The 2015 Massey University, Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa Māori Book Awards shortlist was announced last week, and NPM has connections to four of the publications.

Our congratulations go all the authors and editors for their contribution to Māori scholarship and writing, but in particular would like to acknowledge the following three books which all received funding from NPM's publication support grants programme.

Melissa Matutina Williams for Panguru and the City: Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua - An Urban Migration History. (http://www.bwb.co.nz/books/panguru-and-the-city)

Tracing the building of a waka in the far north Te Roroa Waipoua Forest Community, the 40 minute documentary - Te Hiringa o te Tangata - was produced as part of the NPM Te Rau Tītapu Wānanga Research Project, which has been underway since 2011.

This project was initiated with the purpose of investigating and creating models of 'ideal' wānanga, which could inspire iwi communities not just in Te Roroa and Te Tai Tokerau, but around the country.

The seminar Taunakitia Te Marae: Marae as Centres of Excellence - a Te Arawa Perspective, is now available online at our Media Centre.

Presented by Aneta Morgan (Te Arawa) the seminar outlines their research project which broadly looked into the factors that are required to ensure that marae can be centres of excellence for their people.

I puta ēnei kupu i te waha o Tā Hemi Hēnare ki Te Taraipiunara o Waitangi i te tau 1985. I whakapāhongia atu anō i runga i a ‘Waka Huia’ i te tau 1988.
- These words were uttered by Sir James Henare to the Waitangi Tribunal in 1985 and were broadcast on ‘Waka Huia’ in 1988.

Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori Ko te kupu te mauri o te reo Māori E rua ēnei wehenga kōrero e hāngai tonu ana ki runga i te reo Māori Ko te reo, nō te Atua mai.

In next weeks Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) - Horizons of Insight Seminar, Aneta Morgan (Te Arawa) will be presenting Taunakitia Te Marae: Marae as Centres of Excellence - a Te Arawa Perspective.

On Wednesday 29th July, Aneta will describe the results of their research project, the aim of which is to identify and share best practice and aspirations in marae development across Te Arawa marae.

The research, conducted through multiple hui across the rohe, identified three key areas of need that ensure that marae could be centres of excellence for their people.

• Rangatahi engagement

On Wednesday 29th July, Aneta Morgan (Te Arawa) will describe the results of their research project, Taunakitia Te Marae: Marae as Centres of Excellence - a Te Arawa Perspective, whose aim was to identify and share best practice and aspirations in marae development across Te Arawa marae.

The research, conducted through multiple hui across the rohe, identified three key areas of need that would ensure that marae could be centres of excellence for their people.

• Rangatahi engagement
• Succession planning
• Te Reo Māori

The presentation videos from last weeks Extractive Industry Symposium are now available online.

On the 12th June, at Waipapa Marae the Faculty of Law, supported with funding from the New Zealand Law Foundation and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, held a day long symposium on Māori Engagement with the Mining and Extractive industry.

The purpose of the symposium was to explore how Māori could better negotiate and/or engage, with the industry, with a focus on best practice in relation to consultation, preparation of impact assessments and agreement making.

In the fourth of our Horizons of Insight seminars for 2015, and as part of our celebration of Matariki 2015, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga presents Insights from the Maramataka & Science, with Professor Mike Walker and Dr Pauline Harris (view video below).

The Māori lunar calendar – or maramataka – varies across iwi, depending on where they live and their local climate, as well as the availability of edible plants, birds and seafood within their rohe.

In the fourth of our Horizons of Insight seminars for 2015, and as part of our celebration of Matariki 2015, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) presents Insights from the Maramataka & Science, with Professor Mike Walker and Dr Pauline Harris.

Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM) welcomes the recognition given to our new patron Dr The Honourable Sir Pita R Sharples, KNZM, CBE (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi te Kikiri o te Rangi, Ngāti Pāhauwera) in this weeks Queen's Birthday Honours list.

As the recipient of a KNZM (Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) this accolade recognises the extraordinary contribution that Tā Pita has made to Māori and New Zealand, over the past fifty years.