About

Welcome to The Paepae

Comments and Contributions welcome

If you like what you read here — actually if you any reaction to it worth sharing — feel free to create a log-in and leave a comment.
If you’d like to initiate dialogue, we welcome like-minded contributors.
(Not too like-minded!) Drop us a line to discuss.

Any requests, suggestions and ideas are also welcome. If you have information or corrections to add light to one of our topics under discussion, please send it to us via the email below.

Contact us through: thepaepae (dot) com (at) gmail (dot) com

–

What is ‘The Paepae’?

In Aotearoa New Zealand the indigenous Maori people have a vibrant culture and an oral tradition stretching back centuries into Polynesia.

Bench Overlooking Lake Oswego - Art based on an original photo by Glen at VirtualTourist.com

The traditional home and meeting place of the people is known as the marae, with its wharenui (meeting house). This is the central venue for discussions, celebrations and debate on all manner of important issues.

Often located at the front of the house is a wooden bench, a platform on which sit those chosen as speakers to discuss the issues of the day. Those leaders or representatives sit and listen to all until it is their turn to stand and express their point of view.

Thus they seek dialogue, reaching for wisdom with reason and sincere argument (and often with humour).

The bench these orators rise from to speak is called the Paepae.

–

IMPORTANT NOTE: The opinions expressed by bloggers on ThePaepae.com are the personal views of the individual authors and do not reflect the opinions of Empower Leaders Publishing Ltd or any other company or its employees. The bloggers are unpaid volunteers who are not blogging as part of employment, ownership or contractual arrangement with any company or commercial enterprise.

For us, blogging is a creative outlet, a hobby, a diversion, something we do for self-expression — like archery or debating, public speaking, political commentary and occasional iconoclasm. ThePaepae.com gives us a chance to express what we think is important, interesting or entertaining … always influenced by our own interests and background. If you want to participate, Welcome!

— Peter Aranyi