First issue of Ngā Kete review journal to be released

Ngā Kete pays homage to the three baskets of knowledge, Ngā Kete o te Wānanga, for which Tāne ascended to the twelfth heaven, Te Toi-o-ngā-rangi, and brought down for mankind.

The Royal Society Te Apārangi review issue is an annual celebration of our Fellows’ research and contributions, represented by te kete-tuatea, the basket of light and present knowledge.

Ngā Kete’s role is to question and review what knowledge still remains unknown to us, represented by te kete-tuauri, the basket of darkness.

It is also representative of te kete-aronui, the pursuit of knowledge that humans seek.

According to the pūrākau (ancient stories) the kete are never completely filled and there is always space for continued learning. Royal Society Te Apārangi encourages the pursuit to explore, discover and share the knowledge that surrounds us.

To look to the future is also to look at our past and present. Ngā Kete o te Wānanga must never be singled out but move forward together as an collective trio, inclusive of all forms of knowledge.

In his editorial, Senior Editor of the Journal of the Royal Society New Zealand, Professor Ewan Fordyce FRSNZ, considers Royal Society Te Apārangi’s 150 year journey as establishing Aotearoa’s own path for research excellence.

“The Society is looking to the future by broadening its scope, its membership, its societal involvement, and its diversity of Fellows and medallists - in terms of gender, ethnicity, and employment context. We look forward to future journal articles that reflect this diversity.”

“In 2018, as for 1919, each Fellow must demonstrate excellence through intellectual endeavour, as reflected in the articles to follow.”

Royal Society Te Apārangi will celebrate the release of the inaugural issue through a series of 10 weekly news stories, the first starting next week. The stories will be published on our website and through the Alert newsletter, acknowledging each review article in Ngā Kete, which will be available for open access viewing on Taylor and Francis Online for three months from its release next week.

Whakarongo mai e tama. Kotahi tonu te hiringa
i kake ai Tāne ki Tikitiki-o-rangi;
ko te hiringa i te mahara.

Listen O son. There was only one spiritual energy
that transported Tāne to the Uppermost realm;
it was the spiritual power of the mind.

Excerpt from “He oriori mo Tuteremoana” ( a chanted song for Tuteremoana). This oriori was composed for Tuteremoana, famous Rangatira of the Ngāi Tara tribe, by the renowned Tohunga Tūhoto Ariki.