TANGI by Witi Ihimaera

The first novel by a Maori author published stands the test of time

When I travel, I like to pick up novels from local authors and in October 2023, when I was in Queenstown, New Zealand, I picked up Tangi by Witi Ihimaera. This novel was first released in 1973 and was the first mainstream novel published by a Maori author.

Tangi started it’s life as a short story and this 50th Anniversary edition is it’s third rewrite since. Ihimaera believes his novels can always be improved upon, even after publication.

The story is told through the eyes of Tama, a young Maori man of about 20 years, who returns to his home upon the death of his father, Rongo. The novel tells the story of Tama living in Wellington and receiving mainstream New Zealand education, while maintaining his connections to whānau (family) outside of Gisborne. As the eldest son, Tama has obligations to fulfill to his family, both immediate and extended, and you can sense the internal conflict he feels as he wants to pursue the possibilities of life beyond his traditional lands.

Ihimaera is a legend in New Zealand and it’s easy to see why. This novel is truly one of the most beautiful I’ve ever read. There is a lot of Maori language in it, which I loved - I know a few phrases and, in the context provided, I felt I had a good idea of what was being spoken. I have a special affection for Maori culture, having grown up with a very special Maori woman in my life, a close friend of my mother, who embraced us as part of her whānau. I took my time reading this, and often as I closed a chapter, I would hold the book against my heart and let it seep through into me.

Tangi is a story of family, patriarchal and matriarchal. Of conflict between traditional culture and emerging modernity. Of coming-of-age. Quite simply, it is sublime.

On that same trip to New Zealand, I bought The Bone Tree by Airana Ngarewa, the review for which is here.

It is my view that, for a nation of just over five million people, New Zealand might just be the biggest overachiever of them all. Whether it is music, literature, sport, academia or just being bloody lovely people, Kiwis punch well above their weight range. I absolutely love it there and am forever inspired by the talent that little 🔊 Slice of Heaven 🔊 cultivates.

If you haven’t taken time to explore some great literature from across the ditch, do it - you won’t regret it.