No one knows when and why the pohutukawa will show up, sometimes it is early - in late November - and others, like this year, it is almost bang on Christmas day.
Maori say when the pohutukawa is in full bloom the kina is ripe and ready to eat, but for me, the true visual feast is to be had when the pohutukawa puts on its finest crimson frock and dances before us on our favourite walks.
Every year it happens and when it does it takes my breath away every time.
God shows off with stunning crimson colours, as a reminder of just who is in charge of this planet we are guests on.
As old friends depart and a new year arrives, hopefully our recall of 2016 will be all about who has influenced our thinking and who has given us back what we have given them, in a currency not measured by money - but mana.
If crimson is the colour of summer, as it is with Santa Claus and the Maori Christmas tree Te Pohutukawa, then what colour is the currency of success for the new year?
For me and my career as a CIO (Chief Imagination Officer) of a community NGO I will continue to measure success by those we help.
In five short - but sometimes very long - summers and very long cold winters where I work, we have had no increase in funding from those agencies who should be helping us help others, yet we have rapidly risen from 250 to 4000 interventions a year, mostly helping the homeless.
We are not alone, and the problem and the solution will be - in my mind, what wins the next election.
So whatever political potae you may wear, the hat of homelessness should be worn at every opportunity if your party is to get into Parliament.
I have seen the true spirit of kindness from so many who have given so much to the homeless and the greatest we can give is hope - a priceless commodity to return to investors - in my opinion.
Is there a line of thinking in the corporate world that cannot understand what mana is about and success is purely based on the delivery of a healthy bottom line?
In my opinion this thinking has run its course and the CEO who has the ability to accommodate visionary thinking and take the needs of their community into their bottom line will be the future face of true success.
If we were to apply this mana before money currency of success that we measure the bottom line of an organisation and its CEO, or CIO as I prefer the title of, then we may have a shot at success in addressing the needs of those who need us more than a return on investment in dollar terms.
So what is my resolution for the New Year?
What it is every year.
To make a difference and have a few laughs along the way - while listening to words of wisdom.
A wise soul in my life has left for far-off lands, and the wise words of Arapeta (Albert) Einstein ring louder now than ever when working out what to do in the New Year to make a difference.
Arapeta said: "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."
If we want to see the full bloom of our community just like the crimson korowai of the pohutukawa tree, then surely it is through taking a chance and daring to dream.
"They may say that we are dreamers - but we are not the only ones."
Imagine
- Tommy Kapai is a best-selling author and writer.
- broblack@xtra.co.nz
