Goodbyes

I have been away again, taking two of our sons up to Auckland for farewells at the airport. One going back to London, he has been there already for two years. And our youngest also heading off on his OE and also going to England for his first big venture away from NZ.

They are returning to their roots when they go to England, their forebears left there in their small boats at various times in the 1800's. The first were missionaries in 1818, others came later in 1842 and 1843 as settlers -stonemasons, farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, ministers and lay preachers.

They too would have left families behind, in their case many never ever saw their family again.

At least, today, I know that our children will return. It is sad to have to say goodbye, but they need to leave New Zealand and have their own adventures. It is something of a tradition here now for our young people to leave the country. We are just a small country and relatively isolated. We have to leave the place and look at it from a distance.

We have to leave in order to find ourselves, find our place in the world, and many of us, as I did 38 years ago, return. When we return we generally do so knowing that this is where we want to be.

We have seen what the world has to offer, we have lived amongst other people, other cultures, but when we want to raise a family we return home like nesting birds.

This is home. Our turangawaewae.

Tūrangawaewae is one of the most well-known and powerful Māori concepts. Literally tūranga (standing place), waewae (feet), it is often translated as ‘a place to stand’. Tūrangawaewae are places where we feel especially empowered and connected. They are our foundation, our place in the world, our home.