’Ngaroimata Palmer Winiata’s house has already become a landmark. ‘You know, the one with the big Maori flag flying over it.’ Comments have varied, although at least the one the recent arrival has heard have been quite positive. ‘Of course for some of our younger people, those that have learnt about our history and where we have come from and where we are going, it is a sign of identity. It says that we are a people that are as unique as our cultural heritage is. But I’ve even had pakeha people ask me where to get one.”

“The colours of the flag represent who we are. The red is our connection to the earth, to mother earth – papatuanuku. The white represents te aomarama – the world of light. And te po, the black, is the darkness of the void. From the darkness into the light – that represents creation and where we are today. Like an idea that is coming to fruition.”  Roimata explained patiently.

Roimata had left a job as qualified archivist at the Auckland Museum to move back to Great Barrier Island with her children. She had lived on the island for several years a decade or so ago, but after many years away suddenly decided that the island would be good for her family and within a fortnight arrived in Tryphena.

She has brought with her a strong sense of belonging to her iwi, the Ngatiwai Ki Aotea to which the local Ngati Rehua belong. ‘It comes from growing up with our people on a Marae, it comes from our turangawaewae. You see, you don’t have that word in English. It means to stand where you belong, where you are part of the mana whenua, the people of that land. You know, that is what it means.’

While she chose to move to the south end of the island, to a part of Tryphena which is not far from the school her children are going to, Roimata is still very much part of the community that is centred around Katherine Bay. Recently arrived on the island, she has already begun to do her bit for the Marae up north at Motairehe. As Communications Officer, she will be helping the island Maori community and the well-equipped Marae to offer their support to community groups and initiatives. ‘We have got many things to offer so we want to invite others to take advantage of that.’

One such project the Marae is facilitating is a weekend course on Iwi Environmental Management and Trusteeship which will be held over the next 8 months with tutors from the Wananga o Aotearoa, the University of New Zealand with participants already signed up from all over the island. Anybody who would like to know more should call Matairahe Marae on 790.

 

 

The day I photographed Ekrem Lalanci in front of the ship on which he was the engineer, was his last day on the Barrier journey before heading back home to Turkey. So I took him for a run about the harbour before bringing him home for lunch and a chat.

‘You know, some scenes remind me of home, the Mediterranean coast around Izmir. Sometimes when we enter Fitzroy Inlet and pass through the Broken Islands, there is a stand of pine trees that takes me right back to South-West Turkey where island life has certain parallels.’

Ever since Ekrem had qualified with a New Zealand seafarers ticket as “2^nd Mate – Foreign-going” and joined Subritzky two years ago, he had hoped he would get a chance to follow Peter Blake whom he had seen visit the island on a television documentary.

‘The island run is more interesting. Not only is the weather never boring - Coleville Channel can be rough, but also the passengers are very interesting.” Bach owners and tourists are excited about getting away from the city and the local residents can also be recognised easily, Ekrem explained. ‘They are the ones to whom appearance is not very important and no one is trying to show off. They are more relaxed, but always seem very happy to get back to the island.”

Ekrem will try to explain about Great Barrier Island when he gets back home. ‘I suppose I tell them Great Barrier is how New Zealand used to be. Or maybe I compare it to some of the islands around our coast ..” After six years in New Zealand, he looked forward to retuning home and introducing his Kiwi partner to the Turkish Mediterranean.