This blog explores the many varied and different expressions of whanau (family). I hope first and foremost to represent a notion of whanau that I am actively creating for my kids. One that I would hope they will continue with their own children. And the rest I will make up as I go along.
I had a fairytale notion of whanau, and that will never eventuate for me. It was grounded in romanticism, mythicism, Māori-ism...all sorts of thingy-isms. Some of it sound, some of it surreal. I’m not sure though whether it was ever grounded in realism. It so is now. One thing I am fast learning, which those of you with strong whanau bases will understand, is that whanau has to stand for something. And you have to practise and teach that to those you count as whanau, every day. Whanau doesn’t grow on its own and can quickly wither away to nothing. It really is a living entity. It needs feeding, nurturing, and time.
And it may be a tenuous extention, but I do plan to carry the notion of whanau through to work, Māori education, unionism and politics! There are expressions of whanau in most of these areas, there would have to be or I would not care so much about them. Wherever I go I see it, how people interact, maintain their connections with others, sever them. I think they are notions worth exploring and commenting on.
