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Nga Kupu Aroha – Words of Love
The least of these, my brethren
The president of Black Power’s Whanganui chapter, Damien Kuru, is currently in prison for manslaughter. A jury found him guilty in the killing of Kevin Ratana, a Mongrel Mob…
The Two Colossi of Ahuriri, Pat Magill and John Harre
Closing a Community Chapter. The Two Colossi of Ahuriri, Pat Magill and John Harre
On Monday 24 April Pat Magill, my kaumatua Pākehā, tangata Tiriti, called a few of us…
The obligation of citizenship
Denis O’Reilly’s community in Waiohiki, Hawke’s Bay, is one of many still reeling from Cyclone Gabrielle and the flooding. In this update, he writes about the continuing challenges, and…
Situation Report, Waiohiki. The scale of devastation is vast. Nerves are frayed.
Situation Report, Waiohiki, 1st March, 2023
Ranginui is relentless. The scale of devastation is vast. Behind what’s left of my home and down Omarunui Road it looks like the Somme….
Tihei mauri ora! Tihei Aotearoa
( Waiohiki Flood Recovery-Givealittle )
I began this kōrero at Waipatu, Heretaunga, in Hastings, in the early morning hours of Saturday, February 18, 2023. The sun had not…
Putting Power in the Hands of Whanau
With submissions on the proposed Charities Amendment Bill closing a couple of days ago, Denis O’Reilly argues against the changing attitude towards charities and what he sees as the…
A Matter of Better Judgement
Cultural Reports under Section 27 of the Sentencing Act seek to address the entrenched asymmetry or negative disproportionality in criminal justice outcomes for Māori offenders. Its complex. Justice Sir…
Sermon on the Mahau
KNOX
The following sermon, a panegyric for William Knockers Allen, was delivered on 7th November 2022 by Denis O’Reilly from the mahau, the front porch, of the whare Taamaki Makaurau…
Tangata Tiriti – Learning to Stand Upright
In late June 2022 I joined many other New Zealanders in celebrating Matariki. Maori-led and defined Matariki has emerged as our first recognised indigenous holiday, or if you prefer…
Here we go Again
If we don’t learn from the past, we are doomed to unsuccessfully grapple with present and future social problems. The Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern calls these problematics ‘wicked problems’….
Sort Out the Warriors
It’s a man’s game. Jacinda Ardern should take over the Warriors. After what was looking like becoming a troublesome season for the Labour team, she has made some tough…
A Great New Zealander You Most Likely Never Heard Of
In the year of my birth, 1952, a man from Timaru, and a student at the high school which I was later to attend, St Patrick’s Timaru, William Colin…
Laurie O’Reilly’s voice from the grave
Last week I attempted to present to the Social Services and Communities Committee dealing with the ‘Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System and Children and Young People’s Commission Bill’. I…
We say goodbye to Creative Rebel Paratene Temokopuorongo Matchitt
Its Saturday. 24th July 2021. I’ve got other mahi to do but my soul tells me to write, if only briefly. I’ve got profound views on current worldly issues…
He Poroporoaki mo Carl Meredith Bradley. BA. MA Ph.D
Carl Bradley died suddenly last week. Just 52 years of age. He was a friend and colleague. Carl was an Aikido 4th Dan black belt and on an upward…
Calling All Change Agents
In the mid 1980’s when the Whakatu meatworks closed we ran a programme at Waiohiki to support workers made redundant by the extraordinary restructuring of our economy. Men and…
Te Whaea: Our Lady of Aotearoa
By Denis O’Reilly. Late last year I attended the unveiling for the late Hon. Parekura Horomia. Helen Clark gave a panegyric for her deceased acolyte. At the time of…
Ruby Princess and the Great Discontinuity
Denis O’Reilly is a New Zealand community leader and activist. This is his 91st essay for nzedge.com.
