Aroha

Aroha

Maori wisdom for a contented life lived in harmony with our planet

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

Ancient wisdom for difficult modern times

Kia ora
Welcome to Aroha.

Aroha is an ancient Maori word and way of thinking that means love, compassion, respect and empathy. Discover how we can all find greater contentment and kindness for ourselves, each other and our world with more Aroha in our lives.

Through 52 whatatauki - traditional Maori life lessons - Maori psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder shares the power of Aroha and explores how it could help us all every day.

Family, community, a sense of place, looking after each other, living in tune with the natural world are all fundamental to traditional Maori culture. Aroha gives the All Blacks pride, unity and heart. It is understandable that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern chose to call her daughter Neve Te Aroha.

The 52 life lessons are arranged into 4 chapters that introduce the different, important facets of Aroha: Manaakitanga(kindness); Kaitiakitanga (love for our world); Whanaungatanga (empathy); and Tino rangatiratanga (what is right).

Respected Maori psychiatrist Dr Hinemoa Elder offers a uniquely insightful perspective that can help us all in our daily lives.

Ki te kotahi te kakaho ka whati, ki te kapuia, e kore e whati.
When we stand alone we are vulnerable but together we are unbreakable.

© Hinemoa Elder 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

About the author

Hinemoa Elder

Ko Parengarenga te moana, Parengarenga is the ocean
Ko Tawhitirahi te maunga, Tawhitirahi is the mountain
Ko Awapoka te awa, Awapoka is the river
Ko Kurahaupo te waka, Kurahaupo is the ocean going canoe
Ko Potahi raua koTe Reo Mihi oku marae, Potahi and Te Reo Mihi are my traditional meeting places
Ko Te Aupouri, ko Ngati Kuri, ko Te Rarawa, ko Ngapuhi nui tonu oku iwi, My tribes are Te Aupouri, Ngati Kuri, Te Rarawa and Ngapuhi
Ko Hinemoa taku ingoa, my name is Hinemoa Elder

Dr Hinemoa Elder has lived on Waiheke Island for 21 years. She is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, working at the Child and Family Unit at Starship Hospital, in Auckland. She is also a Maori Strategic Leader for the Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) for the Ageing Brain. You can also find her on Instagram @drhinemoa.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more