A Samoan Christmas is a celebration that exudes faith, family, and feasting—a harmonious blend of cultural heritage and festive spirit. Don’t be fooled Sina, the planning of such a celebration isn’t always harmonious!
If you're looking to navigate through the holiday hustle and create a truly memorable Samoan Christmas, let us help you! We have the perfect guide to help you embrace tradition, plan ahead, and keep cherished moments alive. From deciding on the kind of Christmas you envision with the people you thought of strangling throughout the year ;) to curating family traditions that truly resonate, join us as we embark on a journey to make this Samoan Christmas – YOUR SAMOAN CHRISTMAS - a pillar of love, togetherness, and lasting memories!
Rain or Shine? Decide what kind of Christmas you want to have
To ensure that your Samoan Christmas is the perfect blend of tradition and joy, it's important to start planning early. Samoans planning? Yes Sina! It is possible and to match our Samoan weather in December, there is possibility of some light rainfall and storm clouds – just a little!
By taking the time to decide what kind of Christmas you want to have, you can set the tone for the entire holiday season. Whether you envision a festive extravaganza with friends and extended family (which includes those aunties who know everything about everyone – you know the ones Sina) or a more intimate gathering with just your closest loved ones, determining the type of celebration you desire will guide your preparations and create a sense of purpose and meaning.
Consider the atmosphere you want to create during this special time. Relaxed? Casual? Formal? Elegant? Deciding on the ambiance you want to cultivate is the first step towards crafting a Samoan Christmas celebration that aligns with your vision – you’re not on island time anymore Sina!
Are you looking for a jam-packed schedule of events, with plenty of games, outings, and group activities? Or does a quieter, more reflective Christmas resonate with you, centered around intimate conversations, heartfelt moments, and cherished traditions handed down through generations? The choice is yours Sina – choose wisely and please don’t forget to check your bank account regularly.
In all your planning, don’t forget to factor in our core values and traditions – lotu & aiga! You know if you don’t plan for it, mama or tinā will definitely be on your back about it – oh and you know you don’t want that Sina. From attending church services to participating in traditional Samoan ceremonies and practices, incorporating these elements into your Christmas festivities will not only infuse your celebration with authenticity but also create memories that will be cherished for years to come.
As you embark on your journey to create a memorable Samoan Christmas, take the time to envision the kind of celebration you want to have. By setting the tone, atmosphere, level of activity, and incorporating your unique cultural traditions, you can ensure that this holiday season is everything you desire it to be—an unforgettable time of love, togetherness, and lasting memories.
Download our free Samoan Christmas Planner now
Good luck Sina!
]]>My post Matariki 2023 thoughts - our tamariki are so lucky! They are growing up in a time where so much traditional knowledge and practice is coming to the forefront. Where so much of Te Ao Māori is normalised, they can learn about Matariki at school, on Tik Tok!, and get to enjoy a public holiday. I know - we still have a long way to go, on everything!, BUT, wasn't this year's Matariki pretty amazing?
I think its me and my generation that need the awhi. Truly.
For many of us - there is as much to 'un learn' as there is to 'learn'.
My generation did not know of Matariki, and then when we did - it was 7 stars. We did not know Māori names for the months, and then when we did - we thought they started the 1st of the month, the same as the Gregorian calendar.
Its a journey. Learning, un-learning, reflecting, understanding, learning more - its a bit of a loop, but I'm sure we will all eventually get there in our own time!.
Desk Calendar
This year I created a desk calendar for learning more of the maramataka. I love the old school desk calendars and wanted to make something that would look good, be functional, and most importantly - be a learning resource. Something that could teach some basics and spark an interest to learn more.
I was also mindful of our current economic and environmental situation in Aotearoa, so I wanted to make something sustainable and cost effective, that was undated and could be used forever, handmade in NZ from sustainable forests.
But what does it do?
Essentially, other then looking great on your desk - it provides a daily reminder of our cultural differences in measuring time, but also help answer the number one question I get in our DMs – what lunar phase are we in?
Solar Calendar
The left side of the calendar – the Gregorian Calendar, based on a solar cycle – has yellow flip cards. The days are prominently in English (because that is its origin) and then our Māori translations follow- to reiterate different systems. I have both the loan words, and the words created in the last few decades to translate days of the week (Please see our 2021 blog). Whichever you follow is fine, but just helps to understand the history of why there are 2 versions – see some of the images throughout this blog post to get what I mean.
Lunar Calendar
The right side of the calendar – are 2 flip cards, one for the lunar nights and one for the Māori months of the year. These are part of a Maramataka, but not it's entirety. I have used the phase names from Te Whānau ā Apanui because currently, the excellent book written by Bill Tawhai – Living by the Moon – is the only easily accessible publication of the Maramataka. (Buy online from Huia Publishers for $25.00) However as I know there are hundreds of Maramataka across the motu – there is a blank space if you want to add your own hapu/iwi phase name – but if you are a new learner, then this is a start, and I would highly recommend buying his book.
Stellar Calendar
The months begin from Whiro (New Moon) and are most referenced to the different stars that appear. Ideally, I should have just used those names – then this could be a simple reference to the stellar calendar also. However I have chosen not to - because the month names most commonly used nowadays in everyday settings have a historical reference back to Elsdon Bests writings (that were informed by interviews with many tohunga/ experts), and included many different iwi variations, but also some of the month names that he recorded were not all stars, but reference to things occurring in the environment.
