Kia Ora, I will give you some answers on what I understand to be true.

Rose's connection to her ancestors dates back to over 12,000 years ago when one of the continents in the world, Hawaiiki, went mostly underwater. Aotearoa, or New Zealand as it has been known since 1769, was to stay above water and become the ‘Pulse of the Earth Mother’, or Hawaiiki Tautau, Lemuria or Mu in other languages. There were many who lived here then, including the Patupaiarehe (commonly referred to as the fairy people of NZ but of course being much more than that).

More recent migrations brought Waitaha and later Maori to the land. They have all become one tribe over time, willingly or unwillingly. This, of course, is not an easy subject here in NZ as there are many New Zealanders who are not aware of the older tribes that existed before their more current arrivals or do not want to go there. History books will not write about anything before the arrival of the Maori in their waka or canoes, and even though there are more and more traces of the people who came before being uncovered, there are also many attempts to cover them up.

What I do know to be true is that the Maori people of today hold the keys to the stewardship of New Zealand going into the future as they have access to the harmony and the tradition of their ancient lineage. There might be others who have been called her today that can assist with the changes to come, but the rituals, the words, the ceremonies come from the Maori people. There is something very special about their culture and language, it is the living heart of Aotearoa.

There is a beautiful series of books (starting with Song of the Circle) by Barry Brailsford that talks about the Waitaha and their arrival and presence in New Zealand and the great migrations that took place between the different continents. Also, Barry Brailsford was asked to write down the history of the Waitaha in connection with the Maori tribes, a special honour as this was not written down before.

“I have talked to Rose about the Waitaha. She has been in touch with Barry Brailsford, or rather he with her. For her it is quite simple — the wisdom she brings forward comes from the ancient ones 12.000 years ago, not the more ‘recent’ arrivals of the Waitaha. The ancient people were peacekeepers and vegetarians, as she often says, and they were in harmony with the nature around them and worked in cooperation with nature. The old ones are connected to the star system Sirius, and a New Year celebration is being held for the rising of Sirius in the sky each year in Rose’s birthplace, Lake Waikaremoana. The ancient people had close connections to the Ancient Egyptians, and called them their brothers. In Egypt and other places in the world, this celebration is held yearly as well, as this was always the beginning of the new year. (Note from Jonette— the Aymara people in the Andes also celebrate the rising of Sirius.)

Personally I know the Waitaha to be people of a peaceful spirit who hold beautiful patterns and values. What I feel in my bones, is that my spiritual ancestors visited this land and stayed and connected with the ancient ones and the Patupaiarehe, as I have felt their combined footsteps leading me further into the mysteries of this land that has called me from my time of birth and has opened up for me.