My tūpuna (ancestors) on my father's side journeyed across the seas from Hawaiki and landed somewhere around the North-East Coast of Aotearoa (known as New Zealand), however, our people were already here from past voyages. Our tūpuna dragged the waka Aotea (canoe named Aotea) across the isthmus and continued to Kawhia. They then walked from their landing place in Kawhia, around the coast to Taranaki and settled in Patea. That’s not an easy journey on foot and it’s 300+ kilometres from Kawhia by today's measurements.
They walked barefoot and connected to Papatūānuku (earth mother), step by step. Turi, our Rangatira (chief) named each place along the way; at some places they rested... No, it wasn’t an easy journey.
What makes my daughter “Māori”, it’s the many generations of tūpuna (ancestors) that stood strong before her and faced all challenges, from their long journey across the seas to walking 300+ kilometres to Patea, to the colonisation of our people and the racism and violence that came with that.
What makes my daughter “Māori"... her mama, who stands tall and unwavering in her stance against the racism from her pākeha (New Zealand European) father.
What makes my daughter “Maori” - her whakapapa (genealogy).