Poetic Expressions of Whakapapa

Curated by Dr Marama Salsano

Genealogies and layers of things and people (human, non-human and beyond-human kin) are steeped in the landscapes of Kirikiriroa Hamilton.

In this free event, six exceptional local poets share creative work and stories that connect them to layers of ancestors and landscapes, sometimes recognisable and at other times more obscure.

Presented as part of HamLit26, Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa, with special thanks to Grassroots Trust, Hamilton City Council, Creative Communities Scheme and Poppies Book Store.

Seating provided

Dr Marama Salsano

Dr Marama Salsano is a Kirikiriroa-based writer-scholar, editor, and multidisciplinary artist of Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, and Ngāti Wairere descent. As a Kairangahau Matua, Marama researches at the intersection of Māori and Indigenous Literary Studies, creative writing, and toi Māori; her critical and creative work has been published nationally and internationally in various anthologies and journals.

Dr Cassandra Barnett (Raukawa, Ngāti Huri, she/her/they/them/ia) writes poetry, essays and short fiction about indigenous, queer and ecological futures. Recent publications include the chapbooks Te Whakaora (with Kelly Joseph) and How | Hao, the fictocritical catalogue essay 'Taken In' for Huarere (Te Tuhi), and a co-edited book (with Kura Te Waru-Rewiri) of Māori art pedagogies, Ki Mua, Ki Muri. Cassandra also creates handmade books and visual poetry, runs writing and zinemaking workshops, and teaches about Māori histories, ecologies, art and taonga. She is currently working on a book of rāhui poetry and another of short stories.

Last year was Sam Clunie's final year at Hamilton Girls' High School. She discovered slam poetry in her year 9 English class and in 2024, she won the Kirikiriroa Poetry Slam championship. Sam loves to incorporate her Māori whakapapa - her culture and her reo - into her poetry. She loves all things creative and performing and she cannot wait to share her work at HamLit.

Hāwea Apiata (Ngāti Kura, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Toarangatira) is a Waikato-based writer and curator. His storytelling is informed by a commitment to land, language, and lineage. Te reo Māori is central to his writing practice, with much of his writing being either bilingual or solely in te reo rangatira. He completed an MA in Māori-language literature at the University of Waikato and his writing has been published in a range of journals and anthologies both in Aotearoa and overseas. He currently holds the Samoa House Library Residency, for which he is working on a collection of short dark-fiction (horror) written in te reo Māori.

Rahera and Matawai Solomon are regional poetry slam champions from Kirikiriroa, married partners and parents, and co-directors of Hine Pūrākau - a kaupapa focused on communication, performative storytelling, and creative expression grounded in whakapapa. Together they weave poetry, dialogue, and tikanga into spaces that uplift community voices and strengthen connection through story.

Nadia Solomon (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāpuhi) is a creative writer, poet, and a professional yapper. She has been a panellist, interviewer and performer at writers festivals and art events and was a 2023 Verb Wellington micro-residency recipient. As a survivor of the mental health system, Nadia is passionate about systemic change, and community care. Nadia is an active committee member for Te Hā o Ngā Pou Kaituhi Māori, a zine maker and a barista. She is a co-founder and host of Kirikiriroa Open Mic, a space for Waikato artists to share and connect. Connect with her at: @the.dehydrated.poet.society @nadia_hineaorangi_rose @kirikiriroa_open_mic