From our Whānau to yours'

In this time of ‘lockdown’, whether your kainga is bulging with whanau, or you are home alone, our priority is whanaungatanga - keeping our relationships and connections alive, and thinking about others. A phone call, an email, a Facebook post, a tweet, a photo, a video call, a letter, a karakia, or a wave. Keep connected!

We know its going to be a roller coaster on all levels emotionally, mentally, socially…..as the whakatauki goes, he aroha whakato, he aroha puta mai (when aroha is planted/grown….aroha is produced/expressed). 

We are compelled in this situation to continue to exercise aroha more than ever, by way of korero to one another, and actions of manaakitanga (albeit at a distance for some), and reassurance to our tamariki and mokopuna that we will survive this together.

I heard Nigel Latta this morning on tv state that as parents and adults it is our mission to focus on creating and maintaining peace and calm for our tamariki/mokopuna. Abandon your regular rules and expectations and go with activities and things that produce the most satisfaction for you and your tamariki/mokopuna, and the least amount of stress to manage. It kind of goes against the grain of trying to keep things normal, but its not normal, and for the time being we need to adapt to what it takes to get through!

Kia kaha tatou. Keep talking to our tupuna, our Atua and te taiao to guide us, protect us and uplift us.