Manatukaha

TE HOHONGA WHAKAARO

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“E tirotiro haere ana i te ātea i waenga i ā Rangi raua ko Papa me te whenua”

(Exploring the space between the Earth and the sky)

Tena koutou katoa

Ko tenei pepeha

Ko Hikurangi, Ko Maunga Miemi ōku maunga

Ko Tawa Puku, Ko Popoti ōku awa

Ko Omapere, Ko Whangaroa ōku moana

Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua, Ko Mamari ōku waka

Ko te Hurihi, Ko Tahawai ōku marae

Ko Mahiaopaoke te tupuna

Ko Taratara te kohatu

Ko Ngā Puhi, Ko Te Uri O hua, Ko Ngāti Kahu ōku iwi

Ko Ngāti Mahia, Ko Ngāti Pākahi ōku hapu

Ko Wihongi, Ko Heke ōku whanau

Ko Rurana Karuka Hemi Wihongi raua 

Ko Hemaima Reho poama Heke 

ka puta Maata Hihi Wihongi

Ko Maata hihi Wihongi tōku whaea

No Awarua ahau

Ko TeRina Mana-Tukaha tōku ingoa

 

Labour weekend 1977, Papatuanuku (Mother Earth) nearly swallowed me whole. As I swam in the tawa puku awa (river) in Awarua, my father rescued me from near drowning. Later that night as I said my goodbyes to my Nana and Grandad, tears streamed down my cheeks. I never wanted to leave the loving arms of my grandparents nor the land I now felt connected to, tōku Awarua (my Awarua).


This research focuses on my exploration of the space between the Earth and the sky. A taura is a cord that connects to a manu aute (kite) and the manu huruhuru (feathers) are used to help fly a manu aute. The work is called 'Te hononga whakaaro' (a bridge that joins thoughts). Manu huruhuru were used in kākahu (cloaks) as tohu (signs) and sent messages of whakapapa (genealogy). This taura traces my whakapapa line of my grandparents Rurana Wihongi and Hemaima Heke, and is made in remembrance of their ataahua (beautiful) union.

 
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TAURA O TOKU WHAKAPAPA
4
TAURA KAKARIKI O THOMAS BALL, NO IRELAND IA
Red
KOHATU O AWARUA; TAURA WHERO O TAKU WHENUA

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