Tērā ia ngā hihi kanapa o te rā
Karangahia e te hikuwai o te tau
Me ngā pō roa o te matiti

E kai ō mata ki te puanga
Ki te manahua o te Pohutukawa
Ānana, e te raumati nau mai rā

Whiringa-ā-rangi–Hakihea - the months of November and December - is when the magnificent bloom of the pohutukawa grace our shores, kina (sea urchin) are fat and ready to eat, and whānau look forward to spending time together. 

But this year has been a year like no other. 

After months of lockdown, the Tāmaki/Auckland border will open on 15 December. This will be welcome news for some, but not remote coastal Māori communities with low hospital capacity and vulnerable whānau.

This year, Iwi in Te Tai Tokerau, Te Tai Rāwhiti and other holiday hotspots are asking manuhiri to rethink their plans.  As Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou chair Selwyn Parata says: “It is not an exaggeration to say that health services will be overwhelmed when Covid-19 arrives in our region”. "I am asking you to think carefully about your plans for the holiday period”.

We ask that prospective holidaymakers heed the wishes of mana whenua across the motu. Māori comprise nearly half of all confirmed COVID-19 cases since August, and more than one third of hospitalisations.

Despite the many challenges of 2021, NPM celebrated some important highlights and successes:

• The 2016-2021contract with TEC was completed and our annual report covering the last 18 months is out now

• We commenced an exciting partnership with The Spinoff (see story below) to bring a new series that shares our research and shows how Mātauranga Māori is shaping the future of Aotearoa

• Dr Moana Jackson (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou, Rongomaiwahine) and Tā (Sir) William Te Rangiua (Pou) Tēmara (Tūhoe) were appointed Ngā Takahoa a Te Apārangi Companions of Royal Society Te Apārangi. This honour recognises outstanding leadership or eminent contributions to promoting and advancing humanities, science or technology in Aotearoa. (Royal Society Companions 2022)

•  Professor Suzanne Pitama (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Whare) was the first wahine Māori to be appointed a Dean of any Otago University Medical School  

At NPM, the last day of business for our secretariat will be 17 December. Our staff, researchers and students will be stepping back from their screens to pursue some ‘we’ and ‘me’ time. NPM looks forward to continuing to serve our communities and driving towards a shared vision of flourishing Māori futures in 2022.

Until then we leave you with … Is this your uncle? Tō Uru Raumati, Have Yours? - Is That Your Uncle?

Ngā Pou Matarua | Co-Directors

• Professor Tahu Kukutai
• Professor Linda Waimarie Nikora