A Glass Full of Water

Ngāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region. The name of the town means, ‘the opened food pits’ and is taken from a 17th-century love story between Te Ngaere, a Waikato chief and Heke-I-te-rangi, a Ngāti Maniapoto woman. It is also a strategic base for Waikato-Tainui and with the Kingitanga.  A family friend, Jody and her friends, Kelly, Sheryl, Marcella, Lynn, Vicki and Glennis recently started cooking classes in their Ngaruawahia church. (Called ‘The Village Church’). The food, cooking utensils and even a fridge were/are donated by generous and kind members.  Classes were started as a meaningful response to the current cost of living crisis and the ever present need for connection and relationship building within their community. The classes are called ‘Feed the Whanau’ and are based on a similar programme initiated in Wellington called ‘Wellfed’. It enables Jody and her friends to share their passions and skills as foodies in a friendly, no obligation way with locals who tu...

  Another food story… or is it? While living in Hamilton a number of years ago, a local high school had a major fire. The damage to school buildings, teacher/student work and morale was huge. Knowing the principal from being in the same university class and feeling somewhat helpless, but still wanting to do something, had an idea. The following day after the fire was a Saturday. The school leadership team would probably be meeting at the school to discuss how they were going to deal with this situation. Off to the school. On my way I stopped at a dairy and purchased a ‘big as’ Moro bar. Arriving at the school a few cars were parked by the management offices. The door main door was unlocked so tentatively walked in. Walking towards the administration offices muffled voices were coming from the principals office. I knocked, entered the room and recognised the principal, so shook his hand first and looked at his angst filled face, “I really don’t know what to say Clive and haven’t...

Neighbours, glorious neighbours! We live in a wonderful street in Raglan. Our neighbours are kind and generous in their interactions with us and each other. We often help each other out with physical tasks and collective security. To our continued delight and surprise, produce ranging from freshly caught fish, sweet treats, preserves, vegetables and fruit from our gardens are exchanged. Spontaneous and planned beer, wine and nibbles occasions, coffee and tea times and occasional dinners are part of street life, and much laughter and banter ensues.  During Covid lockdowns we often met outside with spaced distances between us for a street catch-up.  We look out for each other but don’t interfere in each other’s lives - an ideal balance. Neighbours have become our friends and friends look after each other. There is something about giving and expecting nothing back from your neighbours. We value and appreciate each other and it is a win-win situation for us all. POINTS to PONDE...

WHY? I believe that kindness comes from the essence of who we are as a person. It’s a soul thing. Kindness shouldn’t be part of a slogan or fad or marketing exercise. You can’t put kindness in a box and label it ‘done’. Doing kind things shouldn’t be a ‘one day wonder’. What are you going to do for the other 364 days?  Kindness can’t wait - it’s a now thing. Kindness doesn’t always ask or need permission and it certainly shouldn’t be bound by rules or societal norms. Think of kindness not as an add-on to your life but as a natural part of your interactions with people. Don’t let social media dumb down kindness and don’t follow the crowd. Instead follow your heart.  People know when kindness is genuine so lead people by your lived example. Work also with others to make a real difference in the lives of people around you. Like a pebble dropped into a pond, watch the ‘ripple effects’ of kindness grow wider and wider. Be the one who drops the pebble. In an increasingly hurting w...

Eggy who?? Let me explain. I am currently relief teaching the Year 6 class at Te Uku Primary School. They are a neat bunch of children who consistently work hard and produce quality creative work. We have a lot of laughs together.  Getting to know the class, I observed eight girls working on their Eggy Peggy project without teacher/parental initiation, intervention or guidance during a recent Friday afternoon ‘Golden Time’ (free choice activities). Intrigued I asked ‘the boss’, Hannah and the ‘organiser’, Mayley what this Eggy Peggy thing was and to my delight found out that they were working on their own version of a kindness project. The other members of the group Anita, Samara, Izzy, Faye and Lola (Pip is overseas) ambled over to our conversation. “Well” said Mayley,  “We make egg shaped animals on thick paper and decorate them” Phone orders are then packaged up and hand delivered to customers. Their product name certainly fits!  Hannah went on to say, “It’s a kind thi...