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Creative Response: Hana Buchanan




Hana Buchanan (Ngāti Haumia ki Te Aro, Taranaki iwi, Te Atiawa, Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika) is a tangata toikupu - poet, kaikaranga, kaitito waiata - living and writing from her ancestral lands in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Her toikupu-poetry collection Kupu Whenua comes into te ao marama soon through publication with Steele Roberts, 29 March 2026.




he kanikani rangi – dancing in the skies


in the first hour of the performance arcade 2026

a karakia rises from the stage —

each kupu encapsulated in its own air pocket and

carried across the takiwā of Te Aro —

a balme for those who receive


in the first hour of the performance arcade 2026

a gathering energy, a culmination, a coming together,

an anticipation —

hā ki roto nei…. kuku te manawa

breathe in…. hold, hold, hold


Te Kahureremoa performed on Wednesday evening.
Te Kahureremoa performed on Wednesday evening.

te tangi a kōauau

te kōrero a kōhatu

te tātākī a pīwakawaka mā

te reo tawhito, nō te kōpū i ahu mai


in the first hour of the performance arcade 2026

we are blessed by taonga pūoro —

hā ki waho —

we exhale…. long, slow and deep


in the first hour of the performance arcade 2026

a shark-formed-in-cloud floats above us

a magenta light illuminates the pōhutukawa

a single leaf settles amongst blades of grass in motion

seagulls glide and soar

our Tamatea moon glows—


expect the unexpected


PA2026 —

he nohoanga whenua

he haerenga moana

he kanikani rangi


rooted in this land

travelling the oceans

dancing in the skies

 


nā Hana Buchanan i tito (25-27 Huitanguru 2026) composed by Hana Buchanan for the Performance Arcade 2026




 
 
 

12 Comments


syna
a day ago

Really interesting take. I’ve been exploring relationship astrology tools like synastrychart lately—it’s fascinating how two birth charts interact.

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Nu Chuppy
Aug 24

Hana's insights on creativity in "Slope Run" are fascinating! How do you see her approach influencing other fields like education or community art projects? Would love to hear more thoughts on this!

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This page is a good example of how a single person can curate a meaningful set of online resources. The focus on self-hosting, open-source software, and free services is complemented by a forum and some small utilities, which adds a community feel. I'd suggest checking the open-source and free tools overview if you're starting a similar project.

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Kaylo
Aug 10

Thank you for creating such a detailed and easy to understand guide. There are plenty of articles online about pin download tools, but very few explain the process this clearly. Everything worked perfectly when I followed your instructions. I'll definitely recommend this page to anyone looking for a reliable solution.

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mary coca
mary coca
Jul 23

This interplay reminds me of the experience of playing tiny fishing: everything requires a pause, a moment of relaxation, and patience. Like casting a fishing line into deep water to await the unexpected, the poem releases each lyric (kupu) into the space, silent yet full of emotion. Sometimes, amidst the hustle and bustle of life, all we need is a deep breath—and a moment to let ourselves be carried away by that gentle rhythm.

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Supported by: NZ Community Trust, Pub Charity, Four Winds Foundation, Lion Foundation, Grouse Lighting, Streamliner Productions, Toi Whakaari O Aotearoa NZ Drama School. 

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Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, 2011–2025

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