Theles Hakaria — Second prize, Year 12 Tōku whare

Tōku whare

Only from the darkness can light be seen. From the many tentacles of my chiefly ancestors is my genealogy. From this mortal coil come I, standing here, breathing, speaking. I breathe the essence of life.

From the depths of my mind comes thought From the hidden confines of my heart comes want, need, aspirations. Come closer to the porch of the house, welcome! The ‘fingers’ hold the rau pōhiri - welcome to the manu rangatira from the tides that crash along the shore. Welcome to the porch of my house, the posts are tōtara, plastic and electrical. The reasons are: If the tōtara is split, it is food for the fire - united we stand, divided we fall. Stay together e hoa mā! Plastic is the tohu of my world, it stands to represent the changing of the time. Electricity is how we reach enlightenment and connectivity - those of you who are attached to social media, this is your pou! In my veins flow the blood of my ancestors, which I refuse to let drip onto the earth - never to die a ngaki! From my own hands are the material things that keep me alive. Ko Theles ahau. By retreating to the past to sieve and sift through the remnants of that era, and to draw them towards this modern world, that enables me to stand in good stead on the face of the earth! I will build my own empire! I will decide my own fate! I will carve my own path! I will set my own fire! Ka piki au i tōku maunga!

My world is a marae. A marae which stands on the bluff of success, on the ground of careful thought, and prudent building. The marae-atea of my house, is a ground of tikanga. You are welcome to enter. You will be welcomed onto my marae according to my rules. Some of these rules are ancient, some are modern, some are enlightening, some are yet to be conceived. This is the realm of Tūmatauenga, sparring and jarring, and spitting and hissing, and giving life and energy to mankind. Keeping man on his toes. The old is joined with the new. The rituals of my house, is built on respect towards mankind. I ask, what is the most important thing of this world? He tangata, he tangata, tangata!

Turn your gaze to the tara iti of the house, therein is the hearth of the fire, where the skin is warmed and the glow is seen in the eyes of the home people. This is the base of my wairua. It is the embodiment of my dreams.

The back post of my house are my parents. They both are the post that support, encourage, tautoko and lead me. Ōku mātua, I bow my head to the lofty mountains that are you two. The centre post belongs to those who injected my natural spirit into me. Nana, here is your darlin’ giving you props! The front post I built my own marae The post of my house are: Parents, spirit and shine!

He whaka kapi Let me return to the base of my stance, the waterfall of my thoughts, the spring of my emotions …

— Theles Hakaria, Shirley Boys’ High School