Weaving our Worlds

Video episode available on my Substack .   Ross Calman (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Raukawa) is a writer, historian, and translator whose award-winning book Te Tiriti o Waitangi offers one of the most succinct and accessible introductions to our nation’s founding document. At just 100 pages, it distils decades of scholarship and debate into a clear overview — from the early encounters be...

In this thoughtful and timely episode of Weaving Our Worlds , Melanie is joined by sociologist and author Avril Bell to explore the themes of her book, Becoming Tangata Tiriti: Working with Māori, Honouring the Treaty . Through rich, grounded conversation, they delve into the evolving responsibilities of non-Māori in Aotearoa, the importance of relationships in honouring Te Tiriti, and what it mea...

In this episode of Weaving Our Worlds , Melanie sits down with historians Angela Wanhalla and Erica Newman to delve into the untold stories behind the recent dual publications, Te Hau Kāinga: The Māori Home Front During the Second World War and Raupanga , a companion volume in te reo Māori. Together, these books explore the experience of Māori on the home front during World War II, revealing a ric...

In this episode, the tables are turned. Thanks to Bryan Bruce Investigates for initiating and sharing this podcast episode where he interviews Melanie Nelson, the host of the Weaving our Worlds podcast and the Coherent podcast. In this episode of Head to Head , Bryan Bruce interviews Melanie Nelson, a writer, researcher, translator and consultant specialising in the application of te Tiriti to env...

This is the debut episode of my new podcast, Coherent.  Listeners of Weaving our Worlds might find it of interest. It's available on most podcast platforms. On the Coherent podcast Melanie Nelson hosts in-depth interviews unpacking the political issues shaping Aotearoa New Zealand today. Join us as we explore the sweeping reforms transforming our society, affecting areas like the environment,...

In this thought-provoking episode, Sarah Hopkinson, a māmā, curriculum designer, urban farmer, and storyteller, joins Melanie to unravel the intricate threads of identity, ancestry, and the environment. Sarah delves into what it means to be Pākehā in Aotearoa, reflecting on collective accountability, the deep-rooted values shaping our land, and the relationship between humans and the more-than-hum...

In this insightful episode, Melanie Nelson sits down with Jen Margaret, a dedicated advocate and educator for te Tiriti o Waitangi. Jen has spent over 30 years championing the importance of te Tiriti and the responsibilities it entails for Pākehā and Tauiwi in Aotearoa.  Jen shares her personal journey into this work, starting with her first encounter with te Tiriti at university and the subsequen...

Dr Jeremy Tātere MacLeod joins Melanie to talk about the upcoming celebration of te reo Māori - the first national Māori language festival, Toitū te Reo. He shares about the inspiration and focus of the festival, its welcoming nature to all, and what it will look and feel like. We discuss some of the speakers and topics which will be included. We also talk more broadly about the future of te reo M...

Beth Tupara-Katene joins Melanie to share the findings of research project Tangaroa Ararau. The project has focused on how to put Tangaroa and Hinemoana (the ocean) at the centre of marine governance, with decisions led collectively by local communities. We include Māori perspectives on governance and relating to the ocean, across the spectrum of kaitiakitanga (guardianship), customary and commerc...

Dr Jessica Hutchings talks about Māori and indigenous food sovereignty, and her practice of this in her own life, through growing food, research and sharing knowledge. She articulates her views on GMOs and the risks that genetic engineering pose to indigenous peoples and their sovereignty.  Also, Jessica shares about the difficulties of ensuring Māori values and voices are centred in the organic a...

Alex Barnes talks about the complexities and benefits co-governance education in Aotearoa through application of te Tiriti o Waitangi, the subject of his recently completed PhD. We also discuss some of our experiences over decades of walking between te ao Māori and te ao Pākehā, and why we perceive them as different worlds.  Plus we delve into how we, as Pākehā, identify ourselves in te ao Māori a...

Hona Black talks about Māori wit and humour and his efforts to help revitalise that particular aspect of te reo. He shares his experience growing up in a Māori speaking household and kura kaupapa, and the challenges of life in a society where the English language and Western cultural norms dominate.  Plus, he explores Māori attitudes to sexuality and the layers of sexuality in te reo Māori. He has...

Dame Anne Salmond talks about her experience of walking between worlds over the past 50 years, witnessing racism and injustice, and working to grow understanding. She shares her views on any moves by the government to review the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi. She explains that it is the Māori text which was signed and must be adhered to, and how te Tiriti provides us the opportunity to live t...

Whirimako Black speaks openly about memories of her early life in Te Urewera and Kawerau and how that has shaped her life and career. She shares her love of mōteatea, her reo and culture, and desire to share that with people.  This deep and personal conversation traverses her whānau influences and inspirations, cultural disconnection and reconnection, trauma, identity, authenticity, and the power...