English and Linguistics seminar

Tupu rā te ꞌenua! Reading, writing and re-remembering ꞌenua (land, home and environment) in Cook Islands Māori literatures

Stacey Kokaua-Balfour (Centre for Pacific Thought)

To celebrate her recent success defending her thesis, Stacey will present on her work Tupu rā te ꞌenua! Reading, writing and re-remembering ꞌenua (land, home and environment) in Cook Islands Māori literatures.

ꞌEnua is a Cook Islands Māori term used for land, homeland, earth, and placenta, and this project asks how do understandings of ‘enua emerge in Māori literatures? and what is enhanced and/or illuminated through ꞌenua-centred literary practice?

The project combines critical reading and creative writing as literary practice, revealing the distinct ways Māori literatures engage 'enua as a body-centric sensory experience, deeply influenced by Māori cultural practices and ontology. The recurring theme of growth from a grounded centre as echoed in the refrain “tupu rā te 'enua” reflects the potential of our literatures to extend Māori thinking across disciplines.