Mettle

A remarkable and impressive debut collection of poems that speak to the complexity of family, identity and the proud legacy of Maori language and culture.

'Te Whiu's poetic voice is bright, and new. As well as vividly poetic storytelling the humour here is mordant ... in the best spirit of a bustling diverse indigenous poetics, it excels' - Robert Sullivan

The poetic visions of Mettle echo through past and present lives - memories are recorded and futures imagined. Te Whiu draws on stories from her childhood and a lifetime of listening and learning about her whakapapa (Maori lineage).

This exceptional collection resounds with strength - a mettle that ripples not just through Te Whiu's own life but that of her ancestral family. Her moving, graceful poems are a lens through which to look 'now' straight in the face, without shame or fear, and to acknowledge that while trauma is transmitted generationally, so too are the gifts of resilience and fortitude.

'A stunning debut, threading land, ocean and heart together in an expansive Maori tapestry that speaks to our present, shared moment. Mettle is alive with ancient knowing, breathing possibilities into every line. An outstanding read.' - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson