Maori girls have been singing our songs of freedom for centuries in Aotearoa, New Zealand – long before Christopher Colombus put one Spanish slippered foot on American soil. Here’s one such Maori girl in action on the far left, continuing the spirit of these fine traditions and songs of freedom. :)
~Thank you H. Mauri ‘Ola. Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 4.4.11~
Posted by horiwood on April 5, 2011 in New Zealand, Music Industry News, Maori, Freedom, Polynesian, Tino Rangatiratanga, Freedom of Speech, Live Music Artists, Aotearoa New Zealand, Cross-Cultural Narratives, A Different View, Song Writers, Freedom of Expression, South Pacific, Heritage Arts & Culture, Kaitiakitanga
At the time of writing, this blog has reached 3,076,123. I write with mixed emotions today.
On one hand, a virtual landscape (this daily blog) has achieved the 3,000,000+ summit in Hollywood, the entertainment capitol of the world. This is something, no other Kiwi of Indigenous Peoples descent (like Avatar‘s story depicts with its creative scripting) has achieved. It perhaps shows that there is interest in such a blog. On the other hand, I observe Indigenous Peoples land rights, water ways rights, mineral rights on landscapes being sold (sometimes legitimately in a fair business like manner and sometimes overtime–in varying shifts of ownership titles changing hands – avoiding just agreements between people) like in the award winning book, . In severe cases of greed, we witness land or water territories (or earth’s resources) confiscation. Sometimes women have been the key actors in the process of confiscation. It needs a word today, because justice centered in adequate human rights governance is being eroded.
Patricia posits that the concept of Heritage, Arts & Culture is a nation’s land. Culture stems from it in dialogue back to a nation’s people. Art then is created from this dialogue. Hollywood’s biggest selling box office film in history depicted Patricia’s truths as a writer.
For example, Patricia writes novels like James Cameron‘s Avatar – but of real people… her own and their concerns with land struggles and equality of justice in laws appearing to be fair and the rather pretentious cue process some people take great pains to weave with a minefield of words and structure to slow down progress of justice being restored. She posited, that Indigenous People should remain on the land, because this ensures that people blinded by a buck as individuals appearing to look good in a moment, do not sell off the heartland of one’s culture – that being the land and its resources – without careful consideration. Patricia may never have had equal access to filmmaking technology and film budgets like James Cameron has across his career, yet Patricia is no Avatar in an Indigenous person’s body. She is the real deal Indigenous Peoples writer, telling similar stories like James Cameron is, using Indigenous Peoples themed story lines to raise awareness of earth preservation and Indigenous Peoples culture, directly linked to Earth preservation. Her words ring like a herald from Hollywood today on this blog. Together, we all share this milestone with her as a Maori-Kiwi storyteller who is worthy of being respected deeply.
I also think of Tonga, a South Pacific principality of beautiful Island dwelling people who are led by a Monarchy – like the UK are. Their culture has survived many storms. It cannot be scuttled and it is our role to strengthen Tonga, Tonga’s people, their spirit’s and their place in the world with humility, justice and most of all considerate friendship towards Polynesian Indigenous Peoples of the South Pacific.
Here’s a St.amp of a lady who knew a thing on two in her day (like Patricia Grace). Her name was Saloti Tupou III. She was 6’3″ tall. She was an outstanding poet, a much loved global figure and a darling of other leaders in the world. My family resided for a time with her people in the Principality of Tonga, a nation whose largeness of spirit – when humble is strong and belies it’s geographical terrain. Saloti’s father’s name was George. She was only 18 when she ascended to the throne and she was a strong friend of Queen Elizabeth II.
Her legacy is a reminder that perhaps we don’t value teenagers voices enough and we need to listen more to what some teens have to say. Both Saloti and Elizabeth did the same thing during some trying years they were called upon as young people and destined to bring stability to the world throughout the years. Patricia Grace and Tonga’s people – are US too, on this blog. The concerns of their people are Indigenous Peoples concerns, always. Their spirit is what we honor and promote in Hollywood today – as balance to the silly games men can sometimes get caught up in and play.
May our presence in the world honor Indigenous People as gifts to humanity with unique worldviews – in both virtual and tangible ways demonstrating respect and equality. Today, I share a moment, from a nation who first gave women equality in the legal system by giving women the right to vote. As a result Aotearoa New Zealand led the world in true democracy that is grounded in good kaupapa and tikanga (principles). Indigenous women therefore in Aotearoa New Zealand and the South Pacific, will always be voices to take heed to and listen to. This is their gift to preserve the world and her people. Few people have a worldview of the depth this people group have to offer being in relationship with inextricable links to landscape, people and place – like such examples of people offered on this blog today as a benefit of the world’s well being and best interests beyond just making bank. Peace!
