How To Get There 6/10/19

11 comments on “How To Get There 6/10/19 ”

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1. phillip ure 1

   6 October 2019 at 1:45 pm

   i'm thinking that we as a nation are overdue for an in-depth/as-long-as-it-needs-to-be telly-documentary..on the history of new zealand..

   one that takes a less rosy/imperialist take on what went down..

   i think we are mature enough as a nation to countenance/welcome this..

   and of course shining light on what really went down – will do much to illuminate those dark corners where ignoranance breeds..

   and that can't be a bad thing..

   i just know – that as a pakeha – i went and did a treaty workshop..

   and came away going w.t.f..!

   and i wd urge the sharing of such knowledge/awareness as widely as possible..

   everyone should know of this..

   in fact i see this as an essential requirement of our going forward as a nation – as best we can..
   • phillip ure 1.1

     7 October 2019 at 11:24 am

     and of course – such a definitive piece – as surely this wd aspire to be – wd become a valuable resource in that ongoing education of young (and old) nz'ers..
     • Mista Smokey 1.1.1

       8 October 2019 at 8:03 am

       It's great you raise this. A 1998 NZ television series, The NZ Wars, was hugely popular. James Belich presenting. The programme was based on his book of the same title. nzonscreen has excerpts. (Not sure if the DVD is still available). There were calls for more programmes like this.
2. JanM 2

   6 October 2019 at 2:03 pm

   I so agree and am thrilled that the teaching of our history is being made compulsory. The truth of it is so little known – much of it is hidden behind the waĺls of academia beyond the easy reach of 'the common man'
   • phillip ure 2.1

     7 October 2019 at 11:32 am

     does anyone know when/who stopped teaching history in nz schools..?

     i tried googling it – that didn't help..

     i am curious to see/read the logic (if any) behind such a brainfart of an idea..
     • JanM 2.1.1

       7 October 2019 at 3:39 pm

       The why would be about power and control – the when – well not sure we've ever had it taught well
     • greywarshark 2.1.2

       11 October 2019 at 6:52 pm

       NZ history probably got left out because it was too closely connected to Humanities studies, and they are not high on the priority list for government funding and have been diminishing in some universities. Science and inventions that can be commercial is everything now, rather than having a more balanced approach.

       Then with Tomorrows School quite a lot is left to Boards of Trustees I think to provide the education that the area needs or wants. Which means that the idea of a wide learning area doesn't enter into many heads. The things that you don't know, you don't know – why would you bother with them; probably they aren't important for getting a job, for doing something that you can earn good money from. They are mostly men who get to be BoT and many men hardly ever read anything of fiction, use their imaginations, find out what life is about for people beyond the status symbols of the 3B's; boat, bach and beemer.
   • Mista Smokey 2.2

     7 October 2019 at 12:11 pm

     Weeell, it's Monday, and, impossibly so, there's just three of us, Phillip and JanM and I…Getting There. So, right now, it's like we are around a Campfire. Beauty!

     And we're happily sharing this excitement, that our young 'uns will now learn more o'the history of these islands. Not of hobbits and orcs I guess, but of our folk. Our landscapes.

     I have some such knowings. As John the Walrus, I've been shaping and sharing for many years. So, we can traverse Aotearoa by magic, bringing the old folk and our wonder-lands alive, seeking the essence of each tale, acoustic style, as if it's being shared around a campfire. That's my way. (Just one of many possibilities, wouldn't y'say, Mister Leunig?!)

     Here's the latest review. Cheeky to offer it, but with little fame or lustre, but a lot of grey, I'll dare, and trust all's OK. (Blessings on Aniquah for the gift):

     "As John Crick speaks he embodies each of his characters, summoning them up through voice and song. Weaving together prolific tales of New Zealand history and culture with beauty, care and integrity. Very powerful to listen to. Hope Kauri Jack is someday recorded or performed for others to enjoy the deep history and detail of his work. Best wishes John!"

     I'm piping-up now with our skeleton-crew for I do not want this "How to Get There" Sunday-site to fade. It's special: Leunig-inspired, via the mighty Robert Guyton. I love it when the real-world appears, and gardeners speak-up here. There's been some wondrous info/discussions and all. But this weekend, I guess the green-fingered ones will be out planting spuds. Fair enough, for after hammering away all week with politics and all, beautiful inspiring Sunday comes……Let's keep going, wandering along with Leunig.
     • Robert Guyton 2.2.1

       7 October 2019 at 1:31 pm

       Good Monday to you, John! Wonderful to have you appear here on the now-faded How to Get There and apologies for that; I've neglected my little seedling as it was growing a bit wonky and looked a little wan, so I left it to see if it would pull through of its own accord. I never expected the idea to roll on forever, despite the need for such I forum (I still believe we need to talk about these things; imagine rather than debate, propose rather than belly-ache). A political blog is not the only place for such campfires and is perhaps a difficult place to raise an assembly of the sort needed, but it was worth a go. After reading your review, and before I read it too (I've heard first-hard reports of your story-telling abilities) I'm hoping you will visit our town and set a campfire a'cracklin' down here; I've a yurt that would fit you nicely. There's a lot of talk about citizen's assemblies, a council of elders, a moot of Ents and I'm intending such a cluster of imagineers will emerge to wrestle with the global/cultural challenges we all face, so stay tuned. It seems to me that ideas about how to get there need to be clothed in poetry and rhyme, allusion and illusion, in order that they not be swamped and drowned by harsh straight-talk; tested, for sure, by the ruler of logic and reason, but not floated initially from that hard-edged pontoon. In any case, How to Get There might revive, depending upon circumstance; lately, I've been in campaign-mode and that's never pretty and certainly distracting. I've tried to introduce a note of levity into the sordid proceedings (pimping for votes is not my favourite pastime). I have a Facebook thing, titled Robert Guyton for Environment Southland, if you'd care to take a gander. Cheers John

       Robert
       • Mista Smokey 2.2.1.1

         8 October 2019 at 8:20 am

         2.2.1 – Robert, that’s a paragraph. No time now, so will happily offer a big yes to the lot, and one day, turn up. Go well, get there on Saturday and after. Soon I'll put a message in a bottle pointed south, and so be in touch direct. J
3. Robert Guyton 3

   11 October 2019 at 6:04 pm

   "Sue Beatty and her team listened to the land and responded not only from what they knew as scientists, but from what they imagined as individuals who cared."

   https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2019-10-07/erosion-terry-tempest-williams-excerpt?fbclid=IwAR3KaQHIFvzJ_ecTo3UvD9YkIHLKB38qDds_wZVgP_2hXwVdhkYV08CML3Y

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