Interview: Madi Williams talks about Ngāti Kuia: He Pūtake, Hei Pakiaka Ora

Dr Madi Williams (Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Kōata, Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Rangitāne o Wairau) is a senior lecturer at Aotahi – School of Māori and Indigenous Studies at the University of Canterbury, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha. She completed her doctorate on Ngāti Kuia in 2021 at the University of Canterbury and is the author of Polynesia, 900–1600: An Overview of the History of Aotearoa, Rēkohu, and Rapa Nui (Canterbury University Press, 2021). Madi talks to NZ Booklovers.

Tell us a little about Ngāti Kuia: He Pūtake, Hei Pakiaka Ora.

Ngāti Kuia are an iwi from Te Tauihu-o-te-Waka-a-Māui, and the book offers a Ngāti Kuia perspective of the iwi’s history. Ngāti Kuia have often been left out of existing historical narratives, and what is included is often incorrect. The book aims to correct the misinformation and provide Ngāti Kuia histories in Ngāti Kuia voices. It tells the stories of Ngāti Kuia from Hawaiki to the present day.

What inspired you to write this book?

The book arose from my PhD thesis, which I completed in 2021 at the University of Canterbury. I wanted to create a resource that Ngāti Kuia whānau could access more easily than a thesis and reach a wider audience. I was lucky enough to receive a Judith Binney Trust Writing Award to help with the process.

As I was researching and writing my thesis, I was learning the rich histories of the iwi and Te Tauihu more broadly. I say in the preface that ‘Through working on the thesis and its adaptation into this book, I made a map home for myself. I hope this work serves as a map home for others.’ That sums it up really well – I wanted to offer a resource for others to learn more about our rich histories and to put a Ngāti Kuia perspective in the historical record. 

What research was involved?

The research was quite varied. Our history has been described as ‘one huge jigsaw puzzle’, so it was a process of locating the pieces and trying to piece them together.  

One of my main sources is a manuscript by Percy Smith from the early 20^th century, in which he spoke with a Ngāti Kuia expert, Eruera Wirihana Pākauwera. Together they recorded hundreds of waiata, karakia, and pūrākau. Te reo Māori experts from Ngāti Kuia have worked on the manuscript, and I was lucky enough to have their help creating additional translations for this book. I also interviewed some of our tribal experts, including Dr Peter Meihana and Mark Moses. Other key sources I looked at were whakapapa manuscripts, ethnographers’ work, government documents, tīpuna petitions and letters, Waitangi Tribunal and Treaty Settlement material.

What was your routine or process when writing this book?

Where possible, I try to schedule ‘writing days’ when I’m not teaching and don’t have hui. I find it much easier to focus on writing when I can really get into it with no interruptions. My best writing hours are from around 8am to 2pm – I am definitely not a late-night writer! I also try to have the majority of the research for a chapter done before I begin writing, so it’s often a long time before I begin writing on a kaupapa.

Turning the thesis into a book was an interesting process. In some ways, writing from scratch is easier. Some chapters were heavily edited versions of thesis sections, while others were not in the thesis at all. The chapter on the Whakatau Pōtiki pūrākau was new to the book, as was the discussion of the Foreshore and Seabed Case.

What did you enjoy the most about writing Ngāti Kuia?

I loved immersing myself in the histories of my people and learning so much in the process. My favourite parts to research and write were the pūrākau chapters, which are just so full of mātauranga and endlessly fascinating to me. It was such a privilege to do this mahi, and I don’t take that for granted. I am living my dream researching and writing on our histories. I also loved working with the team at Auckland University Press; it was so helpful to have their expertise and support in making the book turn out so well.

What do you hope readers will take away from reading your book?

I hope readers get to see the rich and varied histories of Te Tauihu and the importance of iwi histories in general. Even though the book focuses on Ngāti Kuia, by looking at the iwi’s history, we learn more about Aotearoa's history more broadly, too. Most importantly, I hope the reader sees the strength and agency of Ngāti Kuia tīpuna across the generations.

What did you do to celebrate finishing this book?

I haven’t actually celebrated as such yet – I think I just had the rest of the day off once it was sent in. There are so many stages to getting a book finalised that it never quite felt real until now. The real celebration will be at the official launch with whānau in Te Tauihu in July.

What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?

That’s a hard question! I have just finished The Mires by Tina Makereti, which I absolutely loved and devoured. It was such a relatable and confronting story for the times we are living in, yet beautiful and inspiring at the same time. Prior to that, I read Monty Soutar’s two Kāwai novels, which were also amazing. It’s wonderful having such thoroughly researched historical fiction novels – I’m a big advocate for the importance of narrative in telling history.

What’s next on the agenda for you?

I am currently working on a book about Taniwha with my colleague Dr Kirsty Dunn. We received a Marsden Fast Start Grant for the kaupapa in 2023. We’ve been researching for the past couple of years and are now in the writing stage, so that has been my main focus recently.

Auckland University Press