Kotahitanga #11: Return to What is Known

KOTAHITANGA | COLUMN | HANGA / CRAFT

Written & illustrated by Hirimaia Eketone (they/them) | @hiri_music | Te Ao Māori Editor

Kia ora e hoa ma, haere mai ki te tuarua ki muri moheni mo te tau.

Hello friends, welcome to the second-to-last issue of the year!

2025 has thrown a lot at us as a society. I feel like I’m back in lockdown, complaining about the effect of COVID as if no-one else was experiencing the same thing. We’ve just learned that our government is spineless and will not recognise Palestine as a state. Our protests are going unheard, our rights are being stripped, and NZ is in one of the worst economic states we have been in years. However, the theme of this issue, “Craft,” is essential in this current climate, as the ao around us takes hit after hit, our creative hinengaro collectively evolves to find some shred of beauty in the chaos.

From a Te Ao Māori lens, craft is what our culture thrives off. From the ancient techniques of harakeke weaving to the language carved into our marae, Māori live and breathe the freedom that craft brings. Ingenuity is born from it, talents are forged from it, and our loving whenua is consistently providing resources to fuel our ahi, our fire.

When teaching the art of harakeke, there is a major focus on respecting the resources we use to create kakahu, ropes, baskets and more. We take only what we need and avoid cutting harakeke that is essential for growth. In every step of the process, from cleaning the harakeke to skillfully weaving, the art of harakeke is one of the most ataahua skills to learn. Similarly, when fishing for ika, we will always give back our first catch to the sea, as a thanks for what has been provided to us. We bless the land, the ocean and the skies for what they provide us and that sentiment is the one I urge us all to implement in our current climate.

Craft is also important for our survival. Creativity aside, the roots of what we know were sown through the art of making shelter, food and clothing. With such a focus on the sustainability of our existence, I believe it is our job to get creative with the ways we can help. We are seeing instability in power both within the mōtu and overseas. Though I urged all of us to band together and vote in the local elections in the last issue, we have to be prepared to go the extra mile. If you can afford to give, help out a friend in need, support a charity for the monstrosities happening elsewhere, give back to your community. If you are in need, reach out for support, connect with the communities around you. If you’re in the middle, now is the time to innovate a way to help. It can be overwhelming and trapping to process how much is needed to help people in the world, so focus on one goal, one piece that you want to help fix. We have so much power in our mana, in our community, in our kaupapa and our wairua. As long as we can still create from what has been given, we have no excuse.

Look after each other e hoa ma. Research ways you can help, connect and thrive. Use the beautiful pieces throughout this issue as inspiration for new ways to create. I know each and every one of you has it in you.

Nga mihi nui e hoa, ma te wa!!