In 1995 I climbed Mt Ruapehu and spend a night at the summit. Back then little did I know that a year later I would find myself living and learning from tangata whenua whose river, the Whanganui begins its journey from the mountains to the sea here in the central volcanic plateau of the North island. My wananga of tikanga Maori, wairua and whanaungatanga has only just started. Thanks to all whanau, it was great reconnecting again after 20 years. Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au - I am the river and the River is me. #teahika
