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WHAKATAUKĪ

E ea ai te werawera o Tāne tahuaroa, me heke te werawera o Tāne tenwdānanga. Satisfy the sweat of the cooks by getting a good sweat up while learning.

Satisfy the sweat of the cooks by getting a good sweat up while learning.

Food and hospitality are at the heart of showing care and respect for others. They are activities that demonstrate aroha. This is at the core of our identity. We call this value manaakitanga.

This whakataukī is often used at wānanga, gatherings, many of which are for the purpose of learning. I have attended a number of total immersion wānanga over the years where the aim is to grow people’s command of te reo Māori. It is common practice for a member of the visitor group to stand and make a speech at the end of the final meal of the wānanga, thanking the cooks for their e orts. These speeches usually find some way to link the werawera, the sweat, and hard work of the kitchen, all those involved with running the wānanga, with the students, recognising that their commitment to their learning is a way of honouring those who make the food. This proverb is one of the favourites for that setting. We often joke that no matter the quality of the wānanga, if the food was poor or insu icient the whole wānanga is remembered for that alone. This would be a black mark against all involved in organising that gathering.

For me this whakataukī highlights the importance of putting into practice the mutuality of responsibilities in our lives. Our e orts must be linked and not seen or experienced in isolation.

In some cultures the e orts of those who prepare our food remain undervalued or even ignored. Making food with love and attention is a truly beautiful gift. I learned this from my mum. She was a great cook. She could rustle up scones for visitors at a moment’s notice. She was a dab hand at any kind of roast as well as Italian and Indian cuisine. She passed many of her skills on to me, and I have passed these on to my kids who are both very skilled in the kitchen. I have been lucky at di erent times when my son came home to live as an adult and would cook if

I was working late. Best lasagne ever.

In our whānau home I have passed on the sentiment that hard work of any kind, but especially learning, and sharing meals, is a perfect way to honour those who prepared the food. Plus it makes for great meal-time conversation. Sitting down together to eat is such an important part of family life and it is being eroded by the use of devices. Having a period where devices are o for meals is crucial. I have been guilty of having my phone nearby when we are eating and then being called out by my kids. Quite rightly. When I cook for the family I really appreciate hearing about the day’s learnings, which does make me feel that my time has been honoured. What can we do more of in our households to honour those who prepare the food? How can we create time and space to honour each other’s roles and responsibilities? How can that shared and reciprocal nourishment of both food and relationships be recognised and celebrated?

Food

en-nz

2023-05-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-05-04T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://good.pressreader.com/article/282522957790701

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