Plastic

The cover of this collection is aesthetically beautiful and intriguing as are the written words inside. My favourite section was Paratiki, dedicated to various Wahine Toa and the end section, when she takes the reader on a journey of what it is like to visit her marae for the first time. Her poems reflect what it is like to find your identity, even though at times it can feel like an uphill battle. Often these poems had me nodding in agreement and made me reflect on my own journey. The poems are thoughtful and easy to read in a few hours which make them really accessible for students.

When discussing this anthology with peers in my department, we spoke about the importance of perspectives and exposing ākonga to a wide variety of texts. One piece in particular stood out in this collection. The poem Kurungaituku and how she is depicted from Teague’s point of view. This led to discussion around Scholarship and Level Three English where you could use the traditional story of Hatupatu and the Bird Woman where he is considered the hero, then compare it to this poem as well as Ngāhuia Te Awekotuku’s short story “Kurungaituku” to show a more feminist lens on how women are seen in the world we live in.

This collection adds a valuable voice that is so needed within the English curriculum and helps to move away from the more traditional male dominated poems which often get studied.