More interesting things to take photos of~~
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Maori culture concert and Ta Moko
I should have been an Anthropologist-- I would have loved an excuse to study people and cultures.
Recently, visiting one of my sweet, newly postpartum couples we had a conversation about prejudice and such--and the young dad mentioned that he is looked upon differently when he is out and about (my MN term) since he is obviously "MAORI," especially on the South Island. He explained it as sometimes the NZ Pakeha (European descent) farmers are not as nice to him... as if expecting trouble or think he might not show up to work. This young man is a shearer and a good one--if all the certificates in his house indicate!
There is only about 11% Maori on the S. Island. Interestingly, his partner who is also Maori, but looks "white," as she described herself, said on the North Island--she would be resented by Maori "girls" for being with a Maori guy.
The sculptures were taken at the entrance to the main park in Rotorua.
The food for the meal was cooked in an Hangi--which is underground. Obviously now above ground to cool off.
Sorry the photos were not so great--evening, flash photography, being far away. I never did get any really nice shots of the women.
The "warriors" arrive in their waka (canoe) and the facial tatoos are just painted on--but the body ones are real. The "chief" has the full thigh and buttocks tatoo which he said took 55 hours to complete with modern technique--apparently the traditional tools of a chisel would have taken longer and involved more pain.
Here is some more information for the curious:
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources/Moko/Pages/overview.aspx
Again--to give another point of view--especially the section on Moko Today about non-Maori peoples wearing ta moko...{sorry the link won't work for some reason], but it is interesting to consider the concerns that Pakeha are using Maori culture without credit or appropriately.
If I were Maori I would have a beautiful tatoo on my chin to cover up my dog bite scar!! Traditionally women only had their chin and sometimes, lips cheeks, neck done.
Photo taken from this great website:
mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=5455
I have several had several interesting conversations with New Zealanders about a movie: Once We Were Warriors~ it still bothers me, and I did have my ears and eyes covered for parts of it... and yet I think it was important for me to watch, particularly to understand some of the background culture of the women I am serving. Not necessarily to the extreme depicted in this movie, but role of women, substance use/abuse and all that it entails.
I recommend that it be watched...if you who can deal with the violence and have an interest in learning more about gangs, poverty, alcoholism, Maori culture (one facet) it will make you think reallllllly hard:
http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/feature-project/pages/Once-Were.php
Recently, visiting one of my sweet, newly postpartum couples we had a conversation about prejudice and such--and the young dad mentioned that he is looked upon differently when he is out and about (my MN term) since he is obviously "MAORI," especially on the South Island. He explained it as sometimes the NZ Pakeha (European descent) farmers are not as nice to him... as if expecting trouble or think he might not show up to work. This young man is a shearer and a good one--if all the certificates in his house indicate!
There is only about 11% Maori on the S. Island. Interestingly, his partner who is also Maori, but looks "white," as she described herself, said on the North Island--she would be resented by Maori "girls" for being with a Maori guy.
The sculptures were taken at the entrance to the main park in Rotorua.
Here is some more information for the curious:
http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/Education/OnlineResources/Moko/Pages/overview.aspx
Again--to give another point of view--especially the section on Moko Today about non-Maori peoples wearing ta moko...{sorry the link won't work for some reason], but it is interesting to consider the concerns that Pakeha are using Maori culture without credit or appropriately.
If I were Maori I would have a beautiful tatoo on my chin to cover up my dog bite scar!! Traditionally women only had their chin and sometimes, lips cheeks, neck done.
mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=5455
I have several had several interesting conversations with New Zealanders about a movie: Once We Were Warriors~ it still bothers me, and I did have my ears and eyes covered for parts of it... and yet I think it was important for me to watch, particularly to understand some of the background culture of the women I am serving. Not necessarily to the extreme depicted in this movie, but role of women, substance use/abuse and all that it entails.
I recommend that it be watched...if you who can deal with the violence and have an interest in learning more about gangs, poverty, alcoholism, Maori culture (one facet) it will make you think reallllllly hard:
http://www.filmarchive.org.nz/feature-project/pages/Once-Were.php
Thursday, March 11, 2010
What's not to love about the North Island?
My last hour of waiting at the grotty hostel was redeemed by meeting Josh. It was his 19th birthday that day and he has been traveling around NZ to surf. He spent his youth growing up in Zambia and West African countries as his dad worked for WHO as a physician. He was personable, polite, intelligent--a young man to make every parent proud. I wished I had asked him for his mother's email, so I could tell her what a terrific young man he is. The world is going to be just fine with kiddos like him.
My Birthspirit Workshop was better than I could have imagined and I am renewed with hope and love for midwifery. I got to spend a week with some of the 9 of the coolest midwives and had two great coordinators...Sara Wickham and Maggie Banks both are PhD midwives and both have a strong belief in normal birth, especially at home. My workshop attendees included: 2 Aussies, 3 UK, 2 Americans--the other one has residency and has lived in NZ for 7 years...but she trained as one of the little known Certified Midwives at the Downstate program and is credentialed through ACNM. Our brochure and the cottage where we all stayed.
What I found fascinating was that most of the midwives had traveled or lived in other countries-which added to our worldview. After the workshop, I spent a couple nights with an awesome midwife--who is a recent graduate in NZ. However, she has extensive years of experience being a doula in the UK and a midwife assistant in Australia. Thanks Penny for being such a wonderful host~~~
I had some time afterwards--seeing a bit of the North Island--the best was swimming in the warm sea. The sheep below was taken in the corrugated sheet metal capitol of NZ. The stone sculpture was taken in Hamilton--it is a sculpture version of a Maori feather cloak which were highly prized.
I think this one is obvious...
Ladies lawn bowling in Rotorua and me standing in front of the Rotorua museum...with the very English gardens.
Drove through the Kiwi fruit capitol of NZ and this is interesting to see how they are grown.
Last, but certainly not least for LOTR fans...I drove through the Shire. Yep, it is quite lovely--but the whole darn country is pretty beautiful! No, I did not do the tour, as I did not have enough time...but I would have for my children who loved the story and movies.
My Birthspirit Workshop was better than I could have imagined and I am renewed with hope and love for midwifery. I got to spend a week with some of the 9 of the coolest midwives and had two great coordinators...Sara Wickham and Maggie Banks both are PhD midwives and both have a strong belief in normal birth, especially at home. My workshop attendees included: 2 Aussies, 3 UK, 2 Americans--the other one has residency and has lived in NZ for 7 years...but she trained as one of the little known Certified Midwives at the Downstate program and is credentialed through ACNM. Our brochure and the cottage where we all stayed.
What I found fascinating was that most of the midwives had traveled or lived in other countries-which added to our worldview. After the workshop, I spent a couple nights with an awesome midwife--who is a recent graduate in NZ. However, she has extensive years of experience being a doula in the UK and a midwife assistant in Australia. Thanks Penny for being such a wonderful host~~~
I had some time afterwards--seeing a bit of the North Island--the best was swimming in the warm sea. The sheep below was taken in the corrugated sheet metal capitol of NZ. The stone sculpture was taken in Hamilton--it is a sculpture version of a Maori feather cloak which were highly prized.
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