Waitangi Day

                                                              Waitangi Day  6/02/2017

 

I once watched a Maori man at Whangaparaoa
slowly leading mokopuna down to the sea
they stood in the shallows, shifting sand with their toes
grabbed with eager fingers, the juicy tuatua
stowed stowed their Kaimoana in a battered billycan
plaintive piping Torea called from sandbanks offshore

I watched that Maori family from Pohutukawa shade
they build their modest cookfire
neat stone circle in soft sand, driftwood for their fuel
That simple family feast brought longing to my soul
wishing to be close to them, but still so far apart.

I remember a sacred scene set at Waitangi
once stood on the greensward edging sunlit sea
sparkles of light danced on gentle waves
picturesque islands, greenest of gems in the beautiful bay
site of solemn ceremony, commitment and trust
surely the most dazzling place of founding
a modest Nation the world has ever seen

I regret no te reo was taught in our schools
awareness of biculturalism came too late to bind us close
Now I know how Maori felt when foreign settlers
flocked to these shores – do they feel the same unease
and join me now in fear for future times?

I sorrow for our now scarred shores with Kaimoana
plundered, rocks ripped up and overturned
no care for creatures underneath, dying unseen
Ducks, daffodils and growing plants selfishly plucked
from their Village Green homes, with callous indifference

I grieve for our lost forests, fishes and birds
precious taonga gone for ever
concrete constructions smothering the land, pollution
swamped cities – pacific pools of islands tarnished for all time.
These are my thoughts on Waitangi Day.

NB - the above is a direct copy of the original text, with spelling and punctuation as written.