Messenger of Hope - August Newsletter 2025
Kia Ora,
Ka ora te Whenua, ka ora te tangata - when the land is well, the people are well.
This is the wisdom of Tīwaiwaka, the Fantail who carries a message of hope, of healing, and renewal.
Her six principles (first written by Pa Ropata / Rob McGowan) remind us that the mauri - the web of life, is essential to us all, and that our role is not mastery but guardianship.
The 6 Tīwaiwaka Principles teach us:
Papatūānuku, our Mother, is the first priority.
All creatures are kin, and we are the pōtiki (youngest sibling), learning our place among them.
The mauri is the invisible thread, weaving all life together, and is weakened when we neglect the small and unseen.
Our wellbeing rests not on dominance, but on care and reciprocity. When we take care of the mauri, it in turn takes care of us.
No individual person stands above another, for we each carry gifts to give, and important needs to be met.
We must give special care to the tiniest forms of life - the soils, microbes, waters - all of them are sacred, and when they thrive, we thrive.
In a time when the whenua is crying out, these principles are a call to kotahitanga - unity, to weave our voices and actions as one.
May this newsletter carry that wairua, lifting stories of those tending land, community, and future generations.
Ngā manaakitanga,
- Biome Trust
Tīwaiwaka was written by Pā Ropata / Rob McGowan, a prominent Rongoā Māori practitioner, well respected for his work in the restoration of Rongoā Māori practise & traditional knowledge of native plants & medicines in Aotearoa. More
The Tīwaiwaka Principles help us ensure that the way we live contributes to the wellness of Papatūānuku and all the living beings that are her children, rather than making things worse.
Most of all Tīwaiwaka is a message of Hope.
The 30 page Tiwaiwaka booklet, available for purchase online. All profits support the organisation. Support
Giftee Updates
Mangaroa Farms is hosting a series of Tree Planting days, the next one coming up Saturday 6th September. More
Papawhakaritorito Trust features in a new short film, Seeds of Unity, covering their journey to India to present the International Declaration for Soil & Seed. Produced by Māoriland Films. Watch
Organics New Zealand notes the Health Select Committee has delayed the release of its report on the controversial Gene Technology Bill, now until 10 October 2025. More
Kōanga Institute has a range of heritage flowers, herbs, grains & vegetable seeds available for planting this upcoming season. More
Happen Films revisits the Limestone Permaculture Farm in NSW, Australia - 4 years on from the original short film in the Permaculture Tours series. More
Toru Education are hosting a range of local events in the Greater Wellington region, highlighting permaculture and food forest design. More
Local Futures’ Helena Norberg Hodge interviews Nelson Mudzingwa, a farmer and food sovereignty advocate in Zimbabwe, Africa. More
Learning Environment are giving away 200 native plants to a hardworking farmer on their Facebook page as part of Conservation Week (Sep 1-7th). More
Mangaroa Farms has announced the next Farm Open Day, featuring market stalls, garden tours & local kai - Saturday 1st November. More
Ruamāhanga Farm Foundation shares about the planting of Kahikatea for wetland restoration by the local community. More
Kelmarna Community Farm’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) box of fresh produce is now available for the Kōanga/Spring season. More
The short film Seeds of Unity (13mins).
Additional News
Tāne’s Tree Trust is a non-profit promoting the use of Aotearoa’s native trees to enhance biodiversity, support cultural values, and enable sustainable, high-quality timber production. More
Predator Free NZ features The Tūtei Matapopore Pūtaiao project in Whanganui, leading the way with mātauranga Māori informed methods of regeneration. More
Bioneers highlights a keynote speaker Thom Hartmann: Can We Stop America’s Slide into Oligarchy? More
Integrity Soils recently held the NZ Soil Health Masterclass with Nicole Masters & Meagan Lannan. More
Joel Salatin, a US farmer using innovative methods to mimic natural processes & restore the land features on the 2025 movie, The Lunatic Farmer. More
“All we need to do, is go into the forest and it will teach us everything we need to know.”
