Dawn Unplugged: www.manaaki.co.nz

Aotearoa

Aotearoa. Home.
Land of cabbage trees and nikaus

This land speaks to me …
the green assault of the fields of Taranaki
the deep opal sea off Waiwera
the majestic waterfalls of Milford Sound
the bubbling sulphur springs of Rotorua
the sands of Poutu in the Kaipara
the crisp cool air on morning arrival
this land speaks to me

Tales of the past lay simmering beneath the surface
you can feel them here
they are strong, loud, disturbing
waiting to be told
this land speaks to me

tales of our past …
of Kauri diggers in the north
of Pink and White Terraces in the east
of waka voyages to the west
of stagecoach trails through the south
of land wars fought in between
this land speaks to me

I am tangata whenua
there is a strong spirit here
infused in me by generations of my whanau
a deep connection with my past
a commitment to the future
this land speaks to me

I am tangata whenua
part of this land
challenged to respond
to protect this taonga
to celebrate its diversity
… its peoples
to tell my own story
this land speaks to me

this land of cabbage trees and nikaus
that I love
Aotearoa. Home.

By Dawn Muir - 2004