Poem: Taonga

Words by Marima Hunia (she/they)

Puritia tō hā 

tukua te wai kia turuturu ki runga ki a koe 

kia purea nei ō wehi e te awa 

ngā pōkaikaha ka rere i te au 

Kia mau ki te inamata 

o hāneanea, o ihomatua 

kia kākahuria koe ki ngā kupu whakamiha 

o te hunga e tata ana ki a koe 

Kaua e paku aro atu 

ki te ngengere, ki te tangi 

me ngā whakawhiu ka pā ki a koe 

me iere kē koe ki te au o te awa. 

Ka waiata ana ia ki a koe, 

he oro waitī ngā reo 

a ō tīpuna nō raurangi 

e pāoro nei ō rātou ngākau whakahī 

Kia kitea mai tō mata, ia rā 

e noho Māori noa nei  

nō konei rā te tūrangahākoa 

Kia kīia koe, he taonga 

Nōu ka rongo anō 

I aua tangi, i te ihirangaranga 

E hoki koe ki tō awa 

Kia pūreia nei koe e tōu ake hā 

Hold your breath 

let cold water rush over you, 

as the river washes your fears 

and doubts away with the current. 

Stay in this moment 

of comfort and beginnings, 

and be blessed by the words 

of those who hold you close 

Do not pay them attention 

those who screech and cry,  

and blast their projections at you 

listen to the river instead. 

She sings to you here, 

harmonising with the voices 

of your ancestors past 

saying how proud they are 

To see you face each day 

simply by just being Māori 

that is reason for celebration, 

it’s why they call you a taonga. 

When you next hear 

those cries and screams 

go back to the river 

and take a deep breath.