I am writing this column sitting on the beach in our part of Kiwi paradise, reflecting on the year coming to a close and the end of a decade.Away from the problems of emission trading schemes, recessions, child abuse, shootings in South Auckland, and waiting to see whether Tiger Woods gets to his 18th alleged mistress.
Just recently I've come to mix and mingle with a whole lot of people who have great family values, a good work ethic and commitment to fairness.
While we have our problems and difficulties, we always seem to judge our family, our community and our country by the few who do the worst. We really must start to rate the many who do their best.
My youngest boy wanted to sleep out under the stars last night and I'm getting too old to accommodate these flights of fancy, so I said to my older son: "Looks like you're sleeping outside."
At 2.30am, I stumbled out to see how they were getting on.
They were blissfully sleeping, not a care in the world, cuddled up under the stars.
There is something momentous in just seeing the simple things. It lights the soul and warms the heart.
Knowing my boys were safe and sound, committed to one another, bonded, was one of those moments.
That's all about whanau and it doesn't get much better than this for any dad.
Whanau Ora is a dearly-held dream for many and a reality for some.
Whanau Ora is not a concept but a living reality.
It is about supporting your family, loving your children, going out of your way to ensure they do well and sacrificing so that they can make you and their community proud of their every effort.
It's about connecting with our families' positives rather than always being ruled and judged by all of our negatives.
You will come more to know about Whanau Ora as an evolving standard that every Kiwi should aim for and most Kiwis actually achieve.
So we are looking forward to a huge year at Whanau Waipareira as we roll out our version of Whanau Ora in our West Auckland community.
Lifting education outcomes, dropping crime rates and connecting those who know nothing of whanau and community connection is our goal.
So back to paradise here in the Coromandel.
Christmas is one of the most important times in a Kiwi calendar to connect with whanau, relax together, reflect and set new goals.
Christmas is also about having faith in a greater being.
Take Christ out of Christmas and we have nothing.
Belittle the name of the Virgin Mary and you make war on all mothers who are personified in her absolute sacrifice and commitment to a birth many of us still hold dear.
Even if some doubt this huge history of custom and faith, what they can never doubt is that 2000 years of Christianity has had a generally good outcome and that some of the greatest laws in some of the greatest democracies have been based on Christian ethics. While some administrators of churches have failed the high ideals, Christmas will continue to prevail, and it's all about whanau.
Sunday News, December 27, 2009