The opportunity to work as manuhiri, or guests in Aotearoa (New Zealand) is a privilege. One which requires us to respect the tikanga or protocols pertaining to the land.
By engaging with tangata whenua (Māori – indigenous people of the land of Aotearoa) and building relationships around shared values and goals we gain understanding of this relationship with the land.
This philosophy is the beating heart of Raupī, Raupā, Rauora.
Everything that sustains us comes from the land.
We cannot survive a future where the health of the land is neglected and malnourished. The land provides for us, allowing us to grow and thrive.
Raupī is the act of reciprocation through our behaviour that in turn cherishes and nourishes the land. As our critical awareness around our own impact upon the earth grows and our behaviour matures, so does our responsibility and burden of care.
Ringa raupā means ‘the calloused hand’ and is a metaphor for being industrious and hardworking.
Ringa raupā is a compliment for those who are experienced or who are veterans in their profession, as well as those who get stuck in, who get involved and do the heavy lifting, the laborious tasks that make the overall cause achievable.
Raupā in the context of Greenlit implores the individual, as well as the wider organisation, to take it upon themselves to work towards the sustainable practices that prioritise the health of the land.
Rauora is the restoration of health, language and land. Good health of all living things where the Mauri or essential life force is strong and thriving.
We recognise the holistic view of Māori, and all indigenous nations, that our existence is inextricably connected to our environment. As indigenous people to Aotearoa, the health and wellness of Māori is tied to the land, and our responsibility is therefore not only to the land, but to its rightful guardians.
Rauora represents the indigenous Māori vision for a future where the land and its people are well nourished, and flourishing.
Raupī, raupā, rauora is as aspirational as it is pragmatic. It recognises that indigenous Māori philosophy is all derived from the environment and grounded in Tikanga, which inform and govern our behaviour.
We are but a mere imprint on the vast timeline of Papatūānuku, and hold obligations to future generations to ensure that not only do we reduce our harmful impact on the earth but strive to leave it in a better state, and using this as opportunity to grow a more profound relationship with it in our lifetime.
By Nikau Hindin and Te Kuru Dewes,
with whakataukī and edits from Nuki Takao,
under the guidance of Libby Hakaraia.
An industry-wide collaboration for environmental sustainability within the Aotearoa, New Zealand screen sector