Wāhi Tapu

Poetry from the Onetahua (Farewell Spit) Artists’ Residency

In September 2017, Kevin Moran travelled to Onetahua as part of the eighth Onetahua/Farewell Spit Artists’ Residency. Over 5 days and 4 nights he and eleven other artists sought inspiration while staying in the old light-keepers house and wandering the sand and shorelines of Onetahua. Following the residency artists had six months to create an artistic response to their experience. These 30 poems are Kevin’s response.
Kevin is a poet-shaman and poet-activist. He works to protect the natural world by writing poetry, public speaking and coordinating the Save Te Waikoropupū Springs Campaign. He has worked as a counsellor and spiritual companion and has a long-term interest in dreams and spirituality. His love of the wild beauty of Onetahua shines through these poems. The poetry is written in the form of a pilgrimage which begins at the Onetahua Marae and ends with the participants returning to Collingwood and an Onetahua Blessing.