Location: Waikanae. Which, turns out, is less random than it seems.

Type of site: Not what some people expect but too bad for them.

Condition: Imposter.

Scene: Mirror gazing.

I’ve been told I don’t look like I’m from Taranaki

that I don’t have that Taranaki look about me.

I don’t know what the Taranaki look, looks like.

I think I do look like Pirihira,

our hair falls from the top of our heads

in the shape of our mountain

I have Ani’s nose,

slightly too big for our faces

broad but not flat

I have my Grandad’s eyes,

round, moon eyes.

I’ve been told I don’t sound like

I’m from Taranaki,

that my reo has too many

“wh’s” and not enough soft “w’s”.

But my ancestor’s stories still

fall from my lips

and trip across my pages.

Even if I don’t sound,

like you want me to sound

I’ve been told I should go back

to where

my ancestors came from in Taranaki.

I don’t know where in Taranaki my ancestors came from

my Mum doesn’t know where in Taranaki my ancestors came from

I wonder if my Grandad knew where in Taranaki my ancestors came from

but we do know

where in Wellington

they came to

Te Aro Pa

and

we know their names

Sometimes I feel like I’m fake Taranaki

because my attitudes Hauitian

I move my hips like a Nāti

and my skin's pretty fair

I may not have a Taranaki look about me

I may not sound like I’m from Taranaki,

but I am.