The names are not translations of the Gregorian Calendar months (ie August does not translate to Hōngongoi), but a combination of stars and environmental references at a given time, that is then most commonly occuring at a time - ie Mahuru is beween Sept-October from the New moon, it does not start 1st September).
I know it's a lot to learn/ unlearn - highly recommend watching Professor Rangi Matamua You Tube Series
As a learning resource, I have included the most common names used today – but with a blank space – so again, once you learn and understand more, you can write in what the name would be from your own hapu/iwi - noting as Professor Rangi Matamua states, there was no one universal Maori calendar, it is informed by each iwi and their location and tohu (signs) within the environment.
Unlearn. Then learn.
It will just take time – and I'm right here too trying to do the same!
Tidal Calendar
No- just a trick, I haven’t included anything on here for that, but maybe in the future I could add one more flip card of a 24 hour clock so that you could know high tide/low tide each day. That will be next level!.
Summary
It's a long blog post – but hopefully this provides a little background as to what the desktop calendar is intended to achieve.
Let’s be clear – you will not be a Maramataka expert using this calendar, but – you will hopefully, with the repetition of turning the flip cards daily – become more familiar with the differences between calendar systems and it sparks your interest to learn more. As all of the experts say - the main learning is in the environment, looking up at the marama and all other things around us. You won't learn everything from a book, app, calendar, or video - but hopefully, you can make a start, and the knowledge grows.
I would be happy if by using this resource there were some very simple observations made;
Hopefully I have created something of interest and value to you- and you enjoy your purchase of the Desk Calendar and it starts a journey of learning & unlearning for you.
]]>Our top 4 values are;
1. Celebrate our language & culture
We started our business with the aim of creating resources that celebrated our language and culture. However, as second language learners ourselves, we had the challenge of ensuring the accuracy of the language and information we share in our resources is tika, and is approached from our worldview - that we never take English resources and just 'translate over'. This takes effort, with in all honesty, a lot of minefields to navigate. We have made mistakes along the way, but each time we were able to korero with our trusted advisors and make necessary changes – or not in some cases – but then communicating clearly why we would use the particular kupu, phrase or designs in our rauemi.
We initially started doing bilingual Te Reo Māori and English resources only, and then we kept being asked to create Te Reo Māori options only. We were initially hesitant to do this as we felt others were better placed to, but then going back to our values, we had to step out of our own comfort zone and make the effort. We work closely with our translators and advisors and hold many hui during product design phases to ensure we were not only using the right kupu, but everything is in the right context for the product being created and the end user.
When we expanded to include Samoan resources, there were different challenges. While my husband is born and raised in Samoa, a fluent speaker, we still attained outside support from family, friends and translators both in NZ and Samoa to ensure the language used and information shared was appropriate for our products and customers. Again, many things could not just ‘translate across’ from our English or Māori resources - every resource we create involves a lot of talanoa, discussion, checking and re-checking to ensure the Samoan language resources are the best they can be.
To date, we are proud of the resources we have created and the processes we follow to stay tika (true) to our pakihi values. Since launching our Samoan range in 2021 we often get asked to create resources in other Pacific languages. We have respectfully declined these requests as there would be many people and businesses more suited to do this. I have a standing offer to other small businesses who want to create resources in their own language – I am happy to help and share what I know, so that you are able to create resources in your own language similar to what we have done.
2. Give back, the environment and people are not just to be taken from
We believe in the concept of koha, the inherent value of reciprocity, it is intertwined to Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga. We have given back in different ways to a multitude of activities, groups, causes, events etc over the years and are fortunate to be in a position to do so as a small business. We don’t make a big fuss of our koha, our donations and contributions – as it is not in our cultural practices to do so. Our challenge has been aligning business and cultural practices. Our business advisors tell us to ‘promote and optimise’ our give back actions - to use our practices as a marketing tool. This does not sit well with us, and so we choose not to.
We may change our stance on this over time, as often the requests outnumber what we can support, and also, we do know that some customers like to know how businesses give back to their communities. But, until we can find a way to share that information, that values koha and the practice of giving back without it being a marketing gimmick – then we will do so quietly with no fanfare.
3. Tiaki te Taiao
Our commitment to te Taiao is ongoing, and each year we learn and implement new and better ways of business practice to reduce our impact on te Taiao. Firstly, we aim to make quality products that people will keep, reducing what ends up in landfill. We then work with our printers to optimise our printing finishing and sizing, ensuring that our products are only made by FSC certified printers and use vegetable or soy-based inks. We belong to the shopify planet programme and pay per order to remove our carbon emissions. We also create digital options of our products and utilise print on demand marketplaces overseas so there is lessened shipping emissions for international orders. We repurpose all of our stock packaging and aim to re-use and use only recyclable and compostable packaging and supplies in fulfilling orders.
While proud of what we are currently doing, we know we can always do more - so the challenge is keeping abreast of best practice and ways we can do things better in our small business as we grow and scale. And then similarly, making sure we partner with other suppliers who share the same values.
4. Enable Access to Quality
We ensure our products are made to the best quality we can attain and is appropriate to our target market that we are producing the resources for. Sometimes, these are simple decisions – such as ensuring our children’s resources are all bright, colourful, CMYK prints that our tamariki will enjoy, rather then the lower cost black and white options. Sometimes they are harder decisions – should we be sharing this mātauranga (knowledge)? Who will benefit from using the resources we create? Are we helping or hindering language revitilsation by producing bilingual resources – should we only produce resources in our languages with no English translations?
