This week is Maori Language Week, and this year's theme - manaakitanga - basically means hospitality and kindness. It's a great theme and should be incorporated in everyday life not just to strangers but to your own family.
Last weekend while at a Waiariki Institute of Technology School of Journalism reunion,
I got the chance to listen to comedian Mike King talk. As many of us know Mike has never been short of something funny to say and he didn't let the crowd down. However, he said something I found quite profound.
He said we were quick to give total strangers the time of day, yet we don't do it to the people we love.
How many times have you let a total stranger rattle on talking to you about a bunch of nonsense - but if your love one did the same you'd tell them to shut up?
Now, I'm not saying from now on go up to total strangers and tell them "kaua e korero pena" (don't talk like that). What I am saying is we need to have more manaakitanga not just for strangers' points of view but for our family and friends.
Manaakitanga isn't just a word, it's a way of life. It's about nurturing relationships, looking after people. It's about being careful about how others are treated and focuses on the positives. It's about encouraging people to rise above their personal attitudes and feeling towards one another.
We are lucky to have three recognised languages in New Zealand - English, Maori and sign language. It is even better that one week out of the year we get to celebrate our native language.
Right here in Rotorua we have one of those pioneers who was instrumental in establishing the week. Cathy Dewes started the country's first Maori language school in 1987.
She is still the principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Ruamata today. There is a pepeha (proverb) I believe describes the work she does - Na to rourou, na taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi (with your food basket and my food basket, the people will thrive).
I'll leave you with this one last pepeha - He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata! He tangata! He tangata! (what is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!)
