Kairongoa with Ngaronoa Renata

Today we ask what's up with this Christmas thing? Who records our history and what do they leave out? And what is the issue behind the issues? We have many different groups in our society from suicide prevention groups to people opposing seabed mining, but what is the commonality that ties all this together?

Witi Ihimaera's play Women Far Walking raises a huge number of issues, one of which is the way Land Parcels were distributed to returning soldiers after World War 2.

This morning Ngaronoa talk about the whakapapa of clay and clay soils before talking about a visit from a Hawaiian whanau who weave with Cedar bark instead of the Harakeke we use in Aotearoa.

It's 190 years ago today since 34 Rangatira signed He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (the Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand).  Ngaronoa is in the studio to talk about the Declaration and Ngāpuhi Speaks, an independant report about the Declaration and the history of Aotearoa.

Ngaronoa joins us in the studio for a very wide ranging discussion covering the origin of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, new te reo classes, the relationship of death to life, plus we hear a little bit about Ngaronoa's trip to Hobbiton.

Ngaronoa joins us to talk about Te Reo, transliteration and the natural patterns of the indigenous world view compared to the Industrial world view. We also hear some poems from Hokianga and revisit the story of Opo the dolphin.

Today we talk with Ngaronoa about Humpback Whales, Foraging in the modern world and the Maramataka - the Maori lunar calendar

Ngaronoa brings us Angi Angi, Rangiora and Mamaku to discuss their medicinal properties before reflecting on David Attenborough's new documentary Ocean and the importance of looking after Tangaroa and the Taiao

Ngaronoa visists us to talk about a few items from her medicine bag including Rangiora, Tarata (Lemonwood), Kanuka, Kumarahou and Mahoe.

Why was Matariki not part of Ngaronoa's childhood and when did she first discover this aspect of her culture. We hear about a recent Maori Puppetry event at the Meteor that Ngaronoa was involved in and about work she does translating poetry into Maori.

Before getting into the kairongoa Ngaronoa tells us about a vision for teaching te reo in the community.

Today we have look at Puha and also how we learn to like tastes at a young age - plus Ngaronoa addresses the situation with Seabed Mining being on the government's fast track to ecological disaster program.

Ngaronoa talks about traditional Maori medicine and how it relates to the glandular system of western medicine and also the chakra system of eastern medicine.

Ngaronoa plays traditional Maori music instruments from her personal collection and tells us about how they're made and about the ongoing work to revive both the instruments and music.

Ngaranoa's whanau are part of a group of families that share a piece of land to grow food collectively and it's harvest season. We also have a quick chat about Taonga Puoro and a Waiata Initiative that Ngaronoa has going at the Old School on Tuesday mornings at the moment.

Ngaronoa talks about some of her favourite plants and their contribution to Kairongoa

Ngaronoa has been to a wananga on the revival of Maori puppetry - Karetao. We also look at how much of the Taonga is hidden away in colonial museums around the world. Ngaronoa also talks about the need for trees and repairing the land

Ngaronoa focuses on food sovereignty and the journey back to growing food within natural rythms. Plus we have a quick chat at the end about the blended teas that Ngaronoa has available at the growers market every friday evening

We talk; Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, Rangiora leaf, taonga Puoro - hue(gourd) - class at the library and Te Koroneihana

We reflect on the reign of Kiingi Tuheitia and then Ngaronoa talks about her experience swimming with Whales off the Island of Eua in Tonga

Ngaronoa talks about a group she is part of that is growing food collectively and we also look at plants you can put in your garden that can be used for first aid purposes - like Koromiko and Matipo

Do we translate or transliterate words like Monday and Tuesday - both are possible. We look back at Matariki and Ngaronoa tells us about the benefits of Puriri which are helpful at this time of year.

Ngaronoa is producing another Matariki event in the town hall this year with workshops, storytelling, kai and a concert.

We talk about the context of Matariki - not just culturally but as part of the rhythm of the natural world and pre-industrial life

Ngaronoa joins us to talk about the difference between Tapu and Noa, plus we look at the importance of Wai and have a quick look ahead to when Puanga and then Matariki will be arriving