As a foundation value, we knew the personal, social, and cultural value of creating our resources – the pride, connection and learnings that could come from our creations. So, we wanted to ensure these were made available for those who did not have the same connections to language and culture and wanting to do so, in small, daily, practical ways – such as a using a bilingual planner. But we are challenged often, by many who disagree with our stance and each new challenge we receive, we must step back, check in with our advisors and make sure that each product still aligns with our value of celebrating and sharing our language and culture, and making it accessible within quality resources.
Last words
I would encourage all new businesses to determine the foundation values of their businesses and find ways to ensure they are incorporated into your decision making daily, reviewed, and adjusted as needed. They will be your light in the darkness, and the pathway for your next steps. They may even be something that gets learnt along the journey.
]]>Our commitment to our Taiao (environment) is an ongoing process of improvement for our small business. It is a part of our core business values as a Maori & Pacific owned business. The print industry has a large impact on te Taiao, so it is important to us to find ways to minimise our own impact.
Making quality products you keep
We aim to make quality products that our customers keep, and or fully use because they love it so much. Think about how many products you have bought in the past that you stopped using, or casually threw away when finished, often adding to landfill. While some of our products (i.e. notepads and stickers) have a finite use, we know many of our customers keep their planners and notebooks for years – as they have retained their value over time.
Vegetable or soy based inks
Our printers use vegetable or soy based inks which are both cost effective, have less impact on the environment, having a VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) rating of 4% compared to petroleum based inks that emit between 25 – 40% of VOCs. Vegetable and soy based inks are also renewable, compared to petroleum based made from crude oil.
Fsc certified printers
All of our products (made in New Zealand or China) are printed by FSC certified printers. FSC – Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of the worlds forests via timber certification. In addition, one of our NZ based printers is a Net Toitu carbon zero certified printer and member of the PEFC – Programme for the endorsement of Forest Certification.
Double side print & standard sizing
We work closely with our printers for their recommendations of best finished sizes to minimise paper waste. Majority of our printed journals and planners are also double sized to get the maximum use of product
Digital Options
Where possible we provide digital options of our products so that people have the option to have a zero print product.
Carbon neutral deliveries
We pay for the Shopify Planet programme that automatically calculates our shipping emissions (based on all the orders made on our shopify ecommerce store) and ensures high quality carbon removal to neutralise our shipping footprint. In practice it means we pay between 3.5c- 15c per order towards the carbon removal program.
Repurpose all stock packaging
All of our stock arrives from our printers in various box sizes that we repurpose in sending out orders, as storage boxes within our pack house and any additional we give away for free to the public – which many people snap up for moving house as they are often thick durable boxes to hold our heavy planners!
Compostable & recyclable packaging supplies
All our orders are packed in either paper, or recyclable / compostable mailer bags. We use boxes and water activated tape for our larger shipments that are packed into cardboard boxes (no laminate).
Minimise waste
We try to minimise the use of stickers and additional packaging inserts which may look lovely and make great ‘unboxing’ videos on social media – but they are un-necessary waste. We ensure our products are safe and secure when packed, but we do not add in un-necessary branding items that have a detrimental environmental impact.
Last Words
We know these are small steps so far, but each year as our business grows we identify more ways we can improve and reduce our impact on te Taiao. We value our customers feedback on further ways we can improve and lessen our footprint on te taiao as a small business
]]>Select the right planner for your needs
Planners are great at helping you stay organized and focused, but if you have not been using it daily, first ask yourself - have I picked the right planner for me? Check out our other blog about the differences between our monthly/ daily/ weekly planners and see if maybe there is a better option for you next year that fits your planning style and ways of working. Or try our planner quiz here.
Just start
We also get feedback that people don’t know how to start or set up their planner. I know all that blank space can be a bit intimidating, but there are a lot of hacks to help get you started. Over the years I have seen people set up and use our planners so differently, it makes me so happy to see the multi-functional uses that I often did not even think of when creating!
This is how I set up my planner.
Now, that’s just the system I use – you can do something completely different. But whatever you do, just start, and learn as you go. Planning doesn't have to be a drag, and should definitely not feel like a chore.
I’m always excited about setting up my planner for the year ahead – but if the thought is overwhelming, then just start with one thing at a time -one reflection, one goal, one action step – and then just go from there. Don’t try to do everything in one sitting – start some, take a break, come back to it, and soon the pages wont feel blank and overwhelming – more likely it will feel like there’s not enough space to fill up all the things going on in your life!
Its meant to be messy
Back to the statements I heard this weekend – that its too pretty and people don’t want to mess their planners up. News flash……your planner is meant to be messy! When I see messy planners I feel so happy because I know the owner of that planner is really using it and making the most of it.
A planner is personal – okay, not all the ones we see on beautiful Instagram feeds where the handwriting is perfect and stickers are colour coordinated. Don’t be daunted, those reels are to give ideas and inspiration, you don’t have to set up your planner like that just to use it!. But if it helps, then check out some highlighters, coloured pencils, stickers, washi tape – there’s lots of things you can add into your planner. But you really don’t have to. A planner is a tool, and if your tool is messy black ink pen with lots of post it notes stuck on pages, with bits of paper jammed in the back, and a scuffed cover – then you have got the sharpest tool in the shed, because you are USING it – and that’s what matters, not how it looks, but that its being used.
So, its not too late to start using your planner again and ticking off those goals for the rest of the year.
]]>Why? because they are pretty. End of Blog Post, Lol
Joking, but that is one big reason I love using stickers in my planner, they are pretty – well ours are! They are pretty and bright, they add colour, sparkle and joy to my planner, and I just enjoy using them. But I guess, having some other reasons may convince you of the untapped joy to be found in using stickers!
Improve use of another language
The big one for our business – is that our bilingual stickers can help you learn and/or improve your use of Te Reo Māori or Samoan language. And if you are already fluent in your language, then isn’t even more beautiful seeing your language in a set of pretty stickers!
If you are just starting out learning a new language, stickers can help you remember words. Every time you peel off our sticker your language acquisition is reinforced into memory – “Manaia tele – Awesome!”
Learning languages can be hard. It's even harder when you're learning your own, on your own, but that doesn't mean you can't make it easier! You just need to find the right tools. And stickers can help with that. Check out this beautiful image one of our customers sent of us of her sons handwritten story where he had replaced certain words with the Samoan language stickers we have.
Set and achieve goals
Just like a to do list, when you get a little feel-good hit crossing something off the list – so can putting an aspirational or motivating sticker in your planner. Had a great week? Get those stickers out - “Kua oti – Smashed it” or “Tumeke – Too much!”
Whether you're trying to get more organized, get in more steps or just set reminders for yourself, stickers are a great way to help you achieve your goals. Depending on the type you have, you can put in reminders of important events, or just a prompt when “Wā oti – a project is due”. If you have important family events coming up, try using stickers on the monthly layout so you can always see at a glance – that pop of colour and reminder – so you never miss important life events – not just work ones!
Planner stickers can also help motivate you with specific goals, i.e. – if you are on a hauora/ wellness journey – check out our little icon sticker sets with scales/ water/ wellbeing icons – that can be used as either a reminder/ goal – or as an achievement once done! Planner sticker sheets may seem like a small addition, but they truly do make a big difference when it comes to personalizing – and loving what you put in your planner.
Adds creative flair, even when you have none!
Stickers are a godsend for those of us not so artistically gifted who could never do some beautiful calligraphy writing, or even colour in spaces nicely! Stickers do all the work for you to make your space colourful, cute and inspiring – not dull, or repetitive.
One tip – when using stickers on a monthly layout – try to keep all the stickers from one colour palette. We sell sticker sets in blue, orange, red or pink palettes – so you could keep each month in a distinct colour palette/ theme. Try it – trust me, it makes your planner look like an artist is at work! Add in some washi tape in similar colour palette/ theme, try some hand writing or stencil writing headings coloured in at the top…..and wow, you got an insta worthy planner in your hands! Not that we are going for that – but you will be amazed at how big a deal stickers are, or can be if you give them a try!
Last words
The right planner stickers can make your planner journey so much fun. They can help you to be more organized, more productive, and more creative (even if you're not usually very creative).
Last words – don’t worry about perfection (I was just joking about the insta worthy pics of your planer!) The only person who sees your planner is yourself (well most of the time!) so use the stickers that sing to you, that bring you joy, that brighten up your planner and make you smile every time you open it and think – yay what’s coming up or reflecting and thinking – that was a great day, week or month. Check out some stickers and make the most of your planners! – Kia taea e koe – you got this!
]]>Well, there's no one-size-fits-all answer for that question. And that's because we all have different needs and wants from our planners. Some people like to keep their daily schedules and appointments separate from their monthly goals and long-term plans; others prefer to have everything in one place.
The reality is, there are benefits to using either one, so it comes down to personal preference and habits, although I have seen many people buy our planners purely based on size and cover colour – so hey there really is a lot to be said for personal aesthetic choices! But let’s delve into some benefits and differences of our daily & weekly planners.
Rātaka - Tuhi Daily Planners:
Mahere ā wiki - Tuhi Weekly Planners:
Last words
There are pros and cons to either a Rātaka or Mahere ā Wiki - daily or weekly planner. The most important thing is that you find a planner that works for your life—and that makes it easier for you to get stuff done. Then once you have decided - go with it, customise it, make it your own, make it more then a ‘business tool’ and it will become that essential thing in your bag, or on your desk, that you can’t do without!
]]>Lost yet? Don’t worry, you are in the right place, lets walk you through all the parts of this free downloadable planner, how to use and make the most of this unique lunar calendar.
Index
As a digital file you can use the Index Page to link to all parts of the planner, similarly it serves as a Contents page if you print a hard copy version of the planner. The entire planner includes a Year in view of 2022 & 2023 (as the Māori Lunar Calendar goes over 2 Gregorian Calendar years) – and also notes Whiro (New Moon) and Te Rākaunui (Full Moon) within each month, if you are based in the Southern Hemisphere. There is also information about Matariki, a place to set goals and reflections, notes page, and then each of the lunar months, starting from Whiro (New moon) commencing at Pipiri – the first month of the Māori year.
