Part 5: A photographic essay about our journey 'connecting to place' in Aotea, Great Barrier Island.
We have been here for just over 4 months now. And I remind myself of those old sayings like, "Rome wasn't built in a day", and "One step at a time". Slowly, I pause to take a breath and stop myself. Try to make calm in my head on all the wonderful things we could be doing and how we could help others. But first I must recharge. Look after myself so I can be good for others. I must stop and listen to what the Piwiwakawaka has to tell me; to listen to the sounds of the bush and streams, the tides as they ebb and flow and the lap of the ocean as it heaves and swells against the sandy and rocky shores.
All these aspects of our environment can teach us many things if we are willing to listen. And listen I will.
I need more time, and another slow morning will help. I love what I do, and have so much more to learn. I am also still exploring what is connecting me to this place, Aotea.
Today Molly and I went into the bush to do just that. To connect to nature and listen. The last four months have been hectic, demanding and relentless. With little time off, limited resources, and the pressure on myself to shape things up, I am tired and need to re-energise.
In our wanderings, it is amazing what you find in this valley. As nature takes over from what would have been used as a tool for transporting items, nature demonstrates how powerful and long-lasting it is. I saw a great saying on social media the other day. It read,
"I don’t want to protect the environment. I want to create a world where the environment doesn’t need protection."
So I wonder how we do that. The best I think we can do is work in our circles of influences. Cause if you work in the circles you can not influence it will consume you, and gobble you up into despair. And especially as the only person you can truly change is yourself. Not others, family or the world. I figure if I focus on my local community, land and understand what is there, explore it, I will build a connection. I will build my heart for this place and I will care more to look after it. I already want to knock the gorse down, plant more natives. It's just slow when you do not have the tools required for the job.
Also, there is a problem with wasps in the summer. So I Intend to get a bait licence to set traps next summer. Wasps kill and steal food for native birds. Not to mention their sting is brutal. Trapping is another action we can take to knock back the rodents that prey on native fauna.
So what are you doing to make your place a better place?
Creating an environment that is regenerative and does not need protecting is a daunting thought. Yet if we can encourage ourselves and others around us to work in our circles of influence, and make a difference, then we are heading in the right direction.
Either way, the world will be here long after humans. And the cool thing is we have the capacity to do good and realise our true potential in Kaitiakitanga, no matter how big or small the challenge we face each day!
Kia Kaha
Andy
