Ngahi Bidois: Shared journey before flying the nest

Our children have been privileged to extend their village borders to include te ao katoa - the whole world - through travel. Photo / Supplied

Lots of people have been asking after my two children since I have written about them occasionally in my articles.

An ancient African proverb reminds us that no man, woman or whanau is an island and it takes a whole village to raise a child. This has certainly been true for the raising of our two tamariki, who are about to leave home, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to update the "village" with their progress.

I think it would be good to define their village. Especially since they have been privileged to extend their village borders to include te ao katoa - the whole world through travel and opportunities to places such as Tahiti and Mexico through Te Kura o Te koutu.

They have also been a part of our business trips to England, Singapore and America. On their journey, they have met amazing people and have been hosted by outstanding organisations such as Google in New York.

They have swum in many pools, rivers and seas worldwide but have never found a river as cold, refreshing and cleansing as the Awahou, which flows alongside one of their marae, Tarimano of Ngati Rangiwewehi. Ngati Tahu/Whaoa marae have also been their home.

They have had many lessons by many teachers at many kohanga reo and kura ranging from Palmerston North to Tauranga to Rotorua and have learned several languages - Maori, Spanish and English. They have also had many teachers outside of the classroom, including friends, neighbours, whanau and sports coaches.

During their worldwide travels, they have visited learning institutes such as Oxford and Cambridge universities where their papa bought the T-shirt and raised their expectations by encouraging them that they could be attending any university in any country of their choice, but the least they would do is a degree.

So after all the words from each of you and after all the input from their worldwide village and high expectations from their parents, they are both leaving home to attend Auckland University. To be precise, Eruera left home two years ago to attend Auckland University to complete the Certificate in Health Studies through the Maori and Pacific admission scheme (Mapas).

After one year in the bio-med degree in 2014, he was accepted into medicine - so only four more years to go for him. His sister, Tumanako, is looking to follow in his footsteps and also hopes to become a medical doctor. She is enrolled on the health cert this year through Mapas.

So thank you. To every one of you who shared your words, wisdom, time and energy with any of our two children to date. Thank you. Their achievements are your achievements as are the achievements of any of the tamariki in our village.

Nga mihi nui ake nei ki a koutou katoa. Nau te tautoko, na maua te tautoko ka ora a raua moemoea i te ao katoa.

On a personal note, it is humbling and sad to see both of my tamariki leave the nest. I will miss them both dearly. I cried for weeks when my son left. I will cry for weeks when my daughter leaves too.

But they are good tears. Tears of gratitude for the privilege it has been to have two amazing children who have shared their words, wisdom, time and energy with me on my journey and are now adults.

The good news is ... I believe the best is yet to come. I hope the best is yet to come in your village too.

- Ngahihi o te ra is from Te Arawa and is an international speaker, author and consultant. His book is available at Mcleods book store and the Lakeside Cafe in Rotorua. His website can be viewed at www.ngahibidois.com