Donna Tūwhāngai

He uri nō ngā iwi o Te Nehenehenui, Ngati Maniapoto, Ngati Tūwharetoa, Ngati Hikairo, Ngati Apakura, Ngati Rereahu, me Ngati Hauaroa. He hononga anō ki te awa o Whanganui, ko au ko te awa, ko te awa ko au. Kei Kāwhia Moana, Waiharakeke tāku Ritorongokura, ko Kāwhia Moana, Kāwhia kai, Kāwhia Puna Tangata, ko Taumarunui te tūrangawaewae.

Tūwhāngai grew up with pūrākau of her tūpuna traversing oceans, lands, and mountains, as well as how the stars, the winds, and the motions of the waves informed their decision making. She had the privilege of observing her father, her whānau, and the many aunties and uncles, who were maramataka practitioners, and they utilised this knowledge to establish thriving gardens, catch tuna, fish, and hunt. 

She developed the ability to acutely observe the taiao with the foundation of measuring what happens in conjunction with each marama phase. Watching the world around her developed into observing other taiao (environmental) indicators and how the taiao influences people's behaviour. She perceives the world through patterns and with this knowledge it has greatly enriched her life.

She has no sense of the Gregorian times but her sense of time comes from environmental indicators. Her lifetime goal is to have a generation of maramataka practitioners, so their world is seamless amongst the complexities of life. Collaborating to create this simple resource may kickstart one’s own world of patterns with endless possibilities.