 I
believe we are all sleeping stars. We all carry the seeds of
something great. Even if it is to be greatest person with our
name, face, fears and family in the whole wide world!! Whatever
this greatness means. No one else has my blessings and my curses.
I must learn to love and accept myself with all my imperfections
and funny bits. Mixed with all my good features and millions
of tiny successes. I am who I am, for richer or poorer, for
better or worst, I am who I am. So here is how my greatness
started....
I grew up on the foothills
of Mount Hikurangi, near Ruatoria, East Coast New Zealand. I
am Maori of the Ngati-Porou tribe. My childhood was spent playing
in the bush, working on the farm while learning by home-schooling.
I also absorbed a lot of our tribal lore from the mountains,
rivers and the people. Like many others of my tribe, I have
bloodlines to many famous Maori chiefs, priests, and warriors
as well as a few idiots. This earthly upbringing helped to shape
the thinking and philosophies that I use in my personal and
business lives.
I believe that having
different life experiences as well as a love of learning is
important when trying to master and manage yourself. I thought
going to University was the font and fountain of all knowledge.
So I have a number of university degrees including a Masters
of Philosophy, a Bachelor of Civil Engineering with Honours
as well as stop-starting a doctorate in Maori thinking and innovation.
University for me has always been a bit too cerebral, full of
big words and always having to quote some dead thinker so I
wanted to go into left field and nowhere land fast. So I played
around with my own head a bit and became a Neuro-Linguistic
Programming (NLP) Master Practitioner and Eriksonian Hypnotherapist.
Some of this stuff was like computer programming for the brain
so I needed to put some body into it. So I qualified as a fitness
instructor and personal trainer, learnt martial arts, a Reiki
master usui and other stuff. Ok, what's the point of all this
learning I thought? So I started to mix and cook all this learning
together with my Maori upbringing as my own food for thought.
I had to eat and use this stuff in my own life otherwise 80%
of it is just theory and nice handouts.
 Somewhere along the way, I graduated from the Australian
Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College of Australia
(Duntroon) in Camberra Australia. Being a Kiwi, I served as
an officer in the NZ Army for 11 years doing stints in New Zealand
and abroad in places like Cambodia getting rid of landmines.
I was pretty staunch about Maori culture in the NZ Army. Back
in 1994 I managed to be a personal advisor to the NZ Army Chief,
Major-General Tony Birks, on the development of Ngati Tumatauenga,
a new Kiwi Army culture. This included the building of a Army
Marae, introduction of the taiaha (Maori Staff Combat), Maori
designs on uniforms and greater cultural awareness for officers
and other ranks. It was hard-going at the time because some
senior officers were covertly against it and I
took some personal heat. Anyway after about 14 years, the Ngati
Tumatauenga seed has now grown and flowered into a proud Army
culture that is proving itself around the world. I also served
as Aide-de-Camp to The Governor-General where I met visiting
Royalty and Heads of State. An eye-opening experience for a
guy who grew up talking to trees and confiding in his dog.
After the Army, I started in business as a business consultant
in 1998. I created my own company Tu Strategies where I focussed
on building both powerful mindset and successful business strategies.
Yeah, this sounded like a good sales pitch so I quickly started
mixing all my engineering, military and mental stuff together.
But I never really marketed myself and so I did OK but knew
I could have made a huge impact like Anthony Robbins, Stephen
Covey and few others you see in the personal development fields.
A Maori version anyway. Most of my consulting was for Maori
in the area of small business, facilitation, personal development
and governance.
I started on the internet
back in 1999 and started creating my own web sites. Learning
about e-commerce and marketing by doing. Marketing and selling
my own ebooks such as Maori Secrets and others.
 
These eBooks sold rather
well in overseas countries. I think I sold into about 20 countries
or so. All digital downloads so everything was done online.
No having to pack and post stuff. Some people wanted hardcopies
so I printed some hard version copies. About 40 copies initially.
They all got sold, gifted or borrowed. I should have gone to
a publisher and got world-wide distributors but that is the
next step. I even sent a hardcopy to Oprah Winfrey but nothing
happened. Anyway I added audio recordings, coaching and stuff
that worked rather well over the internet.
