Russell Summits One Tree Hill
At 96, Logan Campbell resident Russell Parrish has achieved an incredible feat - ‘knocking off’ the summit of One Tree Hill 30 times over 30 consecutive days - and all for a great cause!
Every single day of September, come rain, shine or blustering gale, Russell set off from his home at Ryman Healthcare’s Greenlane village to walk to the top of the iconic mountain set in the heart of Cornwall Park.
The idea coincided with Ryman Healthcare’s annual Walking for Wellness challenge, which this year aptly had an Everest theme.
Click to read the full story.
Worst Xmas ever?
There's a a lot of planning that goes into Christmas day and sometimes things just don't go to plan. But it can be a good thing - a family mishap or hilarious memory that you can laugh about in Christmases to come.
Whether you burnt the dinner or were stranded at an airport...
Share your Christmas mishaps below!
Te Whakapūtanga o te Atua - Day 33
In the sacred valleys of Aotearoa, beneath the watchful gaze of the maunga and the whispering ngahere, there was a time when harmony within the iwi began to crumble. The values of tikanga (righteousness) and manaakitanga (compassion) were neglected. Greed, conflict, and disregard for the whenua had begun to take root, threatening the balance cherished by the people.
The kaumātua of the iwi gathered at the marae to seek guidance. They performed long karakia, calling upon the atua and Io Matua Kore, the supreme source of all life. As they chanted, a warm breeze swept through the wharenui, and the voice of Tāne Mahuta, the atua of the forest, resonated through the air like a gentle waiata.
When tikanga fades and matekiri (disharmony) arises, Tāne said, Io Matua Kore, through the atua, manifests anew to restore balance and guide the people back to the ways of light.
Soon after, a child was born to the iwi, surrounded by signs of divine blessing. Birds of all kinds gathered at the whare, and the rivers flowed with an unusual clarity. The kaumātua named the child Rongo, after the atua of peace and cultivated lands, believing he would be the one to lead the iwi back to harmony.
As Rongo grew, his wisdom far surpassed his years. He taught the people to honor kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the whenua, to uphold manaakitanga for one another, and to align their actions with tikanga. He reminded them that life was a sacred connection between the wairua, the whenua, and Io Matua Kore.
When righteousness wanes and shadows grow, Rongo would say, we must remember the teachings of the atua. For in each of us, their spirit is alive, and through us, the balance can be restored.
Under his guidance, the iwi flourished again. They planted trees, nurtured their rivers, and cared for one another as whānau. Balance and peace returned to the land, and the harmony of tapu and noa was restored.
Moral of the Story:
When tikanga (righteousness) declines and the balance of life is disrupted, the divine manifests through those chosen to lead and guide the people. It is our collective duty to listen, to act, and to restore the harmony that sustains all of creation.