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Whaikōrero is a taonga of immense mana so it must be regarded with respect and dignity. To be the spokesperson of the iwi carries responsibilities to do it to the best of one's ability. Being the face of the people and expressing their thoughts and ideas is not a frivolous task. Respect, care and aroha are vital if the iwi is to be represented well.
When I was a principal an urgent call came through. I had to get to the science classroom fast. The teacher and students had locked themselves inside. Outside was a former student who had come into the school wanting to sort out a student in the class. Armed with a brick he bludgeoned the door trying to force his way in. Then he threw it at the walls smashing holes.
Marae do not operate by themselves. People run marae. When a kaupapa (occasion) happens whānau or iwi kainga (home people) will man the kitchen. They do the work to prepare and put food on the table. Their support is because of whakapapa. The mana of the manuhiri (visitors) is uppermost and ultimately the mana of their marae. Everyone pitches in to carry the load.
Māui, the Hercules of the South Pacific, an over-achiever, whose many names captured his temperament and attitude to life. Variously known as Māui tikitiki o Taranga, Māui i toa, Māui nukurau and Māui potiki he was innovative, daring and resourceful, an agent of change who turned Te Ao Maori (the Māori world) on its head. Harnessing fire, fishing up Aotearoa or in trying to overcome death Māui did it all.
Stories are the barometer of an organisation’s culture. If a leader wants to know the wairua (state or energy) of their organisation then listen to the stories about it. Organisations with cultures of bullying, sexism, prejudice, poor customer service or party hard attitudes fall over, lose reputations and customers.