The Māori months are often reference to stars that appear at this time, and it is commonly thought that a new month begins on Whiro, New Moon – not the first of the month as in the Gregorian calendar. (Refer Dr Rangi Matamua, “Matariki” book for more detailed information – this book should be a staple in every home, school and workplace! Love it – go get it if you don’t already have)
Gregorian Months |
Gregorian Month |
Māori Transliteration |
Māori months |
Māori month starting on Whiro (New Moon) |
1 |
January |
Hānuere |
8 |
Kohitātea |
2 |
February |
Pēpuere |
9 |
Huitanguru |
3 |
March |
Māehe |
10 |
Poutūterangi |
4 |
April |
Āperira |
11 |
Paengawhāwhā |
5 |
May |
Mei |
12 |
Haratua |
6 |
June |
Hune |
1 |
Pipiri |
7 |
July |
Hūrae |
2 |
Hōngongoi |
8 |
August |
Ākuhata |
3 |
Hereturikōkā |
9 |
September |
Hepetema |
4 |
Mahuru |
10 |
October |
Oketopa |
5 |
Whiringa-ā-nuku |
11 |
November |
Noema |
6 |
Whiringa-ā-rangi |
12 |
December |
Tihema |
7 |
Hakihea |
Note – there are also dialectal differences in the Māori months and for some iwi an additional month added – a great example to see those different kupu is in the Tainui Te Reo Dictionary
Matariki
Our Matariki layout includes an image of the 9 stars known as the Matariki Cluster, and a brief explanation of each star. We also note the dates of the setting and rising of Matariki, as provided by Dr Rangi Matamua in his 3 Year Calendar System Poster. We have an updated Reflections page with specific journaling prompts related to Matariki – so that you can record any observations you make looking up to the stars in the early morning sky, a section to reflect on the year that has been, remembering those who have passed, connecting with whanau and sharing kai, and setting your aspirations for the year ahead.
We have a blank lunar page also with the phases of the moon starting from Whiro (New Moon) and going over 30 nights, which is the most common number of nights in a lunar cycle – however note in some parts of New Zealand this cycle can vary between 28 – 32 nights. We have left this page with no lunar cycle nights so that you may add in the Maramataka names from your own area/ or Hapu. It is also a helpful reference to remind you to look up and take note of the moon phases and how the moon looks at different parts of the month.
Ngā Marama Māori (Pipiri 2022 - Haratua 2023)
Within this planner, each of the months start on Whiro (New moon) and end on Mutuwhenua (Night before next new moon) because of this – they cross 2 calendar months often. For example, Pipiri begins on 30th May 2022, and ends on the 28 June 2022. Each layout still includes NZ public holidays information and Te Rākaunui (Full Moon) for reference. There is space to record monthly priorities, notes, and gratitude.
The whakatauki (proverb/ quote) on each page is referenced from Elsdon Best, Maori Division of Time (1922, pp 15-16) – with the explanations provided to him over a century ago about the names of each month and what was used to describe them. There are many variations across Aotearoa, but we have quoted these as a reminder of the richness of our history and practices, documented over 100 years ago, but existing far longer.
Give it a go
As we celebrate the first public holiday in for Matariki this year (2022) in New Zealand – it’s a time to learn more about traditional practices and add to your own basket of knowledge. We hope this free download gives you the opportunity to learn about different measures of time, months starting from the New moon rather than the traditional 1st of the month, let us know how you find it!
Digital App or Hard Copy
This resource can either be used as a digital file (we recommend the app Good Notes) with a navigation menu (look for the whare symbol) that can navigate between sections, and also can write directly on using an i-pencil or other tools. For those who love a paper version - then this file can be printed directly onto your own printer to use and share also.
Get your copy
Just add to cart, its FREE - after checkout it will be automatically emailed to you. Please note you will receive 2 emails - one confirming the "free order" and another one with the link to download the resource. Please check your spam box if you do not receive both emails. Any problems downloading please let us know. Enjoy!
We often get asked, do people still use hard copy planners nowadays? Fair question, technology reaches everywhere, into almost every industry – and the world of stationery is no exception. You would think, that the answer is no, or that the use of hard copy planners is declining.
Yet, our hard copy Rataka (Te Reo Maori/ Bilingual Daily Planners) and Fuafuaga (Samoan Bilingual Daily Planners) are our businesses top sellers. When technology is meant to automate so much of our life, supposedly to make everything easier – many of us still can’t live without our daily planner by our side. Is it just our generation? (ahem…the 45yo + age group) I used to think so, but then I noticed people of all ages using our planners and made us think, there are still so many benefits of the hard copy planners that digital versions are yet to match!
In every office or home, no matter how modern they are, you will nearly always find a pencil or pen and a hard copy planner. If you’re in my house – you will also find washi tape, stickers, highlighters, coloured pencils and sticky notes….but that’s just me!. So what are the benefits, and why do people still love hard copy planners?
Writing on paper can be more productive
Using a hard copy planner has fewer distractions than a screen does, allowing you to focus more on what you are writing or planning. Let’s face it, we can have every intention of planning out our week on our scheduler….next minute, 30 minutes have gone and we have been watching Tik toks! Its so easy to sidetrack from the task at hand. Writing in paper planners can be more purposeful and keep you in the ‘now’, not scrolling up at every distraction.
Planning on Paper helps your memory
Writing by hand is better for retaining information and it also sparks creativity. It helps information recall, problem-solving and decision-making, an important process that aids memory, meaning you keep on top of your schedule and to-do list in your head too. For many people, writing by hand is something that brings back fond memories. We built our business from the fond memories of our grand-parents diaries, their handwriting, the important, and not so important things they recorded over the years. That nostalgia you would never get from a digital app.
