Tamaki Makaurau 2025: Essays on Life in Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau is a city in flux. Its people and places are in a constant state of change as they evolve into the millennium. To capture a sliver of Auckland in time, this collection offers space for twelve distinct voices from across the isthmus to share personal reflections, pulling from the past to see the city in the present. Each writer’s connection to Auckland is unique and sprawling—from mana whenua and migrant experiences to examinations of infrastructure projects, culture clashes, brain drain, and love letters to cherished suburbs. What emerges is a collection that amalgamates these relationships on the page. It is full of love but gets fed up. It sees potential but gets frustrated by the lack of progress. It’s about leaving, but it’s also about always coming home. And for these writers, that home is Tāmaki Makaurau. Contributors: Anton Blank, Daren Kamali, Faisal Halabi, Jeremy Hansen, Taniera Hawke-Hohepa, Abel Mercer, Perzen Patel, Emmy Rākete, Tommy de Silva, Jean Teng, Manu Vaea, Helene Wong