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood, California USA. 4.1.11~
Posted by horiwood on April 2, 2011 in Entertainment Celebrity News, New Zealand, Hollywood Entertainment News, Think Green, Leadership, Maori, World Peace, Wisdom, Authors, Poetry, Equality, Human Rights, Polynesian, Democracy, Entertainment News, Women, Tonga, Spirit, Eco-Friendly, Tolerance, Earth, World History, Gratitude, Entertainment Distribution, Humanitarian Angels on Horiwood.Com, Words, humility, Writers, Wairua, Indigenous Thinking, South Pacific, Kaitiaki - The Action Movie Film Franchise, Kaitiakitanga, Patricia Grace, Economic Bullying, Saloti Tupou III
Kiwis discover they are spending more than what they’re earning. Go here to learn this shocking news. Tragic. Kiwis are not plastic people so this is a new trend, borrowing against your house like a Hansel and Gretal child’s tale needs to stop. This worship of a lifestyle no one can afford needs to stop around. The lifestyle is not real. Period. We are in a culture of delusion. Quit it.
The only one who wins not matter what happens is the Aussie owned Westpac bank and their Kiwi government based buddies dressed in blue (sadly) who out of the blue appear now, very uncharacteristcally to have a penchant for buying their fame and not considering future generations. Like a lot of government story’s in the ghost of the past, this government (a favorite of the people) now appear to be selling a nation out.
I base this on the sole statistical fact (politics is a mathematical science after all) of a political culture that is over-eager to sell off too much Kiwi owned assets to offshore buyers than what is best for the nation’s future flow and what we can afford. And why does Australia on 90% of New Zealand’s banking infrastructure?
Kaitiakitanga (a legally protected view of leadership) is supposed to guard against this trend. Legally kaitiakitanga as a concept (and spiritually) will do this. Where are Maori at the decision making table (at the point of asset’s sale final sign off/ or rejection of sale in this process), to put the brakes on this inane Tom foolery trend that is not wise for all Kiwis? One must ask from a distant shore this one question.
The NZ Herald reports, “Yet [New Zealand's] spending in total and wages rose over that period, as did population and spending per capita. How did we spend more per person than we earned per person?” Essentially, we borrowed from offshore too much under the visage of selling too many assets to foreigners.” Children’s children weren’t in this picture at any juncture of points of sale. That’s the basis of agreed upon Kiwi culture. How did this go amiss?
How did this occur? And why?
I need to do a swipe test of credibility soon as a safe guard against economic cancer pretending to be smart leadership if this continues. Immediately my brain starts busy with the words “pimped out” “keynesian delusional economies (create jobs by sending the unemployed off to wars to look good), “pied piperism politics” selling young people out, because of too much debt over their heads etc. That culture rising in all of this (if not curbed) appears to be key, apparently. Good politics is very basic. It’s about who gets what when and how. When you lose sight of this simple equation, you’re on grill on tax payers funded dime.
If you’re going to build an empire for yourself post political life jump now and fund yourself to further your own global spotlight. If you’re going to build an empire for future generations, you won’t sell off pieces of the country until there’s nothing left. Again, Maori ensure this doesn’t happen.
Don’t use tax payers funds to sell out a nation so you can shine if you’re a politician. Put honestly, NZ politics needs watching right now. The seduction of power of the current ‘cool’ peeps, is beginning to cost us a future. This is inexcusable in my humble opinion as a non politician, as a non financial adviser but just from a cultural stand point. Let’s talk beaches and who is best at this juncture to manage and take care of them. Clearly, such assets are at risk. This new news is really quite shocking. I don’t like it all. We have to faith and trust in our leaders, but stop bleeding the nation of blood, future hope and increasing despair over the peoples heads, to make them more susceptible to outside ownership in future years. Don’t talk strong mateship rhetoric, when that equals slavery of the people. In Hollywood terms, the nations ‘father’ (s) are beginning to look a little like Star Wars, meaning they’re playing into the Darth Vader game, without consent. No! What can pull them back from working for NATO after they quit politics, while having sold NZ down the creek of debt? one must ask (jokingly) on this Star Wars rehashed film? George Lucas (a real Hollywood film director, is signed up to give his personal wealth via The Giving Pledge to the poor), he doesn’t bleed his nation dry, with the nation’s own assets. Politicians should make more like George perhaps on a personal level, to keep their day jobs (outside of fantasies of grandeur, post office) in check perhaps. Or, am I just being a downer to a party that’s getting out of control? Or worse, that hasn’t even started yet. I write this on the back of American culture life, where a New York Times reporter, reports that all these games only benefit 10% of a nation’s elite, while 90% are bled to play these games. Go here to read that, again. The article is called Losing Our Way by Bob Herbert. Same thing occurring here.
