Kia Ora!

I’m thrilled to have MP Kiri Allan and her beautiful whanau in the mag this week. Regardlessto bring awareness to cervical cancer. I had tears in my eyes reading it. If you’ve got out of the habit of regular smear tests since lockdown, please do sort that out. It might save even more tears being shed! Kiri also talks movingly about her experience with conversion therapy, the threats she’s received as a woman in power and her pride in helping bring about our Matariki public holiday. After recently chatting to presenter Miriama Kamo about the milestone, I was wondering how we’d mark Matariki in my household. While I don’t mind a bit of stargazing, I’m not one for waking up any time even close to 4am, so I might just take our Minister of Conservation’s advice by planting some native trees in the garden. Having walked through O- po-tiki’s beautiful Hukutaia Domain the other day, I’ve got my eye on a pu- riri and perhaps also a king fern. Enjoy the mag and have a great week!