How we find forgiveness and gratitude after tragedy

By Fourplait

“I feel so sorry for the gunman of the mosque shootings, because he must have had a really messed up childhood... But I don't want to hate someone. Why live life in a shadow when you can just keep stepping into the light?”

Psychology and anthropology student Shifa Ahmed lost her mother, Husna, in the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks at the age of 15. Despite the traumatic loss as a teen, Shifa has moved through her grief and now leans heavily into gratitude.

Te Aorangi-Kowhai Penetito Morini (Ngāti Hauā, Ngāti Tamaterā, Ngāpuhi) is a youth mentor and mental health and hauora (wellbeing) facilitator at The Kindness Institute, a youth mental health charity in Auckland.

Both are passionate about different wellbeing frameworks and are eager to learn from each other’s te ao Māori and Islamic practices that help ground them.

Ahi Wānanga (the fires of discussion) is a six-part web series exploring what identity, belonging and resilience is to 12 young people from Aotearoa’s Muslim and Māori communities. 

Watch the series now on TVNZ+ and YouTube.

Made by Fourplait with the support of NZ On Air. 

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In this new series, Māori and Muslims share their stories to connect

Ahi Wānanga explores what identity, belonging and resilience is to 12 Muslim and Māori young people.

Ahi Wānanga

Ahi Wānanga (the fires of discussion) is a six-part web series exploring what identity, belonging and resilience is to 12 young people from Aotearoa’s Muslim and Māori communities.

Read1

Why these directors paired Māori and Muslim voices in a new series

Ahi Wānanga features 12 young Māori and Muslims who share their stories to connect.

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