Alright, that was a bit dramatic. Kiwis are frugal people as a rule, so I don’t get this trend. In the interim let’s keep it light and fresh… via Hollywood here we go… it’s showtime… Voting was strong today as ever. Here’s our top ten.
1. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez
2. Golf romance
3. Performance – Maori girls and the poi – the art of sway
4. Gaston USA
5. Teen moms rule the tabloids with their antics
6. Owls and US in Hollywood ink as living art on people
7. Send offs by Dame Elizabeth Taylor‘s eclectic kids
8. Danielle Spencer & Russell Crowe
9. The most convincing Hollywood nose jobs
10. Jeremy Irons & US buds for Showtime advertisers
Perhaps New Zealand’s economic advisory team need to drop out of press and publicity for a bit and hang out withe family and local electorate communities to get a grip of what the gig is.
Bernard Hickey writes, “Over the 10 years of the naughty oughties (2000s), New Zealand borrowed or sold off a total of $350.3 billion. That’s about two times GDP. We used that money to increase our wages and income. We didn’t use that money to reinvest in new equipment or skills to boost our ability to produce more in the future.
Last year, New Zealand paid $15.5 billion in profits and interest payments to foreign investors and creditors.
Only $3.3 billion was reinvested. That is the size of the drag on the New Zealand economy. It is unsustainable. We have to stop spending money we aren’t earning. If we don’t, we will get poorer and poorer until either there is nothing left to sell or we can’t pay the interest on the debt. It’s time we stopped kidding ourselves.”
Alright Kiwis, it’s get out of debt time. Me included and into savings mode. And not selling off New Zealand properties to overseas investors to look good when in government. It’s vampirism.
[Photo courtesy of Japan and Reuters in Japan's recent rescue efforts midst crises]
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.27.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 28, 2011 in Abuse of Power, Australia, Banking System Flows, Beaches, Economy, Entertainment Celebrity News, Entertainment Distribution, Entertainment News, Hollywood Entertainment News, Horiwood Top 10, Japan, Kaitiakitanga, Leadership, Maori, New Zealand, Westpac, Wisdom, Wisdoms Buffet
What’s in an ocean? Abundance. Resources of a nation’s treasure.
On the 50th anniversary of the first attempt to drill into Earth’s mantle, Damon Teagle and Benoît Ildefonse say that what was once science fiction is now possible.
Japan has technology to drill deeper into the earth’s crust then ever before. Scientists are planning to drill into Earth’s deep, hot mantle and retrieve samples for the first time.
“That has been a long-term ambition of earth scientists,” geologist Damon Teagle told National Geographic News.
As soon as next month, the team will begin exploratory missions in the Pacific, where crews will “bore further into the oceanic crust than ever before,” the paper says. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by horiwood on March 26, 2011 in Kaitiakitanga, News, South Pacific, Wonders of The World
Maori bros. Herbs, a Kiwi band from Gisbourne and the East Coast of New Zealand, onced dramatically questioned nuclear power’s place in the world.
At the time, they seemed commonsensical, if not a little bit naive, slightly self righteous on a green issue for the environment, in questioning the ‘what if’ nuclear waste was released into the environment, theme of their song.
In New Zealand as kids growing up, we danced to this song at school discos (prom nights).
This song from the 80′s provides poignant music reflection as we all hope for the best for Japan’s people (first and foremost), who are at risk of a nuclear meltdown, to their personage and sense of home… and also the environment of Japan and surrounding districts.
In the spirit of believing and hoping for the best for Japan in this crises hour, here’s also Herbs song Sensitive To A Smile, that is all about being kaitiaki (or guardians) of the world for the children, the people who will inherit this world the way we work with it and design it for changing times.
