Tikanga Māori hui; Hongoeka Marae, Plimmerton

When I heard that this hui would be here at Hongoeka I immediately knew it was the right place.

When we look upon the Tahuhu of this whare, Te Heke Mai Raro, we are transformed by the strength and courage of the tupuna whaea who comprise the Ngati Toa Rangatira whakapapa and history.

We are embedded in a story of generations of women who have promoted and maintained the values of the people.  It is a story which reminds us that peace and harmony should reign both within this wharenui - and outside.

If we ponder on nga heke, we will see the strength of whakapapa ties that link the people to their hapu and iwi, but also project into the future.

Looking around at the tukutuku panels we see panels celebrating the great ocean journeys of the people; we see purapura whetu - the millions of stars; literally the people and the families.

And we see Kaokao - the armpit - representing the comfort and protection given by a parent to a child.

All of these symbols ground us in the korero we will have today.

Each of you here whakapapa back to your own symbols, that restore and replenish you.  They embrace you in the knowledge that is at the very essence of who you are.

I am so pleased to be with you, to celebrate your courage as advocates and to acknowledge the legacy you each bring with you to your mahi.

E hara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.

The strength you each bring to the role of Maori advocates is the strength of a collective vision - a vision of whanau ora.

You bring with you the strategies and solutions of your own people which you draw upon to make a positive difference for the safety and wellbeing of our tamariki and our whanau.

Although this marae was opened in 1997, it was over two decades ago that the people of Hongoeka whanau began carving; obtaining totara from Turangi, Bulls, Whanganui, Palmerston North and the Hutt Valley. 

Around the same time, discussions began about the making of the tukutuku panels.    Kiekie was collected in Plimmerton, Waikanae and Otaki; and pingao from the beaches of Tangimoana.

And all the time people were planning, debating, researching, sharing ideas, adjusting ideas, visiting other wharenui, experimenting, thinking.

In many ways, this is much the same process that we need to go through, to ensure we do the very best by our whanau and our precious mokopuna.

We must be open to sharing ideas, to looking at other models, to strengthen our own home base.     Just as this whare became the meeting house of people; whanau ora must become the meeting place for us all.

Whanau ora is knowing that we have our own solutions within us.

And that those solutions begin with the notion of mana, ahua ake - the absolute uniqueness; as Dr Rangimarie Rose Pere would say - to know that each person is a miracle in expression.

Whanau ora is about linking the kawai rangatira, the noble tentacles of the human condition - mauri, wairua, te taha tinana, whatumanawa, hinengaro, taonga tukuiho, whanaungatanga.

This is what gives us our greatest strength - what people call the Maori heart.

As advocates for children and young people who witness family violence your greatest challenge is to inspire communities to respond to our children.

You become the tahuhu for the people - inspiring whanau to be free from violence; encouraging us all to ensure children are safe, happy and protected.

We know that in early observations of whanau, the missionaries and early settlers spoke in high praise of the way in which parent were so fond of their children.  In one of the letters of Samuel Marsden he spoke about the Maori communities he visited:

"I saw no quarrelling while I was there.  They are kind to their women and children.

 I never observed with a mark of violence upon them, nor did I ever see a child struck".

These writings must continue to remind us of our fullest potential as advocates, to support and strengthen whanau to be the very best parents for their tamariki that they can possibly be. 

All of us must take up that collective responsibility to look out for the best interests of our children, to take action to keep them safe.

It is about inspiring, influencing and activating those around us to support children; to be alert to their needs, to listen to them.

This morning I faced one of the utter contradictions of our lives.

I was looking through some research which was telling me that although the great majority of people are opposed to violence, when an incident occurs they are not sure what the appropriate action is, how to act, or how to remain safe.

They feel paralysed in fear - not knowing what to do - feeling that it was not their business, or that they did not want to put themselves in danger.

Wanting to act but not knowing how.

And then in the door came my beautiful mokopuna tuarua, Nga Wairiki.

Eighteen months old, deep brown eyes that you just want to melt into; the cuddliest of cheeks to kiss and caress; and quite simply the most beautiful bundle of joy one could ever imagine.

For him, I would walk on fire, I would go to the end of the earth.

And it made it all so clear to me.

How can we support our whanau - who are so brimming with passion and love for their children - and yet so caught in the crossfire of not knowing what to do.

It is the most challenging aspiration that we could ever live up.

And yet we must.   For our children, and for their children, and their children beyond them.

Thank you, again, for inviting me to share a small part of your hui. 

I wish you all great courage and enormous energy in working together to bring about whanau ora with every breath that you take.