Making the most of the moments
You’re lucky to have loved ones in your life. Remember that, and tell them when you do.
What a Car Crash & Death Taught Me about Life & Happiness Pt.1
Dear H, This one is pretty personal and there’s a lot packed into the paragraphs, so take your time reading them. These first three letters were the hardest for me to write. But I did so instead of sitting down with you when you’re older, because it’s still easier for me to catch in writing …
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Te Tiriti and Systemic Inequities in Aotearoa: Why the Kōrero Matter
Te Tiriti and Systemic Inequities in Aotearoa: Why the Kōrero Matters
Using story to address bias
stories like this can be effective in raising awareness about bias is by allowing readers to see the world through the eyes of the characters. By experiencing the events of the story as if they are happening to us, we are able to get a firsthand understanding of the impact that bias can have on individuals and communities.
She thinks she knows – Pera Barrett
“The bad man might be there soon, Mummy?” Riley was wide-eyed, trying to peer out the living room window from the couch.
Jess lowered herself from the pull-up bar and smiled at her daughter. “Maybe, darling. Baddies can be tricksy sometimes.”
“Did you catch lots and lots of them when you were in the army?” Riley said. “I bet you were a good catcher.” She clambered down from the couch.
Jess grunted and bent to the side, stretching her back muscles, then wiped the sweat from her face. “I did what I could, we all did, darling.” She leaned down and kissed Riley on the forehead. “So all the precious little soldiers like you can grow up free and strong.”
Making our luck
Might we make our own luck? Not mine. Not yours. But ours? Growing up, I thought the kids from rich families were the lucky ones. I imagined all the extra opportunities for success they’d have. Friends in high places and the belief they belong there, intergenerational money to pay away the day-to-day pressures. I was …
Te reo Māori pronunciation
Swap the first vowel in your name with the letter u. If the first vowel in your name is u, swap it with the letter a. Now, imagine you’re sitting in class on your first day at a new school. You wait as the teacher reads the roll. You’re ready for your chance to chime …
Whare tapa whā bullet journal
In case this is useful for anyone else on their haerenga reo who like me, struggle to prioritise kaupapa. It’s a weekly Whare Tapa Whā based bullet journal/planner with a section to choose a whakataukī for the week, and a section to note what words/sentences you’re going to practice using this week. After a few …
Bias and filters
We probably believe in very different things. Who or what created the earth. What happens when we die. Those are some pretty fundamental beliefs that most of us know we can co-exist with. We have different beliefs about what’s going on around us ALL THE TIME. We look at the same world through our different …
Listen to those who know
Every passenger seems to know something about what might be causing the strange noise in my car. They’re not mechanics, so I don’t listen to them. I’ll go to my cousin Raymond. He’s been studying and working on engineering and cars for decades. He knows more than me about cars and I trust his knowledge. …
The Cleaners – Pera Barrett
The morning bustle of workers moved down the hallway from one meeting room to another.
‘Susi,’ Lavita hissed, wrinkles creasing her brown forehead. ‘Put it in your bag before they see. Silly woman.’
Privilege and mānuka rods
It’s easy to judge an individual based on what we think their choices were. Especially if you’ve never heard the cries of a frustrated child struggling with a boulder that nobody else sees. Especially if you’ve forgotten about the lever you carried since birth.