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July 22, 2022
Pakeha pepeha step too far for tikanga tohunga
Moeawa Fransen
Posted On July 22, 2022
Download AudioThe author of a new book on tikanga says there aren’t enough resources to help people understand the complexities of the Māori universe.
Keri Opai, who is the pou tikanga at Taranaki health service Tui Ora, has previously written a book on Māori mental health, disability, and addiction.
He says he’s pleased at reaction to the book from both Māori and non Māori which has been good, with the section on a pepeha for pakeha getting the most attention.
“I wanted to explain how the pepeha evolved from being indigenous, so mountain, river, from wai, all that sort of thing as explained in the book. I didn’t feel it was appropriate for pakeha people to say the same thing because pepeha is really about making connection,” Dr Opai says.
Keri Opai the author of Tikanga: An Introduction to Te Ao Māori is seen as a pathway for some language learning and will be available the during free sessions at the Auckland Writers Festival on August 26, 27 and 28.
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