WHAKATAU - to make a decision, to settle something within yourself.  

Whakatau is a short series that explores the experience of Māori in Aotearoa during the global pandemic, and ultimately the decision of whether or not to vaccinate their tamariki (children) against the virus.  In this episode Manawa chats with single father of 3, Bodie Friend of Ngati Pukenga, Tapuika, Waikato, Ngati Apakura and Ngati Hikairo. Living in a multigenerational household, and with a Māmā who is a nurse, Bodie and his whānau were able to confidently navigate the vaxx programme, where all whanau members are now vaccinated, including all three taiohi and tamariki.  

Bodie is a deep thinker and we chat about the effects of social media, the mandates, the protests and misinformation through this time of the covid vaxx - and the effects that has had on whanau.  And touch also on if vaccination is just another Pākeha concept being forced onto our people. Fuuuu. 

For Māori it can be difficult to trust the government and its western systems, they have not favoured our people and are seen as the key driver to upholding the colonial oppression of indigenous people.  What may seem straightforward and 'scientific' to some is seen as a lie and a trap to others. But we have all faced some tough decisions in the past few years, to come to a point of calm and strength (to whakatau oneself) on the vaccination is tricky for many, so we're here to talk about it.