FROM THE PRESIDENT

NĀ TE TUMUAKI

ANAHERA MOREHU LIANZA President

Kōrero o te Tumuaki, Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa

Te pō, te ao, te ao, te pō

Te hahaunga, te kimihanga

I te kore, nā Tāne i toko

Nāna i māwehe, tauwehea ai

Ka heua te pō

Tērā ia ngā hua, ka māturuturu iho nei Maea te rangi e tū iho nei

Maea te papa e takoto nei

Maea te uruora

Ka heua te ao

Ka heua te pō

Nā Tāne i toko, ki te whai ao, ki te ao mārama Tihewa mauri ora.

E ōku rangatira o te ao, he mihi maioha ki ngā mōrehu. Mahia e tātou te mahi, hei hua whakapai i te ao.

2020 is now behind us as we step into the new year. It was an unexpected year and of course the changes around the world are impacting upon us in many ways. The light still shines bright for us all.

At the end of last year there were many changes that took place around the country. Many were celebrations and some were not. To all of the many volunteers, vendors and of course members who continue to support the future pathways of LIANZA, thank you does not really cover it.

I personally, and the LIANZA Office, would like to thank Sarah Powell for excellence in leading the

LIANZA Standing Committee on Copyright (LSCC). Due to future commitments, Sarah has decided to stand down as chair. The mahi that was undertaken by the LSCC before and during my time was exceptional, keeping us on our toes and ensuring that we had a voice in the many different parts of copyright and with the changes happening with government. I’m not sure if Sarah ruled with an iron fist but the committee has some fantastic members who supported her role and who will continue to do so. E kore e mimiti te puna kōrero e te rangatira, kia kaha tonu koe i tāu ake ara.

Diane Friis also left the committee during this time. Thank you Diane for all the support and knowledge you imparted to the team. The committee has pūkenga nui and we all know that expertise is needed to ensure our voice is heard within our communities and the world. Ngā mihi.

We celebrated our Immediate Past President’s new role as National Librarian. Rachel has already spoken at an event in LIANZA Ikaroa Region and opened the LIANZA Tertiary & Research Symposium: Tātou Tātou: Gather & Grow.

There are going to be some trying times over the next 12 months. Always remember that we are resilient, and WE ARE LIANZA! Going on 111 years this year!

There are some awesome events happening this year. The LIANZA 2021 Conference is coming along nicely and like many of our activities, it will be both in person and online. More information will be available via the website as it arises. From reading the communications to and fro about the programme, it is going to open up some new avenues and eyes, I’m excited.

Te Rōpū Whakahau’s annual hui or conference will be held at Waimarama this year in May. I know from past experience that it will be full on. The experience will open your eyes even further to Te Ao Māori. Knowing that our tūpuna never really rested, Te Rōpū Whakahau try to follow the māramataka as much as possible. So, the 5.30am start to the 11pm (approximately – sometimes longer) finish is refreshing for many! Hoki ki tō maunga kia pūrea ai te hau a Tāwhirimātea.

For many, travel is off the cards around the world but I’m sure that many opportunities will arise via the wonderful technological advances that are happening in the world to provide you with other ways to contribute. I was looking forward to IFLA in Ireland 2020 and Rotterdam 2021, but it looks like online will be the way to attend in future. I was also looking forward to my return to the land of the Saami people for the International Indigenous Librarians Forum, but again, our whānau are considerate and understand the current climate so looking forward to the next time where we can all come together kanohi ki te kanohi.

Literacy is high on the agenda especially during the trying times for our future leaders. Last year saw many complete activities and examinations online and many of our youth, although technologically literate, still found it rather hard. From my experience with my mokopuna, I was lucky that we have a huge stack of te reo Māori books and not so many English books at home. Reading is key to providing the foundations for critical thinking; analysing; comprehension; and all the many other benefits it brings, especially the ability to increase imagination, energy and innovation within our youth. In saying this, many public libraries are providing opportunities with summer reading programmes to increase the knowledge of our future leaders. Kei runga noa atu koutou.

I had a wonderful holiday with whānau, enjoying the beautiful and not so beautiful weather. The highlight was watching the kids during a rain day, getting the tarpaulin out and saving tank water. That their uncles, aunties, koro and kuikui joined in was even funnier. The competition that ensued was the most laughable experience and, as always, generated some rather good debates for the judges on the technique and expertise of the participants! It was refreshing and I am looking forward to the work that is on my plate as Nana, Mum, President, and employee. Bring it on 2021!

He mihi anō ki a koutou katoa e te whānau o Te Rau Herenga o Aotearoa. Kia hoki pai ki te mahi, kia kaha hoki i te ao hurihuri nei. Nāu te rourou, nāku te rourou, ka ora ai tātou.