It’s a warm hearted song. I hope you like it. Their message is pray, (for wisdom) not take away, as depicted on the ancestral whenua (coastal landscapes) of Ngati Porou, the home of Maori greats like Ta Witi Ihimaera, Hekia Parata, Robin Pere (Bell) Barker tona whanau, Papa Api Mahuika, Taika Cohen, Ainsley Gardiner, Sir Wira Gardiner, Dale, Kobey, Darrin, Patsie, Pa K and Dennis Barry (and their friends like Mary Teachin) to name a few of a long list of good people who practice the spirit of manaakitanga (hospitality from the heart) on these landscapes all year round adding to the Kiwi fused art of bronaaki (Kiwi brotherhood of common shared bonds of community hearted ties).
These are my people with a message today for this earth we all call our kainga (home). Enjoy.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.12.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 13, 2011 in Aotearoa New Zealand, Aotearoa Television Service - Hollywood, Aroha, Art, artist, Asia Pacific, Bronaaki, Community, Herbs, Hollywood History, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Television Service, Hollywood Today, Homage, Indigenous Thinking, Kaitiakitanga, Kiwi Pop, Leadership, Liberty, Live Music Artists, Maori, Maori Television Service - Hollywood, Music Industry News, New Zealand, Ngati Porou, Nuclear Crises, Poetry, Politics, Polynesian, Reggae, South Pacific, South Pacific Television Hollywood, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Think Green, Tino Rangatiratanga, Willie Hona, Wisdom, Wisdoms Buffet, World Peace, Wrestling
Oh Numi Tutelar
(At the British Museum, London, 25 June 1998)
3 in the morning
The streets deserted I had forgotten
only derelicts & prostitutes are abroad in the night
forsaken lovers locked out
(and Maori attending dawn ceremonies)
Make way, Britannia, Albion, Victoria Imperatrix,
make way our putatara are braying to bring down
your walls The dawn is coming and with it
Magi, gift bearers from the South
Piki mai, kake mai, homai te wai ora
ki ahau
We have come
from the utmost ends of the earth a tribe of travellers
with our own Queen, ministers & warrior escort
to the land of our Treaty partner where
our treasures have been plundered
(and Roma & I halfway round the world
to read in a stairwell)
Make way, O Egypt, ancient Assyria, Greece, Rome
make way our own Cleopatra comes amid you
Semiramis, Te Arikinui, Imperatrix of Aotearoa
Maori women, gift bearers from the South
Haramai te toki, hui e, haumi e, taiki e
So here we are
climbing upward the Museum opening unwilling
to the dawn, the kai karanga calling, the warriors
pulling us in & Maramena asks, ìHow can our
culture so small survive in this treasure house
of many cultures?î
(The answer is simple: Godzilla was wrong
size does not matter)
Oh antiquities of Asia, make way, lions of Judah
bow down, Babylon, stela of Islam make way
give space, Oh Nimrod, Horus, Mahomet
we are iwi Maori, gift bearers from the South
E taonga tū mai, tū mai, tū mai
And in the great hall
for the first time we see the past before us
the treasures of our ancestors a Pharaonic ransom
of immense psychic power, indeed we live
with our past the ghosts among us
(How can I explain? We have always walked
backwards into our future)
Oh, ancestors, stand forever! Stand for yesterday!
Stand for today! Stand for tomorrow! Stand
for always! Stand! Stand! Stand!
Take heed, O Gods of all other worlds, numi tutelar
We come chanting, we come singing, we come
proudly from Rangiātea, there our seed was sown
We come, still voyaging by star canoes
by aurora australis
We are from savage islands, far to the south
we move through your constellations
make way and where there is one
oh Gods, there are a thousand
We are Magi, bearing gifts
and our dawn is coming
Ka Ao, ka Ao, ka awatea
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 2.22.11. First published in Whetu Moana (An Ocean of Stars) – Contemporary Polynesian Poetry in English. Auckland University Press, April 2003, editors Albert Wendt (editor), Reina Whaitiri (editor) and Robert Sullivan (editor). Keisha Castle Hughes appears courtesy of the Whalerider film, via Celebrity Wonder~
Posted by horiwood on February 24, 2011 in Albert Wendt, Aotearoa New Zealand, Art, artist, Books, Cultural Imperialism, Culture, Egypt, English, Fiji, Film Franchises, Greece, Hollywood Entertainment News, Hollywood History, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Today, Hori = Maori, Italy, Kaitiaki - The Action Movie Film Franchise, Kaitiakitanga, Keisha Castle Hughes, Literary, Maori, Oscars, Poetry, Polynesian, Reina Whaitiri, Robert Sullivan, Samoa, Star System - The Art of American Celebrity, Star Wars, Superpowers discourse and direction, Te Reo Rangatira, Te Whanau-a-Apanui, Tikanga Maori, UK, Witi Ihimaera, Women, World History, World News, World Peace, Wrestling, Writers
Photo caption: Dame Whina Cooper – a grandmother, who once cloaked herself in truth and became Waitangi Day’s meaning as a leader, and who took action so the Spirit of The Treaty of Waitangi would be visible and have hands and feet and voice, when some of US were growing up. Our future to express ourselves and be ourselves depended on this woman, to do this for us. This Waitangi Day I celebrate Dame Whina Cooper and my grandparents and their generation of her ilk, feisty spirit, strong heart and fearlessness to be uniquely themselves.
