Monica Brewster Evening: Keri Opai on his book 'Tikanga'

Govett-Brewster Art Gallery / Len Lye Centre
Students with ID free
Refreshments provided. All welcome.
Booking essential - available below.
All welcome.

Tēnā koutou katoa,

Nō roto au i ngā rohe ā-waka o Tokomaru, Kurahaupō, Aotea engari ko ōku iwi ko Te Atiawa, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Te Ata, Waiohua, Ngāti Porou.
Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa.

Join us for April’s Monica Brewster Evening with guest speaker, Keri Opai on his new book Tikanga.
Keri is the Pou Tikanga (Cultural Lead) and Co-Deputy Chief Executive at Tui Ora, a kaupapa Māori health service provider in New Plymouth.

His knowledge base comes from being taught by Māori elders from an early age. He is a life-long educator, teaching Māori language and culture in kōhanga reo (Māori language learning environments for children under five), primary and secondary school, polytechnic, wānanga (Māori university) and mainstream university as well as community-based organisations.

He is a licensed interpreter and holds a Master’s degree in Māori knowledge systems. His seminal work in creating Te Reo Hāpai, a Māori language glossary for the mental health, addiction and disability sectors, has been widely recognised for utilising a strengths-based, positive Māori worldview for terms that previously may have had negative connotations associated with them.

He is the author of ‘Tikanga – An Introduction to Te Ao Māori’. His kōrero will include topics like the origins of the book, his motivation and process for writing it, some content topics like pepeha and sexism, as well as some reactions to its publishing.

We’re thrilled to hear from Keri as and look forward to seeing you there in person for a night of discussion, learning and exploration.