TU MAI BLOG-IT Last Blog-It

Our last Blog topic was Asian and Polynesian content for TU MAI -
Yes, No or Maybe?

From our perspective, the inclusion of Polynesian and Asian content was never about comprising the Maori essence of TU MAI. We believe TU MAI is mature and market ready enough to boldly be more inclusive in our content, as opposed to limiting our horizons and therefore our market. See what others had to say and at last count SNOGs were ahead.


SNOGGED by: Waitaha kuia


Recent D.N.A. evidence tells us that Maori origins are in the hill tribes of taiwan so looks like we're all from Asia anyway and I say kia ora to that. It would do us good to relate to our whanaunga and we will learn a lot from each other.



FLOGGED by: Whatever


How can you look after others when you can't even look after yourself, well that's what i'd say.

Should be looking at our own first kare, then we will be open to explore the wider world... This is nothing against other cultures there just seems to be a lot happening in ours at the moment....... sorry kare have to give this one a miss this time.



FLOGGED by: Niche


Perhaps a spin-off is in order, like 'Tu Mai Poly', or 'Tu Mai Asia'.
The trouble with widening your target is that you lose grip of your core competency:- i.e. a maori focussed mag; that's your point of difference.

But if you believe the Tu Mai brand is strong enough to branch out, then by all means, give it a go. My opinion is...develop what you got. Hit your current target properly before expanding.



SNOGGED by: The Maori Economy Branching Out Into Asian Markets et al -
The Maori Economy Branching Out Into Asian Markets et al


From an international perspective - the latest issue of TU MAI rocks. It shows Maori media are coming of age, growing up and have their eye on the ball in regards to forming collaborative partnerships with Asian people in Aotearoa/ NZ who stem from large markets that Maori businesses and the economy needs to grow and bring new money into our economy for Maori and also all nonMaori in Aotearoa.

Successful Maori-Asian collaborations include: Boh Runga, Bic Runga, Pearl Runga (our wahine waiata from Ngati Kahungungu), Te Ohu Kaimona's shared ownership of Sealord with Japanese corporate seafood giant company Nissui to name a few. And of course our largest export market is The Tourism Industry where Asian people of many diverse cultures have a deep appreciation for Maori culture's spirituality and mauri and they pump in millions of dollars into our economy each year as Maori culture is the fourth largest draw card of Asian tourists into New Zealand shores.

So, I think Tu Mai is very advanced thinking in this latest issue. Also, who can forget the amazing film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon that showed the Chinese reo unashamedly onscreen in all its glory with English subtitles and universal characters that all people including Maori could relate to - taiaha wielding actors and a love story retold through mytholigical narratives. To me, this was a complete guide to how Maori should be making films and exporting them to the world 'Whale Rider' and 'Crouching Tiger' styles. We are entertaining and entertainment sells, like the Chinese we should be proud of our culture and own it in the way that they are to a Western audience by being creative with it. Our films would sell into China if we had the courage to market ourselves to China.

Furthermore, imagine if all Te Kohanaga Reo langauge nests employed Chinese and Japanese reo tutors who taught Maori pepi Chinese and Japanese as well as our future generations learning Te Reo Maori. Kids can learn anything, so why dont we nurture them in Asian language learning from a young age so it is effortless for them. If our babies were bought up without prejudice towards Asian language and culture, wouldn't this create amazing opportunities for the Maori economy and the spirit of Maori entrepreneurialship to expand into Asia with fine Maori ambassadors who understood and developed strong relationships with Asian cultures from the basis of knowing these peoples tikanga and kawa as communicated through the reo of Asian peoples. If we taught our pepi Chinese and Japanese in Te Kohanga Reo we would raise up a generation of the finest amabassadors who could trade fairly and with integrity with China and Japan on behalf of our people and also New Zealand. We must live by how we want others to treat us by learning our reo and ways, so go TU MAI for setting an international example to younger Maori to expand their horizons to go and get it all that lies ahead in their future horizons for our future generations.

It is interesting to note that the world is consisted of 6 billion people. If you add the Chinese population (1 billion) to that of India's (another 1 billion) then one third of the world's population is either Chinese or Indian. In addition, another 600 million speak Spanish in the world.

So, on this note and to endorse a fine international perspective, I look forward to TU MAI's Indian edition and also Spanish edition also. All power to you Ata Te Kanawa and team, may you always take percieved 'risks' and follow your heart and wairua in order to expand our horizons as Maori and a diverse New Zealand society through presenting in TU MAI new opportunities to be secure, brave and expansive in our Maori ways of thinking and being a part of the world's future in being represented within the countries of every culture in the world and being entrepreneurial just like our tupuna were and how they travelled internationally to trade and bring back better things and new ways of doing things through new technologies available in the world for their tribes.

