This online resource is to connect Kāi Tahu whānau with our tīpuna knowledge and practices relating to pregnancy, birthing, as well as the much needed support tools for whānau who have lost babies through miscarriage or still birth.

Ruth Chisholm, Lisa Moore,
Libby Gray, Karuna Thurlow

Ruth Chisholm, Libby Gray, Lisa Moore, Karuna Thurlow, Urunumia Tahana

Ruth was raised in Ōtautahi and attended the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) to train as a nurse, and returned a few years later to train as a midwife. Ruth contributes her love for hapū, whānau, homebirth and primary birth settings after working in Ōtautahi for many years. She walked alongside the Māori midwives as a friend and colleague. Ruth was part of the establishment of the Māori Midwifery Rōpū in Christchurch and was mentored by Herena Stone, a renowned Kāi Tahu midwife at that time.

Te Aroha Tōku Iho

Written by Ruth Chisholm, Libby Gray, Lisa Moore and Karuna Thurlow and Urunumia Tahana. Presented by Libby Gray

Kupu:

Kia korowaitia tenei kura auhuka,
Ki te aroha tuku iho e rere tonu nei, 
Kia ū ki te ia o ō tīpuna.

Translation:

Uphold our babies,
You are always loved by family,
May your journey endure.

Whakamārama / Explanation

The Māori Midwifery Rōpū aimed to network with other Māori midwives around the South Island as an offering of support. Today, the rōpū is called Māori Midwives ki Tahu, and the membership has grown and now includes Māori midwives, whānau and Māori artists. This oriori shared with Hākui by Ruth has been a labour of love since she attended an oriori wānaka held in 2021 at the New Brighton Community Centre hosted by Kelly and Ariana, and Karuna Thurlow. Also, in 2021, Ruth was a Māori Pasifika Te Waipounamu representative on a national panel for caring for pēpi in the early days after birth with disturbed neurological brain function. Ruth proposed to the panel to create an oriori as a tool to support whānau and staff caring for pēpi. Ruth believed that having an oriori adorn the national health guidelines would be appropriate and beautiful. This oriori, titled Kura Auhuka, is a contemporary. Ruth, alongside Karuna, Urunumia, Lisa and Libby hope that you enjoy this little oriori.

Download Te Aroha Toku Iho Kupu