Women’s Suffrage Celebrations

Are We There Yet?        Many events  are planned to celebrate the 125th year since women were granted voting rights in New Zealand         On 19 September 1893 the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law. As a result of this landmark legislation, New Zealand became the […]

There’s Nothing Like a Dame

And we can’t write about women’s issues without noticing that this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list pays tribute to women in an unexpected way…for the first time ever, there are more Dames than Knights at the top of the list- and what an interesting group, and we all know “there’s nothing like a dame!”…. …except two […]

Matariki

    At last in Aotearoa we have our own  unique Matariki Festival for mid winter. In Tamaki Makaurau events include dawn karakia, lights on Sky Tower and the Harbour Bridge, kite days, kapa haka groups, jazz concerts, plays, story-telling, films, feasts, street parties…a month to reflect on the past year and celebrate spring and the […]

Delighting in Diversity

We really appreciate the wealth of cultural activities available in Auckland.  The Auckland Writers’ Festival and Film  Festivals , and the Auckland Photography Festival, have provided  an extraordinary range of events in May, June and July.  And then there are live theatre shows, art galleries and community activities as well.  Of course our choices from […]

Ngā Maunga o Tāmaki Mākaurau

After two months in our apartment we feel settled, and are increasingly appreciating the environment around us.  Tāmaki Mākaurau is a city of fifty volcanoes, nestled between two harbours.  The rooftop deck of our apartment building offers amazing 36o degree views of volcanoes, harbours and  islands.   Tanya has captured views of some of the […]

Our neighbourhood…

The Grey Lynn neighbourhood is diverse, colourful and fascinating. We go to the Farmers’ Market at the Community Centre  every Sunday morning for our weekly fresh produce, and every Thursday for a Tai Chi session; and relish a coffee at one of the many cafes now and then.   Charmaine walks, reacquainting herself with plane-tree-lined avenues, […]

Ngāti Whātua Today…

Ngāti Whātua,  mana whenua of this area, have an important commemoration coming up this month,  to which everyone is welcome.       On Friday 25 May, Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei will mark the 40th anniversary of  a defining moment in New Zealand history- the invasion in 1978 of Ngāti Whātua land at Bastion Point by government-ordered police […]

“Whānau”

We are fortunate to know Mei Hill, artist, of Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara, and Kaitiaki Toi at Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei . We have just installed this beautiful acrylic work of hers, called “Whanau”,  in our living room.  It sits beside Nic Moon’s “Ancient Woman”,  hand crafted paper and acrylic work (1996).