March 02, 2015
Whanau ora an inspiration
A south Auckland whanau ora provider says other indigenous peoples are looking to Maori for inspiration in their struggles.
George Ngatai from Transitioning Out Aotearoa spoke to last month’s World Indigenous Leaders Conference in Mysore, India, alongside his wife Raewyn Bhana and Dr Lorna Dyall.
He says being out of New Zealand helped him appreciate what Maori have got, including a treaty, supportive legisation and political representation.
That contrasted with many people who are invisible in their countries or even targeted for destruction, such as Iraq’s Yezidi minority.
"They unfortunately spoke about the challenges they have in terms of what we see in New Zealand from mainstream reporters, that two or three pakeha that get beheaded and the world knows. What we don't actually tend to find out from the Yezidi people is that this happens to them as a people every day. And so I suppose you get to really feel aroha for them because they have got to do their fighting from outside their country," he says.
George Ngatai says he has been invited by groups in North Amerca and the United Kingdom to speak on whanau ora.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE NGATAI CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjY3NDU=
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