Acclaimed poet and GP Glenn Colquhoun to David Seymour: Taihoa on your Treaty referendum

I’ve been away walking Te Araroa lately, scratching the belly of the fish, as Hone Tūwhare used to say. It’s had me thinking about us all as a people. You have, too, I suppose. I happened to be in Russell the night of the election, caught the Ōpua ferry with Winston Peters the next day. On the way through Kerikeri, I stayed for a night with Kipa and Susie, two of the most blessed souls you’re ever likely to meet. Kipa is from Ngāti Rēhia. He told me you whakapapa to there. I envy you for that.

Thirty years ago, I went to live in Te Tii, the home of Ngāti Rēhia in the Bay of Islands. I stayed in an old tin shed by the beach. I rented it for $30 a week from Kipa’s brother, John, although everyone called him “The Hood”. He lived on a small hill above me with his partner, Kuia. Aunty Rangi lived beside them, with Milton and Erehi. Uncle Buck and Aunty Maraea lived one house over, and Aunty Bloss was in front.

On the beach in front of me lived Tom Kelly and his four daughters. The girls ate my chocolate biscuits while I nailed the corrugated iron into the bottom plate to stop the mice getting into the shed. And then again when I made a shower from roofing battens, polythene and a small water tank.

Soli lived beside me then. And on the other side of him lived Aunty Tiniwa, and Gracie, her daughter. Gracie and I watched Shortland Street together most nights. Afterwards, I would help her with her homework. In the house beyond that, at the end of the beach, lived Aunty Rongo. She is my most constant ghost nowadays. I live with her chatting on my shoulders.

Uncle Bill and Aunty Kare lived on the other side of the community. I visited them most days. Aunty Kare wanted to baptise me. Uncle Bill wanted someone to tease and to ride shotgun with him through the wild west of his memories.

For most of my life since then, I have written about Ngāti Rēhia in one way or another. They have been my muse. And continue to be. They changed my life. Afterwards, I finished university then left the big smoke forever. I have lived and worked in Māori communities ever since. I returned to Te Tii a few years later and my daughter was born there. Every year, I go back at least once or twice. I’m very grateful that they put up with me.

I’m telling you this because that old cultural fault line that runs beneath our country is rumbling again. And this time you are jumping up and down on top of it. I want to thank you for that, at least. Despite how people moan, it’s always good to chip away again at who we are as a people.

Ironically, it was Māori who taught me that irritation is a blessing. But I guess I’m also asking you to taihoa on all your bloody Treaty of Waitangi referendum stuff and go north for a while. Get to know Ngāti Rēhia – lose a few chocolate biscuits – then see what you think about things after that.

Kipa told me you’ve never been up there to talk to them as a group about it at all. I reckon they deserve that, at least.