TOKI TANGATA, TOKI TANIWHA, TOKI ARIKI

My inspiration was a taonga toki that resides within Raiātea ki Motutī marae. I wrote this poem from the perspective of this toki. This piece explores themes of reconnection back to my senses of self, it is a journey of slowly unravelling all my truths as mana wahine, as tangata whenua.

This poem is peeling back the layers of myself, pulling on specific images and metaphors that relate back to me. It is diving deeper into my internal conflict relating back to colonization. There are a plethora of different truths and lives that make up who I am. I am recognizing them but also give them the safe space to exists as she always wanted/needed. Toki are a symbol of strength, toki carry within it deep symbolism associated with mana, reverence, strength and bravery.

RINGATOI/ARTIST: Manaia Tuwhare-Hoani
HAPŪ: Ngāti Tautahi, Te Uri o Hua, Te Pōpoto, Ngāti Whakaeke, Ngāti Korokoro, Te Uri o Hikihiki
RAUEMI/MATERIALS: Spoken Word Poetry