I submitted this poem to the University of Otago’s staff, alumni and student creative writing competition early this year.
Poetry is but another medium for sharing and advocating for Aotearoa cultural heritage places. So, I decided to lay it with you here.
Perhaps before you have a read, how do you think different types of cultural heritage places are protected, revered and celebrated in this country?
Tangata whenua – of the land, Mount, river, sea recite. By song and chant, tuku iho, Self-knowledge, day and night. Manaakitanga, wealth to the guest, Gathered from bush and coast, Where tū-puna maintained and cared, Their footprints marked by post. From afar they came ashore, Mixed welcome or resenting. Southward all to bounty learned, Agreement sealed by penning. Be hail’d norward red and blue, Forefather strength admire. Fuss be gone, broke in the land, Crate wool, numb’r-8 wire. Four generations rest their head, Hence this be their true home. Though light skin be with foreign tongue, Law bind from beehive dome. A land taken from the centre, Homes cut up, distributed. Those gone before now set aside, Their language all but muted. New buildings on the edge of earth, Made firm of stone, alloy, Celebrated for industry, Protected, all enjoy. Those here before, buried below, Places destroyed or gone. Deep within a private farm, Not marked, must be a con. Inequity in what we guard, And the power of the system. All history schools now bestow. Grow youth beyond our wisdom.
The Past Before Us 