A new poem by NZYWF writer in residence Nick Tipa.

The New Zealand Young Writers’ Festival is taking place in Ōtepoti Dunedin on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of September 2025. Check out the amazing events programme here!

Kā rika o te Kaik

Kai te hoki atu au ki kā rika o te Kaik
Ka rere atu au ki te raki
Ko kā maumaharataka reka tōhoku waka
Ko kā hau o Tāwhiri tōhoku kaiārahi

Ka piki ake te ara ki kā puke
E horopaki ana i te taone
E whai ana au i te karaka
O tērā taharaki tawhiti

Kai pīrori ana kā porohita
I ruka i te waiora rā
Ka heke te korowai manaaki
Kua tae au ki te turakawaewae

Ka kātata te kāhere i te ara
Kai whai ana au i taua taotū
Ka puta te rā tama hai ahi tapu
E whakawera ana i te kanohi o Takaroa

Kua kitea te tohu ara
Hai powhiri mai ki a au
Kai huri ana ahau i te koki
Kua hīkina te taumaha o te ao

E puta ana kā maumaharataka
Ki tōhoku whatu hinekaro
Nō hea ēnei wawata?
Nōhoku, nō kā tūpuna rānei?

E kite ana au i tērā puke
I tū te whare ki ruka i kā wā mua
I tipu ake rā tōhoku poua
I roto i ērā pakitara whā

E whakatata ana te koki mutuka
ā ka kitea te whare ātaahua
Kai te roko au i te patu manawa
Kai hoki ana ki kā rika o te Kaik