SHARON HAWKE

Ngāti Whātua, Ngāti Mahuta

Ko te pātiki he kai, he ika, he tohu!

In the realm of Māori aspiration both past present and future as workers within our community in health and well-being, we rely on the kaitiakitanga of Papatūānuku. Her abundance. Her generosity. Her protection. Her participation. Her compassion and her foresight for all of us.

Once upon a time, we walked with her, upon her with respect, with connection and with an umbilical cord of understanding and mutual love. Can we utter this same phrase today? Is it at all possible that we have lost that connection with the loss of land, the loss of tikanga and the loss of our poetic reo Rangatira? This question is rhetorical but worthy of repetition in a forum that focusses upon the well-being of our Māori workforce in this sector.

We as human beings have served her a bad pass with our obsolete amnesia tic arrogance. We have hurt her in every way possible. Yet, does our ignorance persuade future generations to perform just as badly?

So as Māori how do we decide to turn the tide on forgetfulness? We forgot her status in our lives and only have a part time commitment to fixing up the paru we have caused. Had we been more Māori in our practice we may not have caused her so much hurt. And we must not forget Ranginui either. Their relationship is fundamental to our survival and to our sustaining a worthy existence.