I have dabbled in other
things. I played lead guitar, harmonica and vocals in covers
band called Dooms Electric Moccassins when I was in Australia.
I was a director in a Maori TV production company with my brother.
I was a fight director and choreographer for a Maori superhero
series called Moko Toa (again with my brother). I sponsored
and helped Maori school students get into enterprise. I have
been an oral history researcher for over 13 years involved with
recording Maori WW2 soldiers from the East Coast. I have been
a story-teller and performed in public at the Glistening Waters
Festival. I have done interviews on Maori TV, Good Morning Show,
Kim Hill Show here in New Zealand. Not very good ones I must
admit. Also got interviewed in the USA on Nevada TV and radio.
Done voice-overs for radio, TV and animation here in New Zealand.
Here's a few examples below.
Example
1: Choreography and Voiceover for A Maori Martial Arts Animation
Example 2: Voice
Over Samples (Maori, Advertising and Story)
Example
3: An Interview for an American Spiritual Magazine
I have been married twice, divorced twice
to the same woman. Bit strange I know but we did produce two
beautiful children, a daughter and a son. It was after the birth
of my son in 2000 that I started getting these visions and thoughts
around seeds, flowers and trees. I started going back into the
bush again. Walking the hills and mountains where I grew up.
Slowly a seed thought started to grow. Nature is my teacher
and my classroom. I later called it AioKoa - Sleeping Seed,
Wild Flower thinking. Using nature as my teacher and classroom
like when I was a little boy by myself with my dog. AioKoa started
as a martial arts system but slowly grew into an organic way
of thinking that I could apply to many areas of life.
I have been overseas mainly to the USA to teach and share some
of these teachings. I have been working alongside an awesome Maori
woman called Ruth Tai. A real flower of wisdom she is. The interest
is growing. The time is right for these nature inspired teachings
to be shared. No one has a monopoly on the seeds and flowers.
They are there to be shared by all.
My Twelve Month Gestation In The Wilderness
Towards end of 2006, I just wanted to unplug
from normal society and start living life according to my own
truths. I had to prove myself worthy of these visions and thoughts
I was still getting. So I gave up living in a house and just lived
from my car. This was like my own Aio Koa initiation. For 12 months,
I slept in the bush, at the beach or inside my car if the weather
was bad. When back in the city I would use the best hotel or equivalent
that I could afford. Other times I stayed with family or friends.
Using a laptop and a mobile internet connection to do business
with the outside world. I wanted to be able to handle the deep
bush as well as the concrete jungle. Be able to walk in both worlds.
This was about me going back inside myself to make outer changes.
It cleared my mind and opened up my eyes to things right in front
of me. In nature I found my clarity. A tree can teach you a lot
when you spend a couple of days being in its presence. A butterfly
resting on it's branch then flying off into the open sky. Standing
in the pitch darkness, you sense the tree breathing as it sleeps.
You also see shades of darkness like tints of light. Your own
skin has eyes of its own. These things must be experienced. In
society I found my challenges. Everybody rushing. Parking tickets.
Concrete instead of grass. Lots of rubbish. If we walked barefoot
more often, our feet would soon tell us what its like to step
on broken glass. Yet it does not have to be this way. It is all
a state of mind. The wilderness is actually inside you. Yet the
minds have been concreted over just like the grass. I think this
is my next path is to remind people of the wilderness within.
Even when in the heart of the concrete jungle, do not let your
heart turn to concrete. We must be able to walk in both worlds.
Both deep forest and urban jungle with elegance and attunement.
Here are some photos from my 12 months.
|
| Here is basically my house that I carried in
my boot for 12 months. In this photo, I had just parked up
at a riverbed and had cooked my evening meal. Chopped sausage,
potato and onion all chucked in the one pot on the far left.
Next is my old Australian Army pack that held my sleeping
bag and bush stuff. Next is my trusty brown pillow and duvet
with laptop, earphones and the mobile broadband connector.
Then my small overnight travel bag and suit carrier (hanging
inside the car). I just kept mainly my suit, shirt, tie and
shoes for business meetings. Basically one complete set of
clothes and a spare of each. I remember many times changing
out of my suit in the bush in the middle of the night after
having a business meeting in town. You learn how to avoid
getting mud and wet leaves on your good clothes. Also how
to balance on one foot putting on your socks and shoes one
foot at a time. Otherwise you get wet socks. Just little things.
