This Compulsion In Us

‘This Compulsion in Us’ is a powerful collection of nonfiction writing, divided into four sections by Tina Makereti. Having enjoyed Makereti’s fiction pieces, especially ‘Where the Rēkohu Bone Sings’, I was particularly excited to see her name among the texts I was privileged to read and review.

One aspect I appreciated was that each essay can stand alone and be read in any order, yet the collection still feels thoughtfully structured. The section that resonated with me most was ‘He Whare Tūpuna - By your place in the world’. Within this section, the essay that I was drawn was ‘How to be a Māori woman’. This essay focuses on Makereti’s struggles with her identity as both woman and Māori. In it, she acknowledges those who have helped her along the journey. She writes about inspirational figures such as Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku, Keri Hulme, and her own grandmother, whose storytelling shaped her sense of self. This essay would work well with the Level Two Connections Assessment, paired with some New Zealand poets or Keri Hulme’s ‘The Bone People’, looking specifically at identity struggles in Aotearoa. Once again, I was reminded of how vital it is to encounter our own cultures reflected authentically in the stories we read.

Overall, Makereti’s essays are personal, reflective, and deeply engaging. They cover a wide range of topics, yet they return to a central idea: whose narratives are valued, and why storytelling matters.

Mature ideas are discussed throughout this collection.