They give you a break from the screen
Putting pen to paper can give your eyes a much-needed rest from your screen – and lets face it, not just the kids need to do this, most of us adults do too!. Screens have a more negative sensory experience, leading to higher levels of stress and anxiety. Many people experience digital fatigue from prolonged time spent staring at screens, and this can lead to long-term eye damage. We are pretty sure, even if you love to pretty up your planners like we do – those beautiful stickers and washi tape will not give you sensory overload like a screen does!
They are more convenient and budget friendly
Our hard copy daily planners are B5 sized – they are so easy to put in your bag and use them wherever you are. Unlike a digital planner, they are not dependent on battery, Wifi, or cables, making them a better travel companion, and so much easier to open up in bed at night when you’re reflecting on your day, or first thing in the morning when you’re planning the day ahead. And best of all, you purchase it once, no large upfront costs or ongoing subscriptions for some new fancy app that you will often forget your paying for!
In With the Old, Out With the New
There is still something so satisfying about crossing out something on a list don’t you think? Checking a box on a screen still doesn’t match it. Maybe it’s still the old-fashioned nostalgia that comes with putting pen to paper, the break time we have to plan or reflect, or maybe its just with everything the world has been through in the past 2 years – there is a real joy and peace in writing your thoughts, plans, aspirations and reflections – that typing or texting just cant match right now.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the best planner is the planner that works for you. We create both digital and hard copy planners so we know there are different features and benefits to both that appeals to different people. But if you have ever wondered why so many people still choose hard copy planners over the latest technology – now you know there’s lots of reasons why, both scientific and emotional. Find what suits you best.
]]>A daily planner will help you keep track of all the things that need to get done in your day/ week/ month/ year – so that you run your life, not the other way around.
Feeling more organised and in control of life events and the everyday
Our lives can be hectic and crazy (yes we know there’s been a pandemic) with so many places and events to remember, how do you not feel overwhelmed and in a hot mess? A planner can help you feel more in control of your day, so that you run your day/ week/ month/ year – not the other way around. Getting into the habit of setting your annual goals, broken down into monthly and weekly tasks, and then planning out your day can bring immense feelings of peace, knowing you got this.
One place to keep track of all life’s big and little details
For many of us, we will live by our scheduler at work, that can sometimes be public in your workplace so that people can schedule in meetings with you. But where do you put all your personal reminders, or your health and wellbeing goals, your budget notes, birthday reminders, errands…and space to be grateful every day – yes, that’s where planners are hard to beat!
Motivation to achieve goals
Our Daily Planners (bilingual and Te Reo Maori) include month in view spreads for each month. At the beginning of the daily planner, you can identify your big goals in our “Oku Whainga – My Goals” and then break down those big goals into mini goals across the 12 months of the year. In June – at the time of Matariki (celebrating the Maori New Year) – you can then take stock of your progress to date, reflect on how you are going with your goals – and make whatever changes necessary across the remaining months to see those goals achieved. These features all help you to stay motivated
Retention of knowledge and reminders
We all know that when you write things down, you remember them better. Its not just something we are told at school, it actually does help you to remember things. However, in our busy worlds, its remembering where you wrote that something important down that becomes the challenge! A daily planner lets you keep everything all in one place. Keep it with you everyday, and you wont lose track of any little notes or reminders you write yourself daily.
Making the most of every day
There’s several ways our planners help you make the most of each day. From a daily scheduler starting at 5am, a daily reminder of priorities and things to do, notes areas to not lose track of anything, and then a space to track your energy levels and gratitude. On a weekly basis, each Sunday we have space to reflect and review the week that’s passed, its challenges and learnings, wins and highlights – and then the goals for the week ahead. There are so many ways that your daily planner can help you make the most of every precious day you have.
Conclusion
It's true that getting organized and using your daily planner won't solve all of your problems, but it will make juggling them a little easier. You'll have more time for the things you want to do, and it can be the strongest tool in your arsenal to help you reach every one of the goals on your list. Remember – the ones you set at the beginning of the year, yes those ones. Run your day, don’t let your day run you, and reap all the benefits of using a daily planner
]]>In 2019, we attended some of Professor Rangi Matamua (Tuhoe)[1] lectures that he held around the motu for his “Matariki series[2]”. Amongst the wealth of information he shared, was a challenge for people to distinguish the Western methods of measuring time (based on the solar Gregorian calendar) and the Māori methods of measuring time – which were influenced by a range of measures – including the stellar, lunar and tidal calendars.
His challenge was that - if its Gregorian calendar based, then use the transliteration of those days/ months - as our kupu does not match up with their calendar, or the reasons for the names of the days/ months. His korero made perfect sense to us, and since 2019 we have switched.
In our diaries & planners, we use the loan words for days of the week, and months of the year – to distinguish the Gregorian calendar. On each month, we mark when Whiro (New Moon) or Te Rakaunui (Full Moon) rises – so that whichever maramataka you are using, you can anchor yourself to one of those starting points - and can follow the 30 nights (not 7 day week cycles of the Gregorian calendar). Then, on Whiro of each month, we include the name of the Māori month (as the Māori months start on the New Moon, not on the 1st of the month) and then at the bottom of each calendar spread – we provide the quotes from Tuhoe in reference to each marama, quoted within Elsdon Bests 1922 book “Māori division of time” in the chapter about “Māori months”.
