"I am standing in the water so I can touch home..."
Waiora is a classic play from Aotearoa New Zealand. It was first published in 1997 and has been widely studied in schools and universities. This new edition includes updated text, a new foreword and study notes.
It is 1965 and a Māori family prepares a hāngī to celebrate a birthday with their Pākehā guests. Hone Kouka's much-celebrated play touches on the impact of colonisation, urban drift and the tension between the past and the future.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is a fan of the play. She said "I only wish that more New Zealanders knew about it and were able to see it."