Persistence and Attention to Detail (Day 7)
In the serene village of Te Ao Marama, a young Māori student named Aroha was studying engineering at a renowned university in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Aroha was a dedicated learner, carrying with her the aspirations of her whānau (family) and iwi (tribe). She approached her studies with the same principles her tūpuna (ancestors) had lived by: manaakitanga (care and respect for others), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and a commitment to excellence.
Aroha had consistently achieved high marks in her studies, always earning recognition for her hard work. But when her third-year semester results were published, Aroha was disheartened to see her grades fall to a whakamanawa noa (average pass). One course, in particular, had received unusually low marks, and she couldn’t understand why.
Instead of reacting in frustration, Aroha reflected on the teachings of her kaumātua (elders): "Kia mau ki te tūmanako” — hold on to hope. She sought advice from her peers, who told her to let it go and move forward. They warned her that challenging the system could be risky and might even result in worse outcomes.
Aroha, however, trusted her instincts. She remembered how her tupuna would pause to think carefully before making important decisions. She went to the local marae for karakia (prayer) and spent time in quiet contemplation, asking for guidance. While reflecting, she recalled that during the exam, she had used extra paper to explain her calculations. A thought struck her: what if the additional pages hadn’t been reviewed?
With renewed determination, Aroha submitted a formal request for a recount (re - totaling of her marks). She included a note explaining that she had attached extra pages and asked the examiners to check whether they had been accounted for.
When the recount results came back, her suspicion proved correct—the additional pages containing key parts of her answers had been overlooked. Her recalculated score not only restored her distinction but also placed her among the top students in her class.
Aroha shared the news with her whānau, who celebrated her perseverance. But she also took a moment to thank her professors for their work and acknowledge the importance of the process.
Moral of the Story
This story reflects the principles of whakamanawa (perseverance) and aro nui (attention to detail). Aroha’s success came not only from her hard work but from her willingness to trust her instincts, reflect thoughtfully, and act with respect for the academic system.
Her journey also highlights manaakitanga—the importance of showing gratitude and care for others, even when seeking justice for oneself. For Aroha, her achievement was not just a personal victory but a way to honour her tūpuna and demonstrate how Māori values can guide success in all aspects of life.
⚠️ DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS. If you love them, don't leave them. ⚠️
It's a message we share time and time again, and this year, we're calling on you to help us spread that message further.
Did you know that calls to SPCA about dogs left inside hot cars made up a whopping 11% of all welfare calls last summer? This is a completely preventable issue, and one which is causing hundreds of dogs (often loved pets) to suffer.
Here are some quick facts to share with the dog owners in your life:
👉 The temperature inside a car can heat to over 50°C in less than 15 minutes.
👉 Parking in the shade and cracking windows does little to help on a warm day. Dogs rely on panting to keep cool, which they can't do in a hot car.
👉 This puts dogs at a high risk of heatstroke - a serious condition for dogs, with a mortality rate between 39%-50%.
👉 It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act to leave a dog in a hot vehicle if they are showing signs of heat stress. You can be fined, and prosecuted.
SPCA has created downloadable resources to help you spread the message even further. Posters, a flyer, and a social media tile can be downloaded from our website here: www.spca.nz...
We encourage you to use these - and ask your local businesses to display the posters if they can. Flyers can be kept in your car and handed out as needed.
This is a community problem, and one we cannot solve alone. Help us to prevent more tragedies this summer by sharing this post.
On behalf of the animals - thank you ❤️
Who’s the Smarty-Pants in the Neighbourhood? Let’s Find Out!
I’m not alive, yet I grow with care.
I wear ornaments, lights, and sometimes a star to bear.
My evergreen presence fills the air, bringing joy to the hearts of those who prepare.
What am I?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
Poll: Would you rather: Christmas in summer forever or winter forever?
Just a bit of a fun poll to get you thinking.
If you had to live out your Christmas days, would you prefer it was a summer Christmas or a winter Christmas?
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61.1% Summer
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37.3% Winter
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1.6% Other - I'll share below
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