Evidence and Niho Taniwha: Collective Impact.

E rere te huata, kapohia! – When the spear flies, grab it! or Seize opportunities when they arise

A train ride from Palmy to Wellington was the start of my Whiria journey. I couldn’t help but think, ‘What the heck have I gotten myself into’ but like the whakataukī says, we need to seize the opportunities when they arise. So that’s what I did. Walking into the Conference Room at Atura Hotel to be greeted with the smiling face of Jewels put my mind at ease.

Then meeting the rest of the TTM team and kākaho, I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. While nerve-racking, as all new things are, I think the group gelled well from the get-go.

This gathering would give us the opportunity to get to know each other and meet the people that were to guide us on this journey, Carla, Rā, Jewels and Saarah.

Ahakoa he iti he pounamu – Although it is small it is precious greenstone

Delayed and cancelled flights and a VERY expensive taxi fare (courtesy of Air NZ) from Wellington to Palmy were part of my journey to Arahura marae for the hui ā tau (annual meeting) for Te Rōpū Whakahau.

This would be the second meeting of the kākaho. We heard from mana whenua, Ngāti Waewae, about key aspects and history of the marae. We visited the awa o Arahura to look for pounamu and other stones.

We watched the local rangatahi perform kapa haka. We listened to Kaimahi Māori in the GLAM sector talk about their mahi. We travelled to Moana, Māwhera, Barrytown and other surrounding areas and last but not least, we had whitebait fritters for breakfast.

We were given permission to look for and keep any pounamu we were lucky enough to find along the Arahura awa. I didn’t find any pounamu, but I did develop a habit of looking for stones everywhere I go. What a beautiful place and beautiful people that matches the beauty of the pounamu that can be found there.

Mahia te mahi hei painga mō te iwi – Work for the betterment of the people

Governance training, our third meeting in Auckland. I think the whakataukī above sums up nicely what I got out of the training. Right things, right way, right purpose for the best outcomes for the organisation. Let the goals and values of the organisation be what guides you. Be a helicopter.

Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū! – Feel the fear and do it anyway

Wow! Waiheke Island! Who on earth gets to go to Waiheke Island as part of a development programme. Well, I did. Ngā mihi ki te mana whenua, Ngāti Paoa.

This was our fourth and final get together as a cohort. While there was excitement of visiting the island for the first time, there was also trepidation of the underprepared presentation I was about to do. Oh well, not much you can do once you’re there. The surroundings and people surrounding me certainly made it easier to get through.

Back to Palmy. Now to put action into the action led project. So, after all the learning, experiences, and connections I have made, I concluded that to build sustainability, capacity and capability in the sector, we need to first build the relationship with those that will be in the sector in the future. “Make mokopuna decisions.” I decided to name my project Te Pūtake, from the whakataukī, Ko te tamaiti te pūtake o te kaupapa – The child, the heart of the matter.