Tuesday, April 10, 2012   Koha is a New Zealand Māori
custom which can be translated  as gift, present, offering,
donation or contribution.  Koha literally means
gift. Traditionally, in our culture, when people visited, they
left a koha, a gift as a token of appreciation. My home has many
taonga, treasures gifted to me over the years. Today my friend
Wendy gave me a beautiful ring that she no longer wore. Its an
old half crown coin fashioned into a ring on a silver base. I
love this ring. It has so many little motifs on it that are sure
to find their way into my work. Little hei tiki, a crown, a coat
of arms. I am quite taken by the Queen at the moment. I recently
went to a local book fair and was compelled to buy every book I
could find about her. I admire her capacity to remain calm and
poised, gracious even under fire. I don't know how she does it
with the family she has. I know I can learn a lot from her as a
 significant woman leader.  Historically Maori have not had a
great relationship with the Crown.