Up Before Dawn

More overload (in a good way) this week with four days away at a wānanga in Waimarama, Hawkes Bay.  A gathering of work colleagues who have all done the same cultural capability programme over the last few years and a chance to refresh our learning. 

The first night we had a lesson in reading the stars from a local navigator then up before dawn the following morning to go with him to the Atea star compass.

Then off to Waiohiki to help with cyclone cleanup. Shovelling silt, clearing under houses generally doing whatever we could to help.

We also had a session with a maramataka/Māori calendar expert talking about seasonal cycles, reading the weather and changing our concept of time.

And it’s Waimarama so a few visits to the beach as well. 

No Straight Lines

 More weaving, this time thanks to a workshop with a local artist who does Random Weaving. Starts like this…

Finished looks like this…

And here is a beautiful collection of little random whatnots.