My time as a bouncer on the door at Ali Baba’s in…
Herbs And Freedom Songs For The New Revolution
I’ve just returned from a full-on weekend in Auckland. I originally come from Timaru. My father used to say, on learning that I’d been in that city, “Did you…
New Zealander Leads Transformational New York Symposium For Ex-Offenders And ‘At Risk’ Harlem Youth
Recently announced United States Democratic Congressional Contender Richard Habersham enlisted New Zealander John Wareham, who splits his time between New Zealand and New York, to lead an oversubscribed weekend…
Review: Marilyn Waring The Political Years
Marilyn Waring’s forensic record of her Parliamentary career (Marilyn Waring: The Political Years Bridget Williams Books) is a layered work, a primer in the travails…
Salam Alaikum. Patience Required
Salaam Alaikum. Peace be upon us all. Aotearoa is experiencing an extended tangi. Like any such event emotions ebb and flow, sneak up on you, get you when you…
That Guy John Wareham
Some years ago I had a ring from Saatchi & Saatchi chief Kevin Roberts, a man I’ve always found to be inspirational, generous, and unflinchingly courageous. Seems a New…
Lean On Me – Nga Kupu Aroha
I nearly started to sob when Joe Walsh, Tim Schmit, and Vince Gill sang a waiata, acapella, at Hoani Waititi Marae…
The Best Place in the World to Be a Child
After the Hāpaitia te Oranga Tangata summit in August, Denis O’Reilly started thinking about how to address the wicked criminal justice problems we face. He turns to the past,…
On the Anniversary of the Death of James K Baxter
Last Sunday a group of around 40 people gathered for breakfast at Lola’s Café in Waipawa to memorialise the death of James K Baxter, Hemi, friend and poet, on…
The justice summit — and the road from populism to principle
Mātua Zac (Anzac Wallace) made the news last week when he voiced his disapproval of the relatively low representation of Māori at the Hāpaitia Te Oranga Tangata criminal justice…
He Poroporoaki: Te Rangatira Jack Tuhi
Born 28-11-1958. Died 1-08-2018
Redemption Song
On…
Poroporoaki mo Papa Hemi
It may have been the disconnection from his biological father that motivated Jim Anderton to champion the tribe of nga mokai, the fatherless ones. Then again it could have…
Reitu Noble Harris, Kahukura
My friend and leader Reitu Noble Harris, pensioner, was downed by winter pneumonia. Marshalled by Hine Nui Te Po he…
Ōmarunui: Differing Narratives And Different Perspectives
This coming week and especially the day of 12 October brings memories of war to the fore. It is the 99th anniversary of the…
64 Shots: Leadership in a Crazy World – Review
64 Shots- leadership in a crazy world. Kevin Roberts, Chairman Saatchi & Saatchi. New York: Power House Books.
The locus of…
Mahi Aroha 4: A Short History of Two Deaths and a Single Killing
Social change activist and longtime NZEDGE columnist Denis O’Reilly weaves a multi-layered tale located on the social edge of Aotearoa. Last week I heard on RNZ a documentary interview with…
Mahi Aroha 3: Endurance Required
In Napier there is a certain smug satisfaction at the defeat of the amalgamation proposal. Another local proposal – the Ahuriri Deed of Settlement – that seeks to put…
Mahi Aroha 2: First, Revive the Spirit
In the week preceding the 2014 General Election I gave a speech to the AGM of the Council of Social Services in Christchurch. Whenever I’m in Christchurch I feel…
He Mahi Aroha 1: WFFW – Whanau Forever, Forever Whanau
Hello. Its been a while. My heart is full. I’m in the mood to write.
In recent times Taape and I have been trying as much as is possible to…
Nga Kupu Aroha Epilogue
Once you put something out there you just don’t know who will pick it up and where it will go.
Since…
Blessed Love
Nga Kupu Aroha recorded a journey. It may well have been…
Once Was Gangman Styles
As I approach my 60th year (next month) I’m increasingly reflecting on times past and what the hell I intend…
To Understand What Is
Kia ora. This is my…
Deck the Halls
On Election Day I worked at the Waiohiki Arts Village with my nephew Lawrence Kingi-Miki, Nathan Rose, Gerard Gunn, and…
Circenses nil Panem
If you believe that rugby is played in heaven then…
Knight, Might & Right
It was Saturday morning. My usual weekday routine…
Kia Pakeke Ahau
It has been a quarter of a year since I wrote to you last. Arohamai. It’s a sign though…
Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage
Each morning I go for a swim. When at home, and whilst the weather is still warm enough, I use the seawater ‘pond’ at Ahuriri, a remnant of what…
Beneath the Kahungunu Flag
Nga mihi. It’s a bit late to be saying Happy New Year and all that, but take my best wishes anyway. Well another sparkling Waitangi Day has passed with…
Poisonous Fuming
It is said that those gifted with foresight often observe ‘tohu’, signs, portents of things to come. Recently we have witnessed a raft of missed signals in a range…
Honour the Past, Enjoy the Present, Prepare for the Future
I love this time of the year in Hawke’s Bay, although it’s been a little bit different than usual weatherwise. I don’t know if these are natural portents of…
It’s an Ill Wind
My apologies for such a delay between posts. I’ve been no more flat out than usual but for some reason the muse seems to have deserted me and I’ve…
Love is the word for Mumday
We are in what looks to be the last few weeks of a protracted ‘Indian Summer’ in the Bay. It’s been very dry. We’ve had a few ‘close to…
Pharaoh’s Rod
It’s been one hell of a start to the year. I left you last in January at the gates of Parihaka and I feel like I’ve been foot down…
Chip Away
I love Aotearoa, the land, its people old and new. I’m just back from the 2010 Parihaka International Peace Festival and I can still feel the grin on my…
Practice of Love
It’s been one of those years. I feel like I’m still in planning mode and woosh, its gone, done and dusted. These last few months have given me the…
It’s the Putting White That Counts!
Let’s pass through the flack cloud of the moment: Hone Harawira and white mofos! We’ll take ‘white mofo’ first. Don’t get too upset about the terminology. I agree that…
Breathe Through the Nose
It was a cold, swine-flu ridden winter when I last wrote to you, and now is the time of fresh morning asparagus, drooping rich coloured kowhai, full throated tui,…
The Stub of Your Cheque Book
Every now and then the various streams of our lives seem to conflate, one layer tumbling in on another, old times hurtling back from the past and crashing into…