This is leadership and the mark of a true rangatira so I applaud yours in TU MAI. Finally, it is the role of the media to have global eyes and inform within our shores important world trends and major new developments. Thank you Ata and TU MAI for having your eye on the ball for Maori as media who raise new posibilities of who as Maori we can be by listening to voices of diffference within our shores and understanding them, their voices and their culture better by building a bridge of trust that they too can cross in Maori media.

Mauri Ora TU MAI MAGAZINE - Maori in Los Angeles, USA July 2007



LOGGED by: nthland flood


We are more alike than we are different, according to radio-carbon dating. Our pacific, asian brothers and sisters are just that! One people living under one sky. Back to the question however, Pacifica, Asian, whoever, not worried, provided that their stories reflect Maori culture. I'm interested in reading stories about how Maori culture has postively influenced other cultures, people and places, and vice versa. On that note, kia kaha Tu Mai, love the mag.



SNOGGED by: Get Rid of Ignornace - take the lead


Take the lead!! and be more accepting of all cultures. New Zealand has been to date insular in some of its perceptions, not just cultural, but also commercial and geographical. If you went to the middle of europe and cast a radius of 1000 kms you would hit 26-28 different countries, and having so many people living so close to each other has meant that people and cultures have had to co-exist, mature and get along; in New Zealand you would get seaweed, dolphins and a few crays. And, while the latter are great in the pot they cannot not hold a conversation, learn and contribute to GDP. We need to be more understanding and to learn from other cultures as much as they can learn from maori culture. Asia has been in business for over 3000 years and we are still a young country by that bench mark. Its about change and change is not diffacult, but different. It takes maturity to accept difference and this is challenging to everyone and not just in the cultural context. The more you learn the more you realise you don't know!

Get rid of ignorance - take the lead!!!!!!



FLOGGED by: Betty


Where is the maori in this magazine?????? there is soo much other culture that the concept of maori is only visable in the name. Not good.



SNOGGED by: LIQUORISH ALLSORT


Of course! After all we can't forget that Tu Mai is all about access to information as well as being a leader in Maori representation of media right? Whether the korero be about Maori, Polynesian or Japanese the key word for me here is 'indigenous'.

I am of Cook Island Maori/Scottish descent and I work in a Maori-driven environment - have done so for most of my career - but its only this year that I've learned the importance about Kaupapa Maori in a way that I've never been able to before and now I can say that I actually 'get it'!

I grew up in small town 1970's Aotearoa. My town virtually had no Pacific island community at the time. The population was pre-dominantly Maori and Pakeha. My neighbourhood had a mixture of kids both Maori and Pakeha which gave me a sense of belonging in what was a racially mixed environment anyway. Growing up I made the choice to surround myself with the teachings and culture of Maori because it was the closest thing I had to my own culture socially since we weren't flying back to Rarotonga a lot. In saying this I loved being near my pakeha whanau also.

Moral of my story for this kaupapa is that if the 'medium is there to share then who cares?' Tu Mai provides an avenue of information for the broader community anyway (I should know, I read it) and it has a great representation for Maori. Either way anyone and everyone will have a nohi at some stage! Neat Tu Mai neat!

Today I continue to embrace the culture of Maori and am proud to be a part of the movement toward reclamation in this country. It's motivated me to be stronger for my own.

Mauri Ora! Meitaki maata koutou katoatoa! Cheers!

Liquorish All sort



SNOGGED by: Dunno -
Why do white people get grumpy when called white people?


I note with interest that Tu Mai is an Indigenous magazine and so therefore not necessarily maori only, I support and agree with other cultural content coz I want to know what they think, what kinds of opinions they have what seriously does not go down well with them and how do they see the other brothers and sisters here in Aotearoa.

So thumbs up Tu Mai you got my vote for agreement.



SNOGGED by: Sweet16 -
Why do white people get grumpy when called white people?


What an awesome piece! It is very out there and in your face (not literally, just bringing the inner soul out to play). People need to be more like Hannah and speak their mind, it's supposed to be a free world isn't it. The last time i saw, the same blood runs through my veins as the next ching-lau, honky, horie or kokolawhi what ever your flavour is. Why is there trouble within this country, from my view it is the lack of communication, not every one can read minds like our psychic brothers and sisters out there. We need to stand up and speak our minds, try it some day, you may see you'll get alot further in life.

Two thumbs up TU MAI, whether people like it or not Aotearoa is evolving into a multi cultural society.

Peace Out!!!



SNOGGED by: Travelling Sightseer


Its awesome to come back home and read about us and our pacific brothers and sisters - rejoicing and celebrating our accomplishments.

Keep the information flowin.........



SNOGGED by: INDULGE

Well it's nice to see that everyone has been given a piece of the lime light, yes I agree with Sweet16, Aotearoa is definitely thriving to be a multi cultural society, move on and move up people, times are changing.

Well done TU MAI keep up the great work can't wait to hear more!!!