"Te whai o te taniwha"

Tu Tangata, Issue 21, 1 December 1984, Page 43

"Te whai o te taniwha"

a collection of poems

1984: Te Paki Publishing Co Ltd by Taparanaka TAPAKA

Reviewed by: Paki Charrington

This amazing collection of poems is literally “mind boggling”. Tapaka fuses Maori and English into a Beckettian/Joycean/Rabelaisian style. Marae, hui, invaders, games, power, kaumatua, cement, whanaunga, tamaiti, huia, kowhai, meadow larks, Aotea Square, Mangere, Otara, “Patu”, fish tuhoetanga, mokopuna, orators, caterers, kitchens, tauparapara, religion, art, humiliation, humility, health, education, urinals, shoes, racism, rotten trees, sexism, parents, fathers, prizes, fast foods, part-timers, are obviously all part of his universe, to name a few!

There are 21 pieces of I hesitate to call them poems literature in this collection. They have something to say. They have something to be heard. They cannot be heard through a monocultural mind. They can be heard via a bicultural and bilingual stance.

New Zealanders who do not understand Maori will have some difficulty with this collection.

Because of his background in the oral literature of his people, these pieces of literature must not be read silently. They need to be performed by an actor and wordsmith who is bilingual and bicultural. Maori and English in this case.

There is an impish sense of humour in all the pieces. They make you laugh then they make you seriously consider the thesis outlined. He often goes for the ridiculous, goes for the absurd, he juxtaposes words, he juxtaposes sounds. Vitality and vigour, energy, and pride in being a Maori shine through. These poems must be immediately injected into New Zealand’s education system. Maori children must hear his words so as to activate their wairua.

It is difficult to choose lines from his work since they must all be heard “in toto” and in context. There does not appear to by any chronological time sense, but you are aware of centuries of wisdom, centuries of tupuna, centuries of tradition. For example: 1. “I want to be a full-time Maori”.... “I want my country back!” From “Full Time” 2. “Their wairua activated again by the taniwha o Ngararatunua” From “Healthily” 3. “Our tupuna are on our shoulders, They are smiling”

From “Whakaiti” 4. “He is centuries old” From “Letters to the Bishopress” 5. “I went to the meeting, fell asleep again. awoke to find I was chairperson!” From “Letters to the Bishopress” 6. I surrender what chance have I got against a Texan cowgirl with a Wonder Woman lassoo!” From “Letters to the Bishopress” 7. “We really are amazingly ridiculous”

From “Letters to the Bishopress” 8. “Become a resuscitated native" 6th Commandment (there are 16 commandments) 9. “It takes a lifetime to travel from the kitchen to the paepae” 10. “Merata was patu’d and patu’d, and patu’d again and again by the state” From “A bit of bitter patu, makes a bit of bitter patu, patupatu” Various Maori literary critics have perused and seen or heard some of Tapaka’s pieces. Dr Tara Wharaka Keretene has said of “Cement”: “It’s about our heritage”. “It also means that you have to keep changing and not stay in one block, not to be close-minded, to be able to change.” Of Tapaka’s work in general he says: “It is an insight to Maori humour. Enjoyable when it is understood. It is esoteric. When understood completely, anyone can join in.” Two women literary critics, Rangia-

mohia and Anahera of Maniapoto make a joint single statement: “Brilliant Damn Good!” .J. Te Purei of Mangere says of the poem “Whakaiti”: “Some of the words were hard to find a meaning, hard for me to grasp. Some of the words I could place it was me. I felt some of the words were me, myself and intelligence.

Mereana Te Rau Oriwa Henare of Ngati Hine says of “No Win, I Cry”: “Te whakama o te tangata i roto i te ngakau tangi mamae. Ka whakaiti ia te tangata tuturu.” yourself, you must suffer humiliation.

Recorders of the Ngaruawahia Waitangi Hui have asked for his poem “Full Time” which they feel encapsulates the feeling of the hui. Tapaka is happy to give his work, free, to any Maori who will treat it with dignity and aroha.

Taparanaka Tapaka will give readings of his poetry to anyone who will provide food, fun and transport on any occasion that is suitable to him. He further commented “A small fee would help”. He can be contacted Cl- Department of Maori Affairs, Private Bag, Mangere. This limited private edition is published by Te Paki Publishing Company Limited. Price: Negotiable. Copies: Negotiated on application in writing. Taparanaka has reserved the right to sell his work only after contact and discussion, then consensus between him and the buyer.