Front row view @ Only the Strong 2k25.
Man I love this event. This is my 3rd time at OTS in Chch and I've always come away from it remembering less about the actual battle and more about the moments shared with people I connected with and the deep conversations I get to have.
Thank you @tanz_teetee_83 and @chef_stevetiwa for bringing me on this year. Hire me always please haha
I've honestly not trained my dance very much for a while (she's a netball gal now thanks haha) so don't come at me for my revert to the defaults 😅 But it's nice to remember what your body is capable of even when you're ridden with nerves every single time.
Poutūterangi had me working.
It never fails to escape me just how lucky I am for the opportunities I get. Forever grateful for the relationships I have that trust me with the amazing jobs they give me. This month i:
- Stage managed the dance stage at Homegrown Festival
- MC'd and helped organise Fusion Concept NZ qualifiers
- OFFICIATED my friends wedding. Omg.
- Retired my dance retirement for a mo at Newtown Fest
- Taught some cool as humans for a new welly megacrew
- Restarted my study i te reo māori
- Played my little heart out in netball ofc
Honestly, during it, I was constantly thinking "why did I take on so much". I was tired. It pains me not to give to my fullest when it's not for me. So this month I gave. And gave and gave. And I think I did a pretty damn good job.
To everyone who brings me on for their kaupapa - know that I am so humbled for the chance to give.
It's my Mums 2nd heavenly birthday today and my little sister's one also earthside. So reflection is the state on the last day of the month 💕
Love and rockets to you all ✨️ 🚀
The best way to finish a month abroad 🙌
Finished my trip in the Gold Coast with my gals! The sun was sunning. The food was delicious. The activities were aplenty. The absolute best!
Also got to see my Aunty who i haven't seen since I was a kid 🥹 special time for me.
So grateful for my humans 🥰💕
Seoul, satisfied.
I've not been a very good tourist on this one. Haven't gone to many of the usual tourist destinations at all despite being here for a good amount of time. What I did do though was hang with/cling to my sister @jinsoooole who i haven't seen for ten years.
She took me to sooooo many local spots and I've basically spent the past week in a carousel of a food coma. I feel so so so blessed for her.
I don't regret not being a touristy gal. I feel like I've gotten to relax and just be with my sister which - for my rapidly depleting energy levels on this travel trip - is sooool ideal.
❤️
✨️ My last night in Asago city ✨️
Apart from the amazing food, scenery, and experiences, the thing I'll take back from this part of my trip is the generosity and kindness of the people here. Language barrier aside, I was so grateful to connect with so many beautiful people here.
From me to you all, arigato gozaimashita for welcoming me into your homes and lives even if just for a moment.
I came here to spend time with one of my favorite humans.. and I can already feel the sad coming even though we have a few more days left. No matter the distance between us, I know she and I will always stay close at heart ♥️
This morning my cousin said to me that baby steps are huge steps when one comes from a non-reo māori speaking whānau.
So here I am - celebrating every huge baby step on a journey that I know will be life long. Reclaiming my reo for my healing, for my whānau's healing, for a journey into not a language but a way of life.
My thoughts ran heavy today for my whānau in Hamilton, and for my māmā who made this kahu huruhuru for me 15 years ago for my first graduation. And they run light with gratitude for the people who lift me and support me in these spaces. (Shout outs to my work moms/sisters/friends who kept me in one piece last year @vee.trea@jennafaithallan )
It's only the start of a long path but e kore au e whakamā ki te whakanui. Every (huge) baby step.
DAY SIX IN THE KINGDOM OF TONGA 🇹🇴✨️
Thank you for following along on our journey. This is just one leg of a 5 island Grand Pacific tour that @theprojektteam are doing and I couldn't have been more grateful to be part of it.
Follow the crew as they round out the tour with Niue kicking off on Saturday, followed by Fiji and Rarotonga! If you know people in these beautiful places, let them know we're coming! It's such a gift to be able to share our love of dance with communities in the Pacific Islands and we want to reach as many people out there as we possibly can.
Love from ya girl, Naytella x