1. I am thankful that my Pakeha dad overcame government policy of the day fourty-six years ago, and saw through its slanted blind-sightedness to see the beauty of my Maori mom, to court her, marry her and honor the spirit of The Treaty of Waitangi, in a real and living way based on true love.
2. I am thankful that “Kia Ora” means hello in New Zealand – and everyone knows it and can say it. Kia ora also means “thank you” and “life be to you.” The Maori language is so beautiful and is upheld and protected by law under The Treaty of Waitangi.
3. I am thankful that early Pakeha descendants of New Zealand learned the Maori language fluently, like Scotsman Robert Graham, Auckland City’s first magistrate. He set an example of Treaty-honoring living in his thought processes, life and actions for all Kiwis to emulate his example. He also was the first New Zealander to promote New Zealand to the world as a high-quality tourism destination too. Not only did he believed that New Zealand’s thermal properties were healing, or New Zealand landscapes spiritual and stunning to be in, but he also believed that Maori people and Maori culture are unique wonders of the world to be in Maori’s presence.
4. Because of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealanders are some of the best kaitiaki (or guardians) of environmental protection and our role as people of the earth, through what has been learned and articulated by Maori scholars, thinkers and leaders in light of Maori peoples key role as kaitiaki of landscape, place, people.
5. Because of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, New Zealanders honoring the concept of ‘Tino Rangatiratanga’ or sovereignty in one’s unique humanness towards Indigenous Maori New Zealanders; all New Zealanders have been deepened to become aware of human rights in the world – and where people’s intrinsic uniqueness is being violated by multi-national corporations, corrupt governments, or, dictators in the world. As a nation, New Zealand excels at being aware of where human rights are being breached globally. We have ‘tino rangatiratanga’ to thank for this awareness perhaps in New Zealand culture.
Posted by horiwood on February 6, 2011 in America, Aotearoa New Zealand, Culture, Dame Whina Cooper, Ella Fitzgerald, Freedom, Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Speech, Gratitude, Hollywood History, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Today, Human Rights, Indigenous Thinking, Jazz Music, Kaitiakitanga, Kool Kiwis, Krazy Kiwis, Leadership, Liberty, Louis Armstrong, Maori, New Zealand, Polynesian, Robert Graham, Scotland, Spirit, Te Reo Rangatira, Think Green, Wisdom, Wisdoms Buffet, Women, World History, World Peace
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MAORI POP CLASSIC – POI E by THE PATEA MAORI CLUB
Cute is the Patea Maori Club singing and swinging the Maori poi via Taranaki.
Poi E is one of those classic Kiwi songs that always brings a smile, when you watch it.
The song is like a gift of authentic culture, uniquely created in Aotearoa New Zealand and loved by the people of Hawaii, USA, that keeps on giving.
Enjoy. Let’s go Maoris! :)
Maori – Kiwi Star Power tribute as Hollywood Art Today – Russell Crowe‘s Hollywood star, Walk of Fame, Hollywood California USA. Photographed by Horiwood.Com.
~Posted by Horiwood.Com, Hollywood California USA. 3.13.11~
Posted by horiwood on March 14, 2011 in A Different View, Amerika, Aotearoa New Zealand, Aotearoa Television Service - Hollywood, Aroha, Art, artist, California, Cross-Cultural Narratives, Culture, Hawaii, Hollywood Maori Kings, Hollywood Today, Homage, Hori = Maori, Indigenous Thinking, Kaitiakitanga, Kapa Haka, Kiwi Pop, Leadership, Maori, Maori Rose of Sharon, Maori Television Service - Hollywood, Maui, Patea Maori Club, Polynesian, Pop Art, Pop Cultural Commentary, Postcard from Hollywood, Russell Crowe, Spirit, Star System - The Art of American Celebrity, Stars - Hollywood Walk of Fame, steel, Taranaki, Te Reo Rangatira, Tino Rangatiratanga