Whetu Moana, which we published in 2003, was the first anthology of Polynesian poetry in English edited by Polynesians and is now in its third imprint. In 2004 it won the Montana New Zealand Book Award for Reference and Anthology. Whetu Moana is now used as a text in many universities and high schools throughout the world. Whetu Moana speaks with many voices and reflects the great mana‘o / tūmanako / hopes / aspirations of our people who read and write poetry. We hope Mauri Ola does that too. We attribute the success of the first anthology to many factors and with Mauri Ola we hope to build on and reinforce those.
First, the anthologies serve a desire by Polynesians to share our struggles and achievements, our individual and collective everyday lives. In contrast to disempowering narratives of history and politics, they are a forum that bring our many voices together. In that sense, both Whetu Moana and Mauri Ola are collections from vulnerable yet enduring communities. Secondly, the poets, firmly rooted in the Pacific, are spread across Polynesia and the world. The poems discuss colonialism, sexism, jealousy, love of family, and respect for culture, elders and the past; they sit within a world view that does not exclusively consider human beings to be the most important species. Thirdly, the poets employ an astonishing range of Englishes and pidgins that have developed within the region, expressing the plurality of cultures, a wide range of voices, linguistic diversity, attitudes and approaches within Polynesia, which is a part of the much larger region now called Oceania. Additionally, the poetry is complexly informed by the poetic, artistic traditions and innovations of Polynesians encountering local and global art developments, and influencing and being influenced by universal resistance movements.
We cautiously use the term Polynesia, aware of its tainted history. We reclaim it as a term that invites discussion of commonalities and differences among ourselves and with other distinct groups within Oceania. For example, Polynesia is traditionally connected to Melanesia and Micronesia through ancestral and more recent family ties. As we said in the introduction to Whetu Moana, we take pleasure in noting and celebrating our differences both inside and outside the region. In this regard, we are delighted to see that Emelihter Kihleng and Dr Evelyn Flores are co-editing a forthcoming anthology of Micronesian writing. Other oceanic anthologies edited by indigenous writers which fall outside the scope of this collection include the Macquarie PEN Anthology of Australian Aboriginal Writing, edited by Anita Heiss and Peter Minter, Vārua Tupu: New Writing from French Polynesia, edited by Kareva Mateatea-Allain, Frank Stewart and Alexander Dale Mawyer, and the Papua New Guinea journal Savannah Flames edited by Steven Winduo. The Pasifika Poetry website (www. nzepc.auckland.ac.nz/pasifika), a growing resource maintained by Dr Selina Marsh, contains texts and video interviews and readings by Fijian, Solomon Islands and Ni-Vanuatu poets, as well as Polynesians. The anthologies Lali and Nuanua, edited by Albert Wendt, survey Micronesian and Melanesian writing as well.
When the idea of a second anthology was suggested, we were tempted merely to revise or update Whetu Moana, but because so much new poetry has been written and published since its completion, we decided to compile a completely new collection. The term ‘mauri ola’, or ‘mauri ora’, is found in most Polynesian cultures. In combining the Māori ‘mauri’ and the word ‘ola’, common in many Polynesian languages, the new pan-Polynesian title makes the anthology more inclusive of all our peoples. Mauri or mauli is the location of the emotions, usually the centre of the person: the moa (Sāmoan), the nā’au (Hawaiian), the ngākau (Māori). Ora or ola is life, to be alive. Together, mauri ola is the life force that runs through all things, gives them mana and holds them alive and together. Language is at the heart of every culture: it is what binds, defines and expresses the mind, heart, spirit and body of that culture, and it also reflects cultural changes and new directions. For us, poetry is the mauri ola of language: Tihei mauri ora! Look, we are still alive, we are still here! Despite the radical changes we have suffered, and are still undergoing, we are vibrantly alive and well and continue to define, to determine and to create ourselves and our destinies. The poetry in this anthology expresses that loudly and proudly.
As in Whetu Moana, we restricted the selection to poetry written in English because within Polynesia there are more than sixteen indigenous languages, plus French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Hindi, Japanese and others. This meant we were unable to include the many significant French-language poets from French Polynesia. It was also difficult to select from the large and varied body of poems we received – we could have filled many anthologies. As we note in Whetu Moana, English is now an important regional language of communication throughout Polynesia and the wider Pacific. Each Polynesian country has indigenised English and produced its own version of it: there are now many Englishes in our region, and many pidgins. In Mauri Ola we have attempted to arrive at a selection of poetry that reflects that linguistic truth.
The poets in the anthology come from many different island nations and languages that make up Polynesia. Some have chosen to use words and phrases in their own languages, which they feel is the best, and perhaps the only, way to express their feelings and ideas. Colonised peoples around the world are reconnecting with their native languages and those poets fortunate enough to have the knowledge take great pride in using them. Many of our languages are in danger of becoming extinct and we feel it is important to encourage their use. There is a select glossary giving meanings for the indigenous words and terms used in this anthology.
We have selected work by poets of a broad range of ages, from a pioneer generation of poets such as Hone Tuwhare, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, J. C. Sturm, Arapera Hineira Kaa Blank, Bub Bridger and Rore Hapipi, to those who are still in their twenties, such as Chelsea Mana’olana Duarte, Kiri Piahana-Wong, Christy Passion, Sage U‘ilani Takehiro, Tiare Picard, Kai Gaspar, Blaine Tolentino and Brandy Nālani McDougall. Sadly, many of our beloved pioneers have passed away over the last few years: Hone Tuwhare, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Arapera Blank and Jacquie Sturm. We dedicate this anthology to them, acknowledging their indefatigable struggle against racism and colonialism and to have our literature recognised nationally and internationally. We are greatly indebted to them, and thank them for the marvellous poetry they have bequeathed us. Much of the poetry in Mauri Ola reflects the influence of their work and example. From them, we have selected poems published in their latter years. Special mention should be made of the Hawaiian poet Wayne Kaumualii Westlake, who died tragically in 1984 at the age of 37. From his university days to his death he wrote many poems, very few of which were published. The first book of his work, Westlake, was published in 2009, and reveals an astounding range of poetry, from dada-influenced concrete poems to those in Pidgin. Our selection of his work in this anthology tries to reflect that richness.
As in Whetu Moana we have organised the poets in alphabetical order rather than by country or seniority. This makes it easier for readers to find specific poets and doesn’t privilege any one group or individual. Though we have not reprinted poems published in Whetu Moana, many of the poets from that book appear again here. Some, such as Karlo Mila, Selina Tusitala Marsh, Serie Barford, Hinemoana Baker and Tusiata Avia, have published full collections of their own since Whetu Moana. We regret that there are omissions in Mauri Ola as, despite our best efforts, we were unable to elicit work from some important poets. But we are excited and thrilled by the many new and compelling poets who did send us their work. Some have never published before and we are privileged to bring their poetry to the reading public. Unfortunately, we were not able to use all the poetry submitted or include every poet.
We would like to express our thanks to the many people who have helped put this collection together, especially to Sam Elworthy, Anna Hodge, Vani Sripathy and Katrina Duncan of Auckland University Press, who worked with such good grace and patience. Our gratitude and respect also goes out to all those poets and their descendants who trusted us with their work.
Ia manuia le tapua’iga
He whakaaro pai ki ngā tāngata katoa
Albert Wendt, Reina Whaitiri
and Robert Sullivan
June 2010