The sound of waves crashing against the golden sand, the crowing of village roosters and palm trees swaying in the breeze are among the memories poet Henrietta Makatogia holds close to her heart. They are the sights and sounds that take her back home to Niue.
Born and raised in the village of Mutalau, Henrietta is one of eight poets featured in The Ocean Remembers, an anthology published through the Tala Series: Sharing Stories initiative, a partnership between Creative New Zealand and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Her poem, Moui Haaku/Daylight Breaks – My Life, draws on her experiences of growing up in Niue and adjusting to life in New Zealand, exploring how the places we come from continue to shape us, even as life takes us in new directions.
The differences between Niue and New Zealand are felt in Henrietta’s everyday life. In Niue, there was the land and sea to turn to, and food that could be planted or gathered. In New Zealand, life brought a different set of expectations.
“Back home, if you don’t have money, you just get to the land, you plant, you go to the sea,” says Henrietta.
Moving to New Zealand meant adapting to a new way of living, but it also gave Henrietta experiences she could draw on when putting her life into words.
“The real story behind my poem is about how you find life as you become somebody, but never to forget where you come from.”
Poetry was not something Henrietta had done before. Although creativity runs in her family, she describes herself as someone who tends to keep to herself. It was encouragement from her cousin that pushed her to step outside her comfort zone and contribute to the anthology.
With the deadline approaching, Henrietta was driving with her auntie when her cousin messaged to remind her the poem was due the following day.
As the van travelled along the motorway, she typed on her phone and wrote on paper, trying to get the words down before time ran out.
“My heart was pumping because I wanted to finish it so I could submit it on time. I didn't even realise the words that were coming to mind. When I was reading it properly, I was like, ‘Wow, this is good.’”
Having her poem published in Vagahau Niue was particularly meaningful. Henrietta is proud to share her language through stories that encourage others to read and learn.
“The language can only be spoken if you have the heart and you've really put an effort into it,” says Henrietta.
Having grown up with her grandparents in Niue, Henrietta says her roots in the language remain strong. When she needs to check a word or find the right meaning for a sentence, she turns to her family for help.
Her advice to young people wanting to strengthen their Vagahau Niue is to spend time with those who speak it. She encourages them to connect with older generations, ask questions and become involved in their local Niue communities.
“There's no limit to learning, especially with our Niuean language.”
The ocean remains at the heart of Henrietta’s poem. For her, the waves reflect the challenges people face, but also the good things they can take from those experiences.
“You take what you need, just like the waves. The waves can be really rough sometimes. But we have people there that can help us.”
New Zealand has brought Henrietta new experiences and opportunities, but there are still times when she misses home. When those feelings arise, she returns to her poem and the memories of her childhood in Niue.
“Sometimes I really miss home and when I do, I always go back and think about the poem that I wrote. Because it reminds me of my childhood. The waves take you in and out but you still come to the same place, you know, at the end of the reef is the same reef you were born in – it reminds me of home.”