TE AO MĀORI | WHAKAKĀINGA / HOME
Written by Hirimaia Eketone (they/them) | @hiri_music | TE AO MĀORI EDITOR
To be honest, musicians and flatting don’t usually mix. Add on a touch of homesickness and a general shortage of te reo Māori speakers and you’re on the road to a complex Google search. Thinking about all the times I’ve searched for the perfect place—only to settle based on area or convenience—makes my head spin. I know I’m neither unique nor alone in this struggle and I am forever thankful that I have the means to pick an apartment or house to stay in. He ahakoa tēnei, I have hit the jackpot, moving into a space that not only has a beautiful studio for weekly use, wooden floors for my partner’s convenience, but is also home to two taahua Māori musicians who are making waves in the Aotearoa music scene. It is my pleasure today to introduce my brilliant flatmates and discuss why living in a house with musicians is a blessing (sound problems included.)
To the tāngata whenua, home is a place of belonging built on the foundations of trust and whanau. The absence of Te Reo Māori in my living spaces has sometimes made me feel idle, isolated and separate from the beauty of my culture. It is strange to walk the streets of Tāmaki Makarau and see a mixture of my reo on signs and posters with it never reaching my ears. Few countries but ours have the juxtaposition of a strong Indigenous presence that does not permeate the English language barrier. Meeting my new flatmates and settling in a place that embraces Māori and music, the two languages I feel most drawn to, has been a dream come true. I feel as if I’ve stumbled across a sacred taonga, with small interactions in te reo brightening my day and making me feel at home. Our new whare is brimming with talent, artistry and understanding. My flatmates, Hari and Cat, are both thriving in their areas, both strong Māori wahine making beautiful R&B/Pop/Rap music. So what is it truly like, to live amongst a bunch of noisemakers in a residential area?
Our flat runs very similarly to any regular flat, with a couple of key differences. Constant communication is a must, as we all want time in the studio and will often take turns making loud music at one end of the house. I’m not entirely sure how we’ve avoided noise control, but our neighbours seem to vibe with the loudspeaker pretty often, so that may be a contributing factor. We’ve had listening sessions where we share what we’re working on, which is a good way to bond and learn more about each other. Nothing like sharing the juicy lore on which ex you wrote which song about, amirite gang? A flat like this ensures that you have constant supporters, for music, gigs and inspiration. Living alongside people who make such a different genre of music to mine is great for when I get writer's block, as it means I have two live resources of new ideas and creativity. No one questions when you are in the studio until 2am, and no one asks you to quiet down or stop. Acceptance, the biggest key to my whare, isn’t listed on many Facebook Marketplace flat ads but is the most important factor in finding a place to live. You won’t always find a flat full of people doing the same thing you do, but you should lean towards those who exhibit the same values. There is nothing worse than feeling you have to tiptoe in your own home, and if you’re paying for the current housing rates, you deserve at least a little comfort.
All in all, you can’t always expect to get the perfect people and the perfect house. Flatting is a gamble, with the house almost always winning. I can promise you though, that the people you need to be with to thrive are out there, whether that be on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me, or the 99th group you’ve joined to try to find a match. It’s like a dating app, figuring out where you match and what you’re willing to give up to have a roof over your head. For my fellow indigenous folk, who are feeling a little homesick and experiencing the aforementioned cultural barrier, I encourage you to venture outside of your usual circles. Oftentimes the best things will find us in the most unexpected places.
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