Meet pounui lagoon

This kōrero (story) was written by Rawiri Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa)

I’m Pounui Lagoon, and I live between Lake Pounui and Ōnoke. You might not know me because the main road is on the east side. I should be known for the life that grows in my wetlands, but I’m not. I’m known for the teddy bear fence. When a child murderer wanted to get rid of Coral’s body he dumped her on me. I’m not meant to be an urupā, I’m meant to be repo kōhanga, a wetland nursery for native fish. The worldwide memorials connected with land might include Flanders Field and places like that, but I don’t want to be going out like that. There is a long history for these pieces of land outside of being defined by the theatre of war, but that’s where they live now. Now for me people remember all the children murdered in Wairarapa, the low point in a cultural history. Twelve children murdered in the worst decade ever. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want to get rid of that fence. I want it to be a different symbol though, I want to be a place for healing; I want to be a place of hope. Then the fence can be the change from an oppressed past to a liberated future.

We can do that by giving the tamariki (children) a mauri ora (healthy life force) experience rather than a mauri mate (unhealthy, lack of life force) memory. Life growing rather than life dying is what I am about. After baby tuna (eels) have traveled from the deep trenches of Te Moana a Kiwa, carried by currents along the Hikurangi trench, the border between the Australian plate and the Pacific plate, they arrive at Kawakawa. Now there’s a plant that surrounds me and it enhances life. I’ve got many plants in my waterways that add life to water, soil, fish and people. Getting a nursery associated with mauri (life force), a mauri that is planted to grow tangata whenua, that’s tangata (people) and whenua (land). Imagine the wetland nursery working with agriculture to take out E. coli, nutrients and sediment. We could work with NZ Inc. as a filter for catchments. We can face that climate change with resistance.

When I was created by the land being lifted, my waters were no longer an inland sea, I became a repō. I found out that I was a place where survivors came to recover. I have nursed the parents Rangi and Papa after their separation with the original Pounui, poutiriao (guardians) that brought balance between earth and sky; between our land and water; between wai tai (salt water) and wai māori (normal freshwater). I have nursed the land after the tidal wave. I have nursed the fish after the long journey. My waters work through the normal tides and are touched by the moon for maramataka (lunar calendar) growth. Rūaumoko has shaped me, and the rest of Wairarapa Moana, for thousands of years. So the darkest moment of my life won’t define me because Rangi’s light builds me. Our history is layered in life. So when our land’s children listen to my pulse, they will hear a karanga (ceremonial call) like Tangaroa, Tāne, Māui, Kupe, Haunui a Nanaia. Nau mai, haere mai ki oku ngā wai hiki. Welcome, come to my nursing waters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am an uri of Wairarapa. That is more than people, outstanding people. I am descended from explorers like Kupe, Whatonga and Tamatea Ariki; the priestly Popoto, Ruawharo and Tupai in the waka kōrero; the whare wānaga professors include Matorohanga, Nukutamaroro and Nepia Pohuhu; hapū leaders like Taaneroa, Moeteao and Hintearorangi. Then there is the ancestor who brought peace, Rongotaketake, Nukupewapewa. I am humble to descend from Gods, Io, Ranginui, Papatūānuku are familiar as is Tāne, but other atua like Hinemoana and Rongomaiwhakateka too. This context means I descend from the land and the waters, including Wairarapa Moana. I am Rawiri Smith.