Yeah, so, New Zealand is not doing a fantastic job. We're miles ahead of Australia, for example - make no mistake - but our micro-aggressions towards ngā tāngata whenua are all too real, sometimes subtle and sometimes more like actual aggression. I will never ever know what it feels like to live in the skin… Continue reading Colonialism in Aotearoa and te Ao
Unlike most Christians (and ex-Christians), I grew up in a secular household. I now thank Ranginui, Māori god of the sky, that this was the case. In my opinion, what drew me to the Christian faith in the first place (for eight years) was my innate need for spiritual exploration, influence via Christian extended family members,… Continue reading Addressing My Internalised Homophobia
Suicide. Many people that I know, myself included, have contemplated it at difficult periods of our lives. My grandfather died by it – so I never got to meet him – and so did a fellow high school chorister. Those deaths will never ever escape my mind; both for different reasons. People need to come… Continue reading Suicide and the Value of Te Whare Tapa Whā
There are three things I choose to believe: At their core, people are good.*Everybody has shit to deal with.Hurt people hurt people. Most of the time we hide our mess and our problems and the things which we'd rather not have people see...things we're ashamed of, things that are too tender, things that make us… Continue reading Deep and Meaningfuls in the Kitchen
Isn’t it just borderline extraordinary to consider that everyone who has ever lived and who will ever be born has a unique narrative. Nobody knows the exact same combination of people, nobody has done the same thing in the same place at the same time while thinking the same thoughts as another, nobody has had… Continue reading Tripping on Words
I'm not sure how I feel about awareness weeks. It's Mental Health Awareness Week this October, and on one hand I think that's fantastic - because maintaining mental health is so fundamental to our overall wellbeing, because it is still a poorly understood issue, because it is grossly underfunded and sidelined, because New Zealand has… Continue reading What Are We Aware Of?
The term is coming to an end, and so much has been squeezed into these last few weeks! First of all, somewhat dramatically, one of the previous owners of our hall has sold their share for the property, which has meant that we've had snooty real estate agents giving tours of our home while we're… Continue reading Snooty Realtors, Futsal Wins and oh yeah, Assignments
I think I'm falling in love with the South Island. The image above is from outside my bus window in Hamner Springs, which is where I started writing this particular blog. I had time to kill and the site has been looking a little dry lately. Update: the trip was brilliant! Would recommend. Plus the view over… Continue reading 1/4 Down Already?!
What happens when you mix 74 first years, a reconverted retirement home, and an ever-increasing student loan? A whole lot of weirdness, but I'm loving every second. Oh my, it has been a while. It's my first post of 2017 so a belated Happy New Year to you, fine reader. This week I moved into… Continue reading Starting Uni
It's chaotic. The time of year where time miraculously jumps into 6th gear and you wonder how you ended up in December already. At least that's how I feel.. This post has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas: I just needed an image. I am a person who is often either planning ahead or reflecting… Continue reading December, Decisions and Doing Dumb Things
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