So this year June 2021 - we call it Hune, and on the 10th June when Whiro rises, the month of Pipiri begins - not on the 1st of the month, so we do not have the word Pipiri at the top of our calendar layout - because it does not translate to June, Pipiri is shown on the New Moon date, and the korero behind the kupu is within the quote at the bottom of our calendar layout, and in reference to the stars. Does that make sense? Gosh we hope so!
See blog cover image
We get a lot of feedback on our use of Loan Words, and want to share that they are not there by mistake, we have intentionally used them to hopefully – respect but distinguish between Western & Māori measures of time.
If you’re still reading at this point – then we also thought we would share some more information about where the days of the week and months have actually come from. Thanks Google!
Days of the Week
Modern Latin-based cultures, in general, directly inherited the days of the week from the Romans and they were named after the classical planets[3]
The modern English days of the week were inherited from gods of the old Germanic Norse culture — Wednesday is Wōden’s-day (Wōden or Wettin eqv. Mercury), Thursday is Thor’s-day (Thor eqv. Jupiter), Friday is Frige-day (Frig eqv. Venus).
Weekday |
Planet |
Germanic god |
English name |
Roman god |
Saxon name |
Sunday |
Sunne |
|
Monday |
Mōnda |
|
Tuesday |
Tīw |
|
Wednesday |
Wōden / Wettin |
|
Thursday |
Thunor |
|
Friday |
Frige |
|
Saturday |
Saturn |
- |
From roughly the 1990s, these Māori words were promoted to use for the days of the week, that align to the korero of the English words;
English |
Māori |
Reference |
English translation |
Monday |
Rāhina |
day of the Moon |
rā + Māhina (day + Moon) |
Tuesday |
Rātū |
day of Mars |
rā + Tūmatauenga (day + Mars) |
Wednesday |
Rāapa |
day of Mercury |
rā + Apārangi (day + Mercury) |
Thursday |
Rāpare |
day of Jupiter |
rā + Pareārau (day + Jupiter) |
Friday |
Rāmere |
day of Venus |
rā + Mere (day + Venus) |
(Note - Rāhoroi = Saturday & Rātapu = Sunday were unchanged – were already often used)
If like us – you went to school before the 1990s, you are most likely more familiar with the transliterations or loan words of many English words – including the days of the week and months.
We have chosen to use the loan words, as day names have a whakapapa to Roman times, not Māori. Traditionally most Māori followed the 30 nights of the Maramataka, not 7 days a week. Dr Rangi Matamua korero seemed very logical and practical to us - that we should go back to use these loan words for days/ months - and then know what night of the maramataka we are in, and what month following the stars – instead of trying to overlay Gregorian & Maori and mix the different korero.
Months of the Year
If you are still with us in this long blog – then similarly, how the months of the year got their names are shown below
Gregorian Month |
Latin Source |
Meaning |
January |
mēnsis Iānuārius, "Month of Janus |
the Roman god of gates, doorways, beginnings, and endings |
February |
mēnsis Februārius, "Month of the Februa" |
the Roman festival of purgation and purification, |
March |
mēnsis Mārtius, "Month of Mars", |
the Roman war god |
April |
mēnsis Aprīli |
of uncertain meaning but usually derived from some form of the verb aperire ("to open") or the name of the goddess Aphrodite |
May |
mēnsis Māius, "Month of Maia" |
a Roman vegetation goddess whose name is cognate with Latin magnus ("great") |
June |
mēnsis Iūnius, "Month of Juno", |
the Roman goddess of marriage, childbirth, |
July |
mēnsis Iūlius, "Month of Julius Caesar" |
the month of Caesar's birth, instituted in 44 bc as part of his calendrical reforms |
August |
mēnsis Augustus, "Month of Augustus |
instituted by Augustus in 8 bc in agreement with July and from the occurrence during the month of several important events during his rise to power |
September |
mēnsis september, |
"seventh month" of the ten-month Roman year of Romulus c. 750 bc |
October |
mēnsis octōber |
"eighth month" of the ten-month Roman year of Romulus c. 750 bc |
November |
mēnsis november |
"ninth month", of the ten-month Roman year of Romulus c. 750 bc |
December |
mēnsis december |
"tenth month", of the ten-month Roman year of Romulus c. 750 bc |
We can then look at the Gregorian Calendar months, the loan words given, and compare with the Māori months, knowing their order and when they commence.
Gregorian Month |
Gregorian Month |
Māori Transliteration / Loan Word |
Māori month |
Māori month starting on Whiro (New Moon) |
1 |
January |
Hānuere |
8 |
Kohitātea |
2 |
February |
Pēpuere |
9 |
Huitanguru |
3 |
March |
Māehe |
10 |
Poutūterangi |
4 |
April |
Āperira |
11 |
Paengawhāwhā |
5 |
May |
Mei |
12 |
Haratua |
6 |
June |
Hune |
1 |
Pipiri |
7 |
July |
Hūrae |
2 |
Hōngongoi |
8 |
August |
Ākuhata |
3 |
Hereturikōkā |
9 |
September |
Hepetema |
4 |
Mahuru |
10 |
October |
Oketopa |
5 |
Whiringa-ā-nuku |
11 |
November |
Noema |
6 |
Whiringa-ā-rangi |
12 |
December |
Tihema |
7 |
Hakihea |
Note – there are also dialectal differences in the Māori months and for some iwi an additional month added – a great example to see those different kupu is in the Tainui Te Reo Dictionary
Korero Whakamutunga
This is a long blog post we know - you did great to get to this point!
