Wairua motuhake.
Te manu e kai ana i te miro nona te ngahere. Te manu e kai ana i te matauranga nona te ao. The bird that feeds on the miro berry inherits the forest. The bird that feeds on the basket of knowledge inherits the world.
Congratulations to all the students and their whanau who have finished a big school year. A big "noice" to all seniors who now move on to a new journey and pathway in life and all the best for your NCEA exam results. I left Rotorua Boys' High with School C and it did help open doors to Waiariki and then uni.
Also wanted to acknowledge and mihi to Ngati Whakaue for hosting a beautiful Christmas dinner at Whakaturia last week. The prize draw for the iPod, $1000 book and insulation was hotly contested and the kai was absolutely delicious. Many thanks to Ngati Whakaue Assets Trust and Te Komiti Nui o Ngati Whakaue for supporting a wonderful evening.
Speaking of Ngati Whakaue, let me korero with you about my friend, Chanz Mikaere, a wahine toa from Ohinemutu who weaves poetry that makes you think and produces art that can make you blink.
It can actually stop you dead in your tracks, as her alias "Kupu Sniper" suggests.
Chanz is bringing together a powerful group of revolutionary poets for the Psalms of the Revolution, a night of spoken word and poetry on tonight from 6pm. Poets Anatonio Te Maioha, Marama Davidson (daughter of actor Rawiri Paratene), Roly Habib, Brian Potiki and Ngatai Huata will be heard and hosted at Eleven53 (formerly Pheasant Plucker), bringing to the stage voices of challenge and crisis, struggle and hope. It is an R18 event and content will definitely offend. If you are lucky, there may still be door sales.
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Also this Friday, Sam Hema will be hosting a 90s night for all of us who used to jam at Fentons, Towers and Aces. He'll be rocking the Seismic bar with DJ Jay, DJ Shane, soul band Stylus and other invited guests.
And it was nice to welcome a rare pare back to Rotorua on Friday. It had been absent from Te Arawa since at least 1880, first travelling to Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1887, then on to the British Imperial Museum before finding its way to Blenheim. An incredible story of such a rare and exquisite piece. I'm sure we will learn more now she is home.
So this year is nearly over and, for some, the Mayan prophecy has dominated the past few weeks. It is said an old cycle will end and a new cycle will begin, that a new level of consciousness will emerge on 21.12.12. I have heard some say the world will plunge into three days of absolute darkness, while another says the illuminati and the New World Order will finally reveal their true power. I'm a simple bro and only hope Santa forgives me for the three crosses I notched up in 2012. If I awake to find two tickets to Te Matatini 2013 under my Christmas tree, I will be stoked, Santa. Thanking you in advance, Potaua.