Te Ururoa Flavell: It's time to rest and remember

It's been a big year for Waiariki MP and Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell, who will be celebrating the holidays with whanau and remembering those who have passed.

Greetings again everyone. Once again we have arrived at the season of joy, of celebrating whanau, of thinking of others, of food, eating and resting so let me start this final article by saying to us all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

As I was preparing to send out some Christmas cards, I was shocked to see the number of people who had passed on throughout the year. Just recently we lost our close friend Te Orohi Paul and then one of our kuia from Murupara, Ora Anderson.

So to the many families who have lost loved ones this year, our thoughts are with you.

Sometimes because we become so consumed with many duties of work, family, and the community, in the end we fail to look after ourselves.

One year ago my wife and I went on holiday. We freed ourselves from phones, computers, emails and kids (for short while). When we returned, it was right that we had that rest. By being so focused on work, one could be argumentative, moaning all of the time and frustrated at the world.

After the holiday, I was far more easy-going, comfortable and relaxed. What's the moral of the story? Rest up e hoa ma.

To finish then, there are still many who suffer from not enough money to get by and who suffer issues of poverty. Let's take some time to think of them this Christmas. Probably the greatest gift we receive is that of our children, grandchildren and partners. Let's celebrate that. Take care of each other.

Tena ano tatou katoa. E hoa ma, kua eke ano tatou ki te wa o te harikoa, o te noho a whanau nei, o te tuku whakaaro nui ki etahi, o te kai, o te moe, o te whakataa no reira me penei taku kii hei wawahi i taku korero i tenei wiki. Nga mihi nui ki tena ki tena o koutou mo te Kirihimete me te tau hou.

I a au e whakatikatika ana i aku kari Kirihimete, i te ohorere taku ngakau ki te kite i te maha o te hunga kua okioki i te roanga o tenei tau kua hipa. Nonatatanei ko tetahi o aku poutokomanawa, ko Te Orohi Paul tera, a ko tetahi o oku kuia no roto o Murupara, ko Ora Anderson tera. No reira, ki nga whanau i rongo nei i te ngau o mate i te roanga o tenei tau, ka nui te aroha ki a koutou.

E hoa ma, i etahi wa, i te mea kua pokea tatou e te mahi e nga take mano nei a whanau, a iwi, a kainga, a hapori, mea rawa ake, kaore tatou i te tiaki i a tatou ano. I te tau kua hipa i puta maua ko taku hoa ki te hararei. I whakawatea maua i a maua ano i nga take e hia ke nei. He nohonga kore waea, kore ipurangi, kore imera, kore tamariki (mo te wa poto)!

I te hokinga mai, katahi au ka marama, he tika taku whakataa. Na te ngenge na te aro ki te mahi, kua kohete, kua amuamu, kua tere hoha ki te ao! I muri mai i te whakataa, he ngawari ke te noho, he mauritau te wairua. He aha ke te tikanga o te korero? Me whakataa. Heoi ano hei kupu whakamutunga, ara noa atu te hunga e rongo tonu nei i te kore moni, kore rawa, i te pohara.

Me whai whakaaro ano tatou ki era o tatou e noho pera ana. Ko te koha ki a tatou ko te whanau, ko nga tamariki, ko nga mokopuna ko a tatou hoa noho. Me whakanui tatou i a tatou ano. Ma te wahi ngaro tatou e manaaki.