A man walks by in bright yellow boots,an armchair on his head upside down, like a childin an ill-fitting helmet. Kapiti stands out, silhouettedshark teeth snarled against sunset,looking hungry. Almost time. A few seconds onlywhen flat, setting lightplays on the escarpmentits evening … [Read more...] about An artist waits for the light
The kingdom of heaven (to Haina)
the kingdom of heaven is but a little way along the sand track, through the bushy flaxes, the sunlitdunes down to the riverand across the bridge Listen to Apirana: … [Read more...] about The kingdom of heaven (to Haina)
Looking at Kāpiti
Sleep, Leviathan, shouldering the AsianNight sombre with fear, kindled by one starSmouldering through the fog, while the goaded oceanRecalls the fury of Te Rauparaha. Massive, remote, familiar, hung with spray,You seem to guard our coast, sanctuaryTo our lost faith, as if against the dayInvisible … [Read more...] about Looking at Kāpiti
Prawn tide
As the sun came up, a faint frost dusted dunes and tussocks then disappeared. Behind the breakers white vapour floated, throwing a veil over island hills haunch-hunkered by the water. The moon set pink this morning; now red prawns flow and writhe in lines along the tide mark in a plague of plenty. … [Read more...] about Prawn tide
Good Friday
TawhirimateaClaims the air tonight,Blinds the outward eyeWith needles of rain.TangaroaRides the full tide in,Pounding the mind’s beachesIncessantly with Sound. NowOld altars will be overturned,Judgemental gods forsaken,Guilt, shame, sin,CrucifixionOf the innocent self,Cast out as devils. The … [Read more...] about Good Friday
The creek
We choose leaves carefully, the kind very green and glossy on one side light bouncing and bouncing off them. White on the other, midveins clear, veins clear, and in the curl, of their own accord they curl, we place three petals say, or 14 seeds, or an earwig. And now as evening falls we tear … [Read more...] about The creek
Centennial
Our house backs onto paddocks and on the other side of those paddocks part of Transmission Gully is being constructed. It’s a notorious road. One I can hardly believe is actually being built, having heard about it for as long as I can remember. I see the earthmovers and the hazard bunting during the … [Read more...] about Centennial
Currently
after Alistair Te Ariki Campbell They say we are ants. So many humans. They say we are sheep one after another on a hillside. They say we are birds i.e sweethearts. And donkeys and snakes and coots. It’s neat the way we can become so many others in the … [Read more...] about Currently
Paekākāriki Hill
hunched like a guardian above the village under a full moon silver light like tinsel strewn through the trees a bolt of blue light exploded from the hillside and sped south along the railway line at the creek mouth it made an abrupt 90 degree turn headed towards the island and vanished into the … [Read more...] about Paekākāriki Hill
Not everyone wears shoes
Erica Julian ponders Paekākāriki’s future and what makes us special. The first in a series of stories for Paekākāriki.nz by young residents on what we will, or could look like in 50 years' time. In 50 years Paekākāriki will have changed forever. Its unique character will have been lost to … [Read more...] about Not everyone wears shoes