A few people have asked me for my thoughts on JC being allowed to speak on the Marae / sexism / the belittling of Maori woman etc.
I don't have a lot to say about this as I, frankly, find it quite ridiculous that non Maori would think Maori women are treated less than the taonga

they are. I was speaking with Sam tonight about my Ngati Tuwhareroa uncles (one of whom passed away on Friday) Such gentle men and gentlemen. I recall one of my aunties sitting an uncle down because as she said "E noho! Kei te hoha haere to korero!" He looked at her, abashed,

and sat down. I recall my Aunty Rita Smallman, a kuia from Waikato who married into Tuwharetoa who, with the first voice heard on the Marae, would say ALL that needed to be said in her karanga that rose and fell like the waves. She would then sit and listen to the whaikorero,

Completing / supporting and adding HER voice with waiata tautoko. "E pa to hau" was always both verses. Try and keep up tane ma.
I recalled the kitchen at Hirangi Marae where the men do the cooking under the guidance of the women.
Sexist? Belittling to woman?
E kao. No.

It is balance
We all have our place in our society. We have the gatherers, teachers, care givers, cleaners, singers, those who make the best fried bread, those who make the best raw fish, those who know all the words to every waiata, those who karanga and those who speak
Kaati