There's got to be more to it than buzzy bees, bachs and beer. Pākehā 2020 is a poetry video series about pākehātanga, both tip-top and toxic.
I don't know what being Pākehā means in 2020. I don't know what being Pākehā will mean for my grandchildren. I don't know how to decolonise a culture. I don't know how to feel about my connection to Aotearoa, or any whenua. I don't know how to reconcile kiwiana with belonging, or with family, or with te ao Māori. But it seemed worth finding out. February 2020 marks 180 years since my tīpuna disembarked the Duke of Roxburgh onto the Pito-one beach.
I don't know what being Pākehā means in 2020. I don't know what being Pākehā will mean for my grandchildren. I don't know how to decolonise a culture. I don't know how to feel about my connection to Aotearoa, or any whenua. I don't know how to reconcile kiwiana with belonging, or with family, or with te ao Māori. But it seemed worth finding out. February 2020 marks 180 years since my tīpuna disembarked the Duke of Roxburgh onto the Pito-one beach.
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Thanks to the amazing videographers who have worked on this series: Andrew, Dan and Brin of the National Youth Drama School Media Team, James Cain of Able Cain, Luis, Jordan held a boom, Tyrone and Process Productions, Evan and Nathan Williams.
To collaborators David Squire and the NZ Youth Choir, Paula Coulthard for the stunning Island Bay flag in this video, actor Ken Keys, bensound.com for some of the music, Steve Braunias for giving it another platform on Newsroom (promise I'll catch up with my essays soon) and Steve Aitken for the boat ride. To Sara Hirsch! who has directed, guided, proofread, featured in and supported this 12 month journey. You inspire me.
I'd like to mihi to Jess Holly Bates, who I followed down the Pākehā path, never to return. Whoever has my copy of REAL FAKE WHITE DIRT, please give it back. And to Jess Mio, who is at the coalface of this stuff.
A final, massive thank you to Michael Gray, who didn't even let the birth of his first child put him more than a few days behind schedule. Your accompanying animations have been funny, poignant, beautiful and incisive, and made me want to be a better artist. Much like you.
I'm optimistic about the state of Pākehā, but boy do we have a long way to go. I've come to many conclusions, which I hope to outline in my next project of longer form writing.
Ten new poems and videos in ten months was a lot, but gosh projects are worthwhile. This one opened me up to new people, communities and ideas, many of which have been confronting. All of which will stick with me as I work towards being a better Pākehā, a better ally, and for Tino Rangatiratanga. The only way to save our countries soul.
Mauri ora!
To collaborators David Squire and the NZ Youth Choir, Paula Coulthard for the stunning Island Bay flag in this video, actor Ken Keys, bensound.com for some of the music, Steve Braunias for giving it another platform on Newsroom (promise I'll catch up with my essays soon) and Steve Aitken for the boat ride. To Sara Hirsch! who has directed, guided, proofread, featured in and supported this 12 month journey. You inspire me.
I'd like to mihi to Jess Holly Bates, who I followed down the Pākehā path, never to return. Whoever has my copy of REAL FAKE WHITE DIRT, please give it back. And to Jess Mio, who is at the coalface of this stuff.
A final, massive thank you to Michael Gray, who didn't even let the birth of his first child put him more than a few days behind schedule. Your accompanying animations have been funny, poignant, beautiful and incisive, and made me want to be a better artist. Much like you.
I'm optimistic about the state of Pākehā, but boy do we have a long way to go. I've come to many conclusions, which I hope to outline in my next project of longer form writing.
Ten new poems and videos in ten months was a lot, but gosh projects are worthwhile. This one opened me up to new people, communities and ideas, many of which have been confronting. All of which will stick with me as I work towards being a better Pākehā, a better ally, and for Tino Rangatiratanga. The only way to save our countries soul.
Mauri ora!
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Some TravellerThis collection came out at the end of 2017 in the UK via Bx3, imprint of Burning Eye Books.
Recently I've written about supermarkets, aeroplanes and nicked other people's writing. Often I'm no good at poems, but some people have still said some very nice things.
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