kāinga

Home

I was at a food festival over the weekend in a small, inland fishing village. I say inland, because when you drive there you feel like you are still inland, but you are really just on the edge of one of The Sounds that reach into the sea from the top of Te Waipounamu, the South Island. Motuweka, or Havelock as it is known, is a small village on the arm of Pelorus Sound, World Famous for its Green-Shell Mussels, which are farmed in these waters. It began life as a gold rush village, then moved on to saw-milling, but is now The Green-Lipped Mussel Capital of the world. It is by far its biggest industry, and the village is dotted with cartoonlike mussels…

Every year the town hosts a festival celebrating its Mussels and all the Kaimoana, seafood, gathered in this fertile sea. People come from all over Aotearoa, New Zealand for a day of food, music, dance, I think the population must increase 10 fold for the day.

The music was bands from Aotearoa, the food sublime and the atmosphere was carefree…

I looked at the smiles, loved those who dressed up – matching shirts anyone? And just drank in the beauty of the backdrop to the festivities. This spot is just stunning, on the edge of The Sound, the hills rise steeply against the bluest of skies.

It is definitely a whanau, family, event. People of all ages gathered. Bring your own chairs, slap on some sunscreen, pop on a hat. The dress code is casual – from those matching shirts or just  singlets and gumboots. There is a dress up competition if you’re keen. Or you can just turn up and chill as we did.

A bouncy castle for the younger generation; displays by the fire service; an arts and crafts area to keep the littlies entertained. And the high spot – a mussel opening competition – of course. This is a town that exists, around that most delicious bivalve!

The music was varied. But all of it felt very close to home. From the songs that would appear, with the guitars, at every family party ever held in the 70s and 80s to our very own Drum and Bass band. Something for everyone…

I looked around, the air was full of laughter and joy. It felt safe, it felt familiar. This was not a festival full of airs and graces; this was Home. This was the best of Aotearoa in a day.

Our world is going through some trauma these days, is it not? It is easy to feel overwhelmed, helpless, disconnected from the important things. It is easy to forget the riches we have in our lives. The treasures we have in our back yards. To count our blessings…

In that small corner of my world, I paused… I breathed, sang, chatted and laughed with friends. I gobbled up yummy foods,  I let the magic of the place I am blessed to call Kāinga, home, wash over and through me.

I am sure wherever you all live, there are places, and times that feel just as familiar and feel like Home. Whatever the music, kai, food, or customs that join you to the people who share your place are; they will comfort you and ground you. They will link you together, through the generations. They speak to who you are and where you are from.

This week we “celebrate” the anniversary start of the lockdowns of the Pandemic. That line in time for all of us – before and now after. I have mixed feelings, it almost feels like the world has just gone a little cray cray. Maybe it is the result of collective anxiety or grief – I’ve never lived in Extraordinary Times before, so I don’t know. But it feels like we’re all off kilter. That somehow we slipped into a parallel universe.

So it was nice to get grounded again. To spend time with whanau and friends under the blue sky. Listening to music that took me back to my teens. Watching families hang out; eat the best Kaimoana that I’ve had in a while.

A day to just BE…

Tūrangawaewae

E Kore au e ngaro

He kākano I ruia

Mai I Rangiātea

Belonging

I will never be lost,

For I am a seed

Sown in the heavens