Twin peaks
New Zealand Listener|March 11-17 2023
Two prominent South Auckland siblings have used art and academia to show what it means to be Māori.
COLLEEN BROWN
Twin peaks

People have always been fascinated by twins. I'm no exception. I was amused, charmed, and came away better educated after interviewing the very talented Borell twins in the Auckland suburb of Manurewa.

We sit at the kitchen table in the heart of their family home, looking out on to a vibrant deck covered with pots of greenery. And we talk. With twins, there is always a lot of talking.

Belinda, the older twin by two minutes, is the retiring one, according to her younger sibling, Nigel. It wasn't always that way. As children, Nigel was the reserved one and Belinda was "out there", he says.

Inevitably, there is banter, including some squabbling about iwi connections (Pirirakau, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Te Whakatōhea), but it's clear they still have each other's back and each is proud of the other's achievements.

Belinda has made her mark in health research and in academia, exploring cultural identity among South Auckland rangatahi for her master's thesis and, in 2018, completing a PhD examining privilege from an indigenous viewpoint.

Nigel is a well-known artist, museum curator (including a notable period at Toi O Tāmaki/Auckland Art Gallery) and Māori art advocate who was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2022.

For Belinda, the issue of her identity was tested early. At the age of five, she tried to join her first kapa haka group, but an older child challenged her, believing she was Pākehā. "My neighbour, who looked Mäori, stood up to her and said, 'No, she's Māori.' And in I went. This was the first time I understood my identity could be contested."

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NEW ZEALAND LISTENERView all
First-world problem
New Zealand Listener

First-world problem

Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Applying intelligence to AI
New Zealand Listener

Applying intelligence to AI

I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Nazism rears its head
New Zealand Listener

Nazism rears its head

Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Staying ahead of the game
New Zealand Listener

Staying ahead of the game

Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Grasping the nettle
New Zealand Listener

Grasping the nettle

Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Hangry? Eat breakfast
New Zealand Listener

Hangry? Eat breakfast

People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Chemical reaction
New Zealand Listener

Chemical reaction

Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Me and my guitar
New Zealand Listener

Me and my guitar

Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Time is on my side
New Zealand Listener

Time is on my side

Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?

time-read
7 mins  |
September 9, 2024
The kids are not alright
New Zealand Listener

The kids are not alright

Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024