I often place a small flower or a little fern on my suit when
I am in the city. It is mainly a symbolic gesture to be an
ambassador for nature. To be a voice for the small flowers
and the tiny creatures. Just like little kids they have feelings
as well. They are part of the family. They need to be heard
and respected. |
|
| Sometimes I used to just sleep in the car when raining or
just too lazy to put up shelter, hammock or whatever. Basically
the front seat. My body got used to it. Learnt how to use
foot pedals to anchor myself. Also steering wheel to pull
myself up upright without too much strain. Learnt how use
the engine to dry wet towels. Cook inside the car. Lots of
other little things. Basically I would sit right up and drive
off. Maybe go wash in a river, the sea or any other place
I may have noted. Living this way, the eyes become very alert
to resources, facilities and sleeping areas. Also very appreciative
of little things. The small courtesies. You see a lot more. |
|
| This here is a cave that I carved out in the side of a steep
hill covered in native and pine forest. You can see my sleeping
bag, pack and a book. I have candle going as it was getting
dark. Look on the left you see my little spade sticking upright.
This what I used to dig the cave. It took about 6-8 hours
to get it to basic proportions then I kept refining and reshaping
it after the first night. No different to sleeping in a new
bed. Keep adjusting. |
|
| This black and white photo was taken after I carved a kneeling
mother with a child into the back of the cave. Using the natural
contours, I found the rock was soft and able to be chipped
away with my small spade. The mother's head was the hollow
impression left after I pulled a big rock away. The flowers
are from the gorse I walked through to get to the native bush.
I found gorse with it's sharp thorns and rugged prickles to
have a very delicate fragrance to its yellow flowers. I liked
this contrast. I have my candle as well as a bed of pine needles
on which I slept. The pine needles also gave a nice fragrance
which made sleeping pleasent. I have left the candle and flowers
in the cave. If anyone stumbles across the cave, I hope they
will be pleasently surprised with what they find. |
|
Creating
A Distinctive New Zealand Tradition...
Dear Hirini
I appreciated the effort you put into incorporating the Maori
challenge into the Credentials Ceremony at Government House.
We have created a new tradition that is distinctly New Zealand.
Many thanks.
Dame Catherine Tizard
Former Governor-General
New Zealand |
Helping
Establish Ngati Tumatauenga in The Army....
I wish to convey the Governor-General's appreciation for your
role in the Credentials ceremony representing Ngati Tumatauenga.
Your deportment, skill and performance has not only impressed
The Governor General and her officials, but also visiting
dignitaries. May I also add my thanks in helping to establish
Ngati Tumatauenga within the Army and the nation. Well done.
Maj-Gen A.L Birks
Former Chief of Army New Zealand Army |
Philip
Raises Over One Million Dollars Within Six Weeks....
I really gained a huge amount in the six weeks that I worked
with Hirini. It was a very easy to follow approach using
nature teachings from the Maori that helped grow my key
objective into a successful outcome. Part of the course
was a series of exercises that were physically and mentally
challenging. Yet these challenges brought out hidden beliefs
and behaviour reactions that overflowed into other areas
of life. A key learning for me was balancing both the heart
and the head in my decisions and actions. Mixing these two
elements together gave me a greater, more pleasing result
then applying just one.
My key objective for the six weeks was to
raise $5million in venture capital and start a public company.
By the end of the 6 weeks I had raised about a quarter of
this and the public company was 100% set up and running
by the target of July 1 2007.
My results were well worth the efforts I
put in. And the team I was working with to do this benefited
from Hirini's program as well. There was no keeping the
great insights resulting from this program to myself.
Philip Wengier
Victoria, Australia
www.saratoga.com.au
PS. Phil did raise his 5 million dollars. It just took about
an extra 6 weeks. |
Both
A Warrior And A Healer
Hirini has presented at the New Zealand Accelerated Learning
Convention on 3 occasions. Delegates have been left with a
sense of awe and respect for one of New Zealand's finest presenters.