But hopefully it explains a little as to why we have set out our resources like we have. We acknowledge Dr Rangi Matamua, and the pioneering work he does in sharing this knowledge, and we hopefully have stepped into the challenges he lays and found a way to incorporate Māori measures of time, while still living in our Western world – in the resources we create.
We are not academics, but stationery geeks who love to learn and share mātauranga Māori to improve our daily lives and help us reconnect back to traditional practices. If we get it wrong a long the way, mō tō māua hē, we are still learning and trying, so we appreciate all the feedback we get.
Ngā mihi o te tau hou Māori,
Mānawatia a Matariki!
[1] Associate Dean Postgraduate within the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Waikato
[2] Ko Matariki e ārau ana | The gathering of Matariki series of talks
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_the_days_of_the_week
]]>What is the Maramataka?
You can google and find definitions of the “maramataka” most commonly referred to as a planting and fishing monthly almanac. The kupu itself reveals it as the Marama (moon) taka (to turn), Maramataka, the turning of the moon.
While important, it is one part of an overall view of time and space by Maori, it does not stand alone or operate in isolation, but is informed and practiced in connection with other korero and practices. Cue here – why we regularly share korero from many others who speak of the stars, the environment, rongoa, atua…etc etc.
Everything is connected. Like EVERYTHING.
Our tūpuna understood the importance of the connections of our marama, our skies, our stars, our moana, our whenua and ourselves. Each maramataka is reflective of the iwi/ hapu it is based in. As Pauline Harris & Lilliana Clarke explain;
“The maramataka is a complex system that utilises the sun, moon, stars, environment and ecology to track time and occurrences. It requires a broad understanding of many facets from the world around us and above us”
(Harris & Clarke, 2018)
So yes, aroha mai, it’s never a quick 2 minute korero – but hopefully in 2 minutes you do get an appreciation for the vast body of knowledge it is, how amazing our tūpuna were, and find ways you can connect to this korero and practice it in your daily life.
First steps
So……if people say you’re a “bit woo woo” wanting to learn more about the lunar calendar – you can remind them a big chunk of the world already does follow the lunar calendar – so catch up already :)
There’s a little trick to this also…that varies amongst hapu/iwi…that in some ways has adapted due to the technology we have nowadays as we can identify to the second when each moon rises and sets now…………but we will leave that to a later blog post to explain! For now – just start with understanding that the lunar “month” does not begin on the 1st…..it begins on the New moon.
As a starter, know that after years of living by a solar calendar, learning about, then trying to live by a lunar calendar takes some practice….ok a lot of practice (!)…. and the reality is we have to follow both – or we will never get to our day jobs on time!
The “art” of Maramataka is in the observations of your tai ao – your environment.
Knowing what day it is, then what they are known to be good/ not good for, then adding in your own observations from wherever you are.
What do you notice in your day to day life?
What changes over the different moon phases?
This month? Next month? What changed? Where was I at those times?
Be kind to yourself, it takes time and learnings and recording your observations over days, nights, months, seasons and years.
We designed our journals to record our own observations and be able to go back and review them month by month. As old school as that is – it was the only way we could start seeing the differences, the similarities, the patterns that were emerging in our lives. Its one thing to know what phases are "good" or "not good for" but then we needed to observe things daily and see how its actually been for us - were we on point or not? If not, why?
We hope others will use the journals in the same way. Whether as a beginner, or experienced practitioner - theres always something new to observe!
We know it’s going to take awhile to build up the knowledge and practices till it becomes second nature. Just like the pantene shampoo ad, it doesn’t happen over night….but we have faith it will happen!
Would love to hear how you are going with resetting yourself to the maramataka.
Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter so we can stay connected on this journey of learning we are all on!
]]>Be kind to yourself, be patient, and use this time to rest, reconnect and prepare for productive days ahead.
]]>It is wasteful of energy, time and effort to go to the seas,to the rivers and to plant. Any undertaking during Korekore will bear no fruit."
Bill Tawhai (Living by the Moon 2013)
The next 3 nights in the maramataka, (Te Whānau ā Apanui) are the Korekore nights - Korekore Tuatahi, Korekore Rawea, Korekore Whakapiri, and as Bill Tawhai notes in his book, it is a time when many activities may not bear fruit. You may feel a little low in energy and notice that things take a little extra effort. As with all phases of the maramataka, when some activities may not be fruitful, others can be.
During these days you may want to think of/ take action with;
Something you may like to do over the next 3 days and nights.
Record in a journal or notebook (like these) how you are feeling, in the morning and in the evening. Observer whether your energy changes during the day/ night? Take a moment to observe a few more things in your day, what do you notice?
And lastly, will you slow down a little over the next 3 days and nights, now that you know this?
Its not always possible in our busy modern lives, if your mahi/ whanau/ life does not allow you to slow down this time - then at least in yourself, don't be critical and harsh on yourself if you don't hit those targets or goals right now, don't fret, a very high productivity energy phase is coming.
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