Pūhia: journal for Māori art and literature issue one 2023
Reviewed by Elizabeth Heritage
Pūhia is a new journal of Māori art and literature produced by the anonymous reviewer behind the popular and influential @maorilitblog account on Instagram. Curious, I messaged the kaiwhakatika to ask about the journal’s name and was told that it comes from Te Ao Hou, the bilingual quarterly (1952–75) of the old Department of Māori Affairs (now available online via Papers Past). One issue contained stories by schoolchildren called ‘Pūhia te Weri’, or ‘Shoot the Centipede’. The kaiwhakatika of Pūhia said that:
‘It’s one of my favourite things from Te Ao Hou, cos you have these really silly pieces of children's writing alongside this serious paternalistic introduction about literacy and stuff. When I was formatting and trying out cover designs, I used ‘Pūhia te Weri’ as a placeholder, but I grew so fond of it that I decided to run with a shortened version!’
He Wahine Toa by Kiani Maia
One thing I immediately loved about Pūhia was the visual art, which comprises about half the journal. There is a pleasing mixture of styles – photography, painting, comics, posters; images hand drawn and digital. The two I keep returning two are both entitled Wahine Toa; one by Brianna Duffy (Te Rarawa, Rarotonga, Fiji, Pākehā) and the other by Kiani Maia (Ngāpuhi). Maia’s mahi reminded me of the artwork of Guardian Maia, the interactive fiction produced by Māori games studio Metia Interactive. I also liked the comic strip by Tate Agnew, which tells a simple but very striking story about alienation and connection in four frames.
The written entries in Pūhia are mostly toikupu, with some short fiction and creative nonfiction. The first toikupu is “Te Ngau Tarariki” by essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Raukawa, Ngaati Puukeko, Te Arawa, Clan Gunn, Horwood), who was recently honoured with the inaugural Keri Hulme Award, and Moana Murray (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kura, Ngāti Kauau, Ngāti Rēhia). “Te Ngau Tarariki” is dedicated to Murirangaranga, the kōauau of Tūtānekai – “when words feel good on the tongue–why not repeat them?” – and my favourite line was “falling out of love and into my own hard hopes”. I love the double h at the end and the way it forces an exhale that underscores the idea of love departing.
Wahine Toa by Brianna Duffy
I’m a sucker for a great first line in a poem and Mitch Marks’ (Ngāti Raukawa) “End Papers” opens with a banger: “When I write my novel, which all of you are in”. Toikupu are often written in the second person but they are usually addressed to a singular ‘you’; either to the reader or a particular subject. I love the boldness of “End Papers” being addressed to “all of you” and the way it tackles head-on the perennial problem of how, in a small and very interconnected literary community, to write from life without pissing too many people off.
One of the things I value most about journals is that, like the best literary festivals, they’re a great way to encounter new writers. My favourite new-to-me kaituhi here has to be the young wahine Jorja Heta (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri): I loved her toikupu “Brown Femme Fatale” which opens with the recurring line “I have decided to be terrifyingly beautiful”.
Not in a vain way
but in a
I don’t need validation to affirm this ambition
kind of way
Atua-given, Tūpuna-driven, feeling Godly
in the crevice of each camera snapshot
“Brown Femme Fatale” reminded me of Coco Solid’s mahi in its rhythmic strength and fire.
Unlike many recent new literary journals such as Kupu Toi Takatāpui and Stasis that are online-only, Pūhia is print-only; a sturdy format that suits it well. Checking back in on Instagram I was pleased to see that submissions are now open for a second issue. I look forward to another round of shooting the centipede in the new year.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Heritage
Kete thanks artists Kiani Maia and Brianna Duffy for the kind permission to republish artwork featured in Pūhia Issue 1.
