Learning Māori puts a menemene on my kanohi
The Māori language class I’m taking is the most joyous part of my week. Everyone is there to learn. Everyone is welcoming. It's a diverse bunch of people from ...
Tag: national identity
Calming our cultural nerves with Māori language
I would love to see the next generation of New Zealanders fluent in conversational Māori. I would love for it to be perfectly normal to hear at the supermarket:...
No compelling reason to change the NZ flag
I still don’t think we have been given a compelling argument to change the national flag. It is not the money that bothers me. It is the timing. Why now? What’s...
Grappling with the Treaty of Waitangi
I usually avoid thinking too much about Waitangi Day because it seems suspiciously like something I might need to feel guilty about. That niggle of discomfort m...
NZ Flag Idol
... "Sir, I’m keen for a new flag too, but I wonder if we are skipping a few important steps here."
What makes a Kiwi?
... I’ve been trying to figure out what defines me as a New Zealander. There’s a definite something that makes me Kiwi, but I’m not entirely sure what that some...