On Tuesday afternoon, the English Department had critically acclaimed author and poet, Apirana Taylor, run professional development with them.

Apirana’s session focused on exercises and activities that teachers can use in their classes to strengthen their students’ writing. He also recited his poem, ‘Sad Joke on a Marae’, which was incredibly moving.

Sad Joke on a Marae

Tihei Mauriora I called
Kupe Paikea Te Kooti
Rewi and Te Rauparaha
I saw them
grim death and wooden ghosts
carved on the meeting house wall.

In the only Māori I knew
I called
Tihei Mauriora.
Above me the tekoteko raged.
He ripped his tongue from his mouth
and threw it at my feet.
Then I spoke.

My name is Tu the freezing worker.
Ngāti D. B. is my tribe.
The pub is my Marae.
My fist is my taiaha.
Jail is my home.

Tihei Mauriora I cried.
They understood
the tekoteko and the ghosts
though I said nothing but
Tihei Mauriora
for that's all I knew.