Vol. 1 No. 1
Huirangi’s urging was for unification between the peoples of Taranaki, recognising and celebrating our commonalities and differences. Paddy recognised in Trevor the skills to support the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori (done so capably by others) by providing a forum for Māori, Pākehā and Tauiwi to express a uniquely Taranaki identity in Māori, English (and other languages by negotiation). The bumper first edition is a proof of concept. In true Taranaki gate style, it might not be the flashiest website at this stage, but it provides a showcase of the enormous literary talent in Taranaki. Trevor says: ‘in terms of latent potential and unrealised talent, we have only just scrapped the surface and all we need to is nurture this ecosystem and demand more from funders, patrons, and backers’. If we can publish two volumes on the smell of an oily rag, we can show others what is possible with adequate funding. By our reckoning, this is the first regional bilingual literature journal in New Zealand. We are proud it comes from right here: Taranaki. The next issue is: Vol.1, No.2, (December 2021) and submissions are now OPEN. Submission close: 30 September 2021, or when complete, whichever is the sooner.