Don’t Open a Door if You Don’t Want a Whare… Tangata!

As a child, I would stand on the maunga surrounding my whare and imagine I had the mana to control the elements. I’d declare Hineomairangi and Tāwhirimātea heed my words and change the wind’s direction.

After my karanga, I’d listen to the trees chatter and birds singing and wait for Tamanuiterā to come out from behind the kapua to tell me they heard me. In those moments, I belonged and began to manifest a mauri that was strong and real.

The writing below started as a poem but grew into connecting atua to emotions. This process has allowed me to reclaim ngā kare a roto as powerful elemental forces beyond and connected to te tai ao. I explore ngā atua at play in our lives, the consequences of decisions made long ago, and what impact these decisions have had and will have on future generations. I consider ‘decisions’ in terms of the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, its presence in our homes and our most intimate moments.

[Opening scene: Standing at either side of the kitchen]

Hine: {Hinekeira strikes} Yell a bit more, I can’t quite hear 

Tāne: {In a sarcastic tone Whiro plays} F**k off 

Hine: {Hinekeira stands} Your swearing doesn’t make me want to listen 

Tāne: {Whiro behind the eyes} You are always making it about you 

Hine: {Hinekeira changing tactics} I know you want to hurt me (side eye)

Tāne: {Rongomatāne flows} Yeah…and hurt people, hurt people 

Hine: {Hinekeira steps back} Well, it’s working 

Tāne: {Rongomaraeroa enters} But babe healed people, heal people [long pause] you know you’re a welcome snowflake on my tongue

Hine: {Hinemoana rolls} Is that a compliment to melt my heart? 

Tāne: {Rongomaraeroa} I’m trying e te tau

[Moko talking with their kaumātua in the sitting room]

Mokopuna: Be careful when you sign your moko ki Te Tiriti

Mokomokopuna: We didn’t own the paper or the ink then…. and still don’t

Koro: Remember, moko, don’t focus too much on the principles

Kuia: Remember, the values are more important, whanaungatanga

[Second scene: Entering into hinengaro / misty realm]

Tāne: {Whiro plays} Do you want to come for a ride on my rollercoaster?

Hine: {Hineomairangi enters} I’ve been on it before 

Tāne: {Whiro dances} It will be fun, turn around – puku in your mouth

Hine: {Hineomairangi settles} Thanks for the invite, but no thanks 

Tāne: {Whiro forces} But YOU made me feel like this! 

Hine: {Hinekeira rushing in} WTF I’m not your rehab! [now riding the rollercoaster]

Tāne: {Whiro on the tip of the index finger} I paid for your ticket into this fun park and got you this far 

Hine: {Hinenuitepō envelops} Don’t open a door if you don’t want a whare… TANGATA! 

[Return to moko talking with their kaumātua in the sitting room]

Mokopuna: Be careful when you sign your moko ki Te Tiriti

Mokomokopuna: We didn’t own the paper or the ink then….and still don’t

Koro: Remember, moko, don’t focus too much on the principles

Kuia: Remember, the values are more important, tino rangatiratanga

[Third scene: Outside in the garden]

Tāne: {curiosities of Rūaumoko} Am I a rangatahi to your rangatira-ness? 

Hine: {Mahuika sparks without a second to spare} No rangatira here bei 

Tāne: {Rūaumoko} What do you mean? 

Hine: {Take a breath, Hinekauorohia changing tone} I don’t think I’ve met a rangatira? 

Tāne: {curiosities of Rūaumoko} Me neither

Hine: {Hinekauorohia patterns} It's the way they are described and written about, it’s no wonder

Tāne: {Rūaumoko on the corner of an eye brow} It’s like a job description that we can never live up to

Hine: {Hinekauorohia continues} Yeah, like they describe superpowers on Mars that don’t function on Papatūānuku or something 

[Return to moko talking with their kaumātua in the sitting room]

Mokopuna: Be careful when you sign your moko ki Te Tiriti

Mokomokopuna: We didn’t own the paper or the ink  then… and still don’t

Koro: Remember, moko, don’t focus too much on the principles

Kuia: Remember, the values are more important, manaakitanga

[Third scene: At the kitchen table]

Tāne: {Rūaumoko} I’m trying to be a good rangatahi 

Hine: {Exhaling Hinekauorohia} I’m just trying to be 

Tāne: {Rūaumoko} Cause it's not like we are even part of a tira, to be rangatira

Hine: {Hinepūtehue rattles} Yeah, way off this planet a rangatira on Mars

Tāne: {Rūaumoko vibes} Like Ariki going around the universe collecting dragon balls……

Hine: {creative Hinepūkohurangi} Haha! Sunrayz beaming in to reveal a fingerprint on the dragon balls

Tāne: {Tānemahuta grounds} Just like our unique tree trunk fingerprints

Hine: {sighs of Hinekauorohia} But now we can no longer see our prints, they are worn off from years of emotional labour

Tāne: {streaming Rūaumoko} Let’s live for our mokomokopuna to be puna ariki

Hine: {Hinekauorohia shinning} Reflecting our tīpuna, ngā waipuna o ngā Ariki

[Return to moko talking with their kaumātua in the sitting room]

Mokopuna: Be careful when you sign your moko ki Te Tiriti

Mokomokopuna: We didn’t own the paper or the ink  then… and still don’t

Koro: Remember, moko, don’t focus too much on the principles

Kuia: Remember, the values are more important, mana motuhake