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Waiheke Island hosts Sculpture on the Gulf bi-annually. In 2022 the sculptures did not disappoint, and the walk around Matiatia headland was stunning. Towards the end of the walk standing tall on the hillside was a significant piece of work called, Te Kotahitanga o Whakamaru (Forde, 2022). Sculptor Anton Forde had carved fifty-five contemporary pou. The pou stood watch over the Hauraki Gulf in kao kao, arrow formation. Each was 7-8 foot tall adorned with a stone pounamu. The chest of each pou was marked with the band of a kakahu. The sun resting on each.
My breath was taken away. Instantly I thought of the quote by author Linda Hogan, “Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.” (Hogan, 1996, p.159). All I wanted was to pack a sleeping bag and stay overnight amongst these celestial-looking taonga, watching out over the Gulf. To just be, to sit and to listen. To listen without expectation. To listen without the need to respond. Just to listen to the wairua of the space, and hear what comes.
[Clip of Anton Forde's sculpture overlooking the gulf from Waiheke Island.]
The pou represent many aspects of our cultural heritage. A formation of people in haka, standing together, ngā tūpuna behind, guardians watching over you, wairua kaitiaki looking over the people and whenua, elder wisdom watching over our human ways. This formation reminded me how the pou shows the strength of standing together with others. Standing with others is a necessity of life if good things are to be achieved.
For most of my corporate working life, I have been responsible for leading teams as small as 4 people to 90 people, and it was always essential to me that each team member was as high functioning as possible and felt valued. We worked towards obtaining the tools to do the job. Everyone was challenged to go outside their areas of comfort. We together designed and created our vison, goals and plans so we each had a personal connection to our purpose. Everyone was supported to be a team member, but autonomous enough to get on with the job and to make their own decisions. Trust was built enough that people could admit mistakes and be supported to problem-solve and overcome challenges. The rewards of our combined effort and collaboration surpassed what any of us could do as individuals on our own.
We all need to have people in our lives with whom we resonate. Where there is an equilibrium of encouragement and richness. This does not always mean there will be agreement, we may get told what we may not want to hear, but the overall premise of intention is the same. Generally, moving in the same direction. Being part of new formations helps us have awareness of the times we are facing, what matters to people and where their perspectives are held. In doing this we do not have to give up or forget what we know and like, but sometimes it will require a certain graciousness and generosity of spirit to know when to hold on and when to let go, in order to gain the benefits and outcomes of standing together strong. Kotahitanga. Through collaborations of relevant input, a great many outcomes can be achieved.
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