Kia ora everyone,
I hope you have managed to stay warm and dry over the past few days, our thoughts go out to those affected by the rain. The log burner has started warming our house. What a full-on first half of the year it has been!
As winter settles in, and the days are shorter and colder, it feels quite a sensible idea to just stay put! Winter can be great for stripping some of the busyness away and not running ourselves ragged. We can still have connections with others as it is an important part of our lives and wellbeing. Are you connecting with others? With caregivers that fill your cup? If not, and you’d like to, please contact me and I can put you in touch with caregivers near you.
Stephanie James-Sadler
National Manager Training & Support
04 282 0490 or 0800 693 323
Matariki
Matariki marks the beginning of the Māori New Year. In the Māori language, Matariki is both the name of the Pleiades star cluster and also of the season of its first rising in late June or early July. This is a marker of the beginning of the new year. It has other significant meanings too. Traditionally, Matariki is seen as a time to remember those who have died during the past year, a time to set new goals ahead but it is seen more like a happy event – a sign of the cycles of life and death. Usually, by this time of the year, crops had been harvested, seafood and birds had been gathered so the storehouses were full. The ground is being prepared for the new season of kai/food. So Matariki becomes a celebration with kai, singing, dancing, and storytelling. Some iwi celebrate when the star cluster first rises, others will celebrate at the first full moon or new moon after the rising of Matariki
I hope you get the chance to celebrate Matariki. Check in your local paper or local FaceBook pages for details of celebrations near you.
Lastly, have you heard that our conference, Keeping PACE, is happening in Lower Hutt on 29 & 30th September? Registrations will open on 1 July. In the meantime, keep an eye on our website as we will be updating it as information becomes available. It would be great to see you there if you are able.
Keep warm, stay safe and tiaki koe i a koe (Take Care of Yourself),
Stephanie
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