He presents with theatre, panache and integrity. Hirini is
an inspiring storyteller and presenter. He is able to weave
the nature of Aotearoa into the substance of his story. He
both challenges you and encourages you. He is able to reach
inside and touch your inner self. He has both a warrior and
a healing energy about him. Something quite extraordinary
and powerful about his presence.
Brent Stubbins
Founder
New Zealand Accelerated Learning Convention.
|
Using
The HeartBeat To Calm The Flying Fear....
Recently I attended a half-hour body and soul workshop with
Hirini. He taught us a simple relaxation technique using
our heartbeats. Two days later, I sat next to a woman on
a plane who was terrified of flying. I showed her the heartbeat
technique. It worked in calming her down and she was able
to complete the flight comfortably. She was thrilled to
have learned a technique to ensure she will never again
be anxious on a flight. I've used the technique myself to
help me sleep, and to calm at various parts in the day.
I'm very grateful this has made such a difference.
Wendy Wilson
Life Coach
New Zealand |
Deborah
Leaves Well Paid "Day Job" And Follows Her Heart....
So much of Hirini's work is done at a level that we
aren't even "consciously" aware of. There are
so many aspects of Hirini that go way beyond anything of
his qualifications or that a few words can explain. If you
allow yourself to trust his guidance you will find yourself
rising to new heights in your own development
Hirini's teleseminar's came
along for me at a time when I had some idea of my purpose
and yet was frustrated that it hadn't come to the fruition
that I so deeply desired. During the 6 week coaching period
I was able to articulate several key objectives and identify
blockages. I am now well on my way to clearing the blockages
and have achieved many of the objectives. I have a life
purpose to heal animals and their universal environment,
including their earthly human friends. Since starting the
coaching sessions I have released myself from my well paid
"day job" and followed my heart into my healing
business full-time. I have identifed lots more key objectives
and more importantly I have lots of new tools that I use
in my everyday life which allow me to be all that I am meant
to be in this world. Manifestations come to me a lot easier
now and I am amazed at the speed of my progression.
Thank you Hirini for gifting
me with this wonderful opportunity to connect to who I am
and become whole once again.
Deborah Stewart
Queensland, Australia
www.naturalpetsonline.com.au |
Helping
Young People..
Mr Reedy is the bomb. He spent a day with our Young Enterprise
company here at Ngata College. He spoke to us about our role
as future business leaders. He said business was about teamwork
so we went for a team run carrying these huge concrete bricks.
I forgot my runners so I had to run in bare feet. The highlight
for me was when he showed us how to break a thick board with
our bare hands. Some of us did not think we could do it. But
we all did. It showed the power of our own minds. We are all
on a high now. We feel we can achieve anything if we work
together as a team and use the power of our minds…
Pearl Walsh
Managing Director
Amorangi Holdings YES Company
Ngata Memorial College |
Vince
Washes Away Internal Crap He Has Carried For Over 40 Years....
Hirini is a down to earth, honest, no bullshit person, whose
compassion, desire and passion to share his wisdom and experience
has helped me wash away crap that I have carried around
for over 40 years. The beauty of his course, is that just
about anyone can utilise the process.
The tools that the seminars provided me
with have empowered me to tap into a creative essence that
has lay dorment within me for years. The course content
regarding growth and its cycles within nature and the teachings
of Maori wisdom, gave real clarity into understanding how
we as humans can gain true insights from the miracles of
the universe.
It doesnt matter where you are at the present time, you
just need to be true to yourself, have an open mind, follow
the steps and stick with it, and enlightening things will
start happening.
Vince Wathen
Mebourne, Australia |
Hirini
Rated As One of The Top Speakers For The Entire Conference....
Hirini presented an excellent session on
New Values, New Governance at one of our conferences. Both
the audience and Bright*Star Conferences benefited greatly
from Hirini's presentation. In terms of conference delegate
ratings, Hirini rated as one of the top speakers for the
entire conference. The level of passion and congruity of
Hirini's presentation was excellent and he was a major contributor
towards what was an excellent event. With all this in mind,
I would highly recommend Hirini as a speaker, and I will
definitely consider inviting him to speak at related conferences
in the future.
Tony Osborne
Project Manager
Bright*Star Conferences |
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