Enviromentalism

Commentary
Ōmutu

Ōmutu

10 December

5.45am. Two starlings in Stacey’s unblooming pōhutukawa. A tūī guns past the window in the direction of the sea. Wednesday’s freight train rumbles north leaving a tail of sound. Dear Ana. The building inspector came on Monday. We should know by tomorrow or Friday at the latest. If my house goes unconditional I’ll finally be able to breathe again and eat. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to focus on the kauri yet.

Commentary
Unutai e! Unutai e!

Unutai e! Unutai e!

Unutai e! Unutai e!
Ko te wai anake, te au e riporipo ana ki mea roto, ki mea awa, ki te nuku o te whenua?
Aue taukuri e!

Pupū ake a Muriwai Ōwhata i a roimata He manawa piako te Papa ā-Kura o Takaroa
Waimate haere ana te waiora Kai hea rā taku ika e?
Kai hea rā te oraka mō taku iwi e!

What has transpired?
Only the rippling waters of this lake and of that river can be heard flowing across the land

Muriwai Ōwhata is over-flowing with tears
The great hīnaki of Māui, Te Papa ā-Kura o Takaroa, is like a hollow and empty heart
The life-giving waters are turning brackish and undrinkable
Where have our fresh water fish species gone?
Where are our people able to thrive?

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