PROPHECIES FROM THE EPICENTRE

06/02/11
"A terrible earthquake is going to hit Wellington. I have seen body bags in the streets of Wellington. I have seen houses on the hills of Wellington – seen them disappear. I have seen the roof of the Beehive lying in the debris of the streets of Wellington." (Anglican minister Gray Theodore at Waitangi’s dawn service)

22/02/11
Kia ora whanau, first chance to post on here! Everyone is safe. After shocks still coming! At work and all the cars in the carpark start hopping up and down like an Ice Cube video. He puna hou i puta mai i a Papatuanuku spewing grey silty water into the gutter outside the Greers Rd substation.

“… with great sadness, and after many hours of deliberation …there did not appear to be any way of resolving the complaint besides cancelling Mr Harawira's membership of the Maori Party." (Orohi Paul – Maori Party Disciplinary Committee Chair)

23/02/11
“… the scale of the destruction in Christchurch reminds us all of the value of life and the importance of whanau in all that we do.” (Hone Harawira – Independent MP for Te Taitokerau)

It helps knowing people are thinking of us. Some people’s entire lives are literally turned upside down. Four kids weren't picked up from the kids’ kura yesterday as their parents perished in the CBD.

24/02/11
“... it is best for me and the party to go our separate ways, and to focus on the issues that are crippling Maori people, and indeed Pasifika and Pakeha people living in poverty throughout this country.” (Harawira)

A dude being refused credit because he had no cash and eftpos was unavailable. A mother walking her two young children in circles up and down the street, going nowhere in particular, comforted by the fact they are not alone in the city.

24/02/11
“[I will] go back to my electorate and to supporters around the country over the next month … because it is their energy and support that has sustained me.” (Harawira)

Tried to contact my cousin yesterday. Glad to hear they got out safely. Might accept their invitation yet. Going to check on aunty today.

25/02/11
“… in the best interests of advancing our people’s future, we [should] focus on the issues rather than the personalities, and … not speak disparagingly of one another.” (Harawira)

Aunty is fine. On the way back saw the most random thing, a pure white dove sitting on the roadside? Stopped and got out and was tame as. No olive branch though. First thought was, he tohu tumanako. Second, there’s a magician nearby with a broken aviary.

26/02/11
“A senior National official … gloated they had lanced the boil of Harawira and the Maori Party was now their long-term, docile and trouble-free coalition partner.” (Matt McCarten – NZ Herald columnist)

We have decided to stay in our own bubble for at least a few days to avoid the stresses of what is happening in our city. Unfortunately ugliness is starting to become more common although on the whole most people remain courteous to each other.

06/02/11
“I won’t be taking much away from that last speaker.” (Prime Minister John Key at Waitangi’s dawn ceremony)