Whāngai is a tikanga developed over 100s of years to grow strong, connected and safe whānau. Adoption is a much newer practice invented to solve two problems - caring for children who's parents can't raise them, finding children for adults who want to be parents. Many thousands of Māori children have grown up whāngai or adopted, but their experiences are mostly untold.
The stories in this collection are deeply personal and span almost a century. Contributors are whāngai and adopted people, their parents, grandparents and children, grandchildren, siblings and wider whānau. They tell of the importance of connections, love, acceptance, of knowing your story and the story of your whānau.
"We have a saying back home, kāore te tōtara e tū mokemoke ai - the tōtara never stands alone. Like all pepeha, it isn't just a statement about a tree, it's that people should never be alone" - Moana Jackson
https://tetakupu.wananga.com/products/korihi-te-manu
Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington | Kapiti Coast | 2020-29 | Story is by tangata whenua
Comments