Riwia and the Stargazer

LINDA TUHIWAI SMITH:

Since he was born, Riwia’s baby brother, Tawa, has been in Auckland Hospital, and his family has come to stay in Auckland. While Riwia goes to school and Dad works as a cook, Mum stays with Tawa. Their Aunty Sue’s house is full, and renting is expensive, so Riwia and her parents live in a van, the Stargazer, in the park. Sometimes it’s scary at night when people shout at them in the park, but the weekend is good when they go to Aunty Sue’s and Dad cooks a boil-up and they all have a shower. But Tawa is getting sicker, and he dies. The family travels back to Te Teko, taking Tawa to the marae for his tangi and burial. Riwia learns about the journey Tawa’s spirit will make to farewell Aotearoa and join the waka of stars that gathers the spirits of the dead. And at Matariki, the family remembers Tawa and gathers to see his spirit burning brightly as a star.

Linda (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Porou) is Distinguished Professor at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. She is a leading scholar and researcher in indigenous studies, indigenous education and kaupapa Māori research and has written many publications in this area. She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 for her services to Māori and education.