Tina Makereti: Cultivate joy

Like a boy   This visit, Dad is finishing his lunch. He’s been eating it with a knife, which one of the carers tries to change to a fork, but it looks like it’s a ‘stubborn’ day. He is happy to see me and punches my arm and starts ‘talking’ – making circles with his hands and raising his eyebrows. He looks younger, there is no strain, and I feel his caring and kindness. The next visit he’s sitting by the door and says hello when I walk in. He’s jumbling together sounds that are almost words, saying all sorts of things whose meaning I can’t fathom; I nod and look at him. At dinner he doesn’t eat all the…

Kerry Lane is a poet and playwright from Aotearoa with past lives in science and teaching. They currently live in Scotland where they work in theatre and refugee justice.

Ariana Tikao talks about her musical art, interest in language and experience with performance, plus working across languages, the revival of taonga puoro and the inviting nature of collaborations.