Crushers
New Zealand Listener|January 20 - 26 2024
Ever since the conversation a few days ago, Pam had avoided Nīkau. “You know some people claim to be indigenous just to get the benefits,” Pam had said, just out of Glow’s earshot.
EMMA HISLOP
Crushers

Nīkau was used to people failing to recognise she was Māori. Pam was from WA. It was the night of the writers festival meet and greet and the culmination of the monthlong residency.

When Nīkau said, “You don’t really know that, do you?” Pam fixed Nīkau with a narrow stare and said, “Oh, I know, all right.”

Nīkau and Glow took their bourbons back outside the hotel and watched a few cockatoos screech overhead, their yellow tails catching the last of the sun, their white wings stretched wide.

Shelley texted from Ōtepoti. R U near the fires e hoa?

“Are we?” Nīkau said. The silk shirt Nīkau had borrowed off Glow was already sticking to her back with sweat. Nīkau wasn’t planning on coming tonight but when Glow came out of her bathroom looking bougie and glamorous in a shimmery red pantsuit, Nīkau had closed the bank statement on her phone. Hopefully, the meal was part of the gratuities. Her landlord had recently put the rent up again.

Glow shrugged. “Nah, Uncle said the weather’s cooling down.” There was always wildfire raging somewhere, Glow said. Nīkau could sleep on her sofa if need be. Glow knew how to dance through fire. But Glow was a Bundjalung woman.

There were people standing in the foyer. Everyone was dressed up, but looked settled in themselves. The air was heavy with perfume. Glow was pulled away; she was needed. Why couldn’t they leave her alone? Glow sometimes joked she was the right kind of diversity. Nīkau recognised the mayor from the event posters that were around town. Her salary had paid for Nīkau’s trip to Australia. The woman’s eyes flicked across Nīkau’s face, then away. She started scribbling notes on a piece of paper with a sparkly pen. Now didn’t seem like the time to thank her.

Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin January 20 - 26 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

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

Bu hikaye New Zealand Listener dergisinin January 20 - 26 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.

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

NEW ZEALAND LISTENER DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
A hint of mermaids
New Zealand Listener

A hint of mermaids

Erin Palmisano's latest novel once again has food and romance at the heart of its well-plotted story.

time-read
2 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
Execution over innovation
New Zealand Listener

Execution over innovation

Big and bold ideas are fine, but being the best beats being first.

time-read
2 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
Something's wrong with all of them
New Zealand Listener

Something's wrong with all of them

Engaging dissection of the 20th-century novel likely to send the reader in search for the book under discussion.

time-read
5 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
Cell warfare
New Zealand Listener

Cell warfare

A NZ trial using immunotherapy to beat a form of blood cancer is expanding after promising results – and it's hoped the 'gold standard' treatment will soon be widely available.

time-read
10+ dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
The virus that stole all the smells
New Zealand Listener

The virus that stole all the smells

In this edited extract from The Forgotten Sense, Jonas Olofsson traces the rise in anosmia as a result of Covid-19 infections.

time-read
4 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
When caring is ‘woke'
New Zealand Listener

When caring is ‘woke'

Some years ago, I sat in a small plane circling over Punta del Este in Uruguay. There was a delay and we sat in tense silence until we began our descent. Outside the tiny airport, a taxi ferried us past private Lear jets; these had been the cause of the hold-up. The driver pointed to two planes side by side. \"This one is a Trump plane.\"

time-read
2 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
Getting along swimmingly
New Zealand Listener

Getting along swimmingly

The presenters of Endangered Species Aotearoa spend a fair bit of time on and in the water in the second season.

time-read
4 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
That clingy feeling
New Zealand Listener

That clingy feeling

Our pets display the same types of attachment behaviours as we do, or so it seems.

time-read
2 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
The famous furred
New Zealand Listener

The famous furred

A peaceful little spot in LA is the final resting place for the pets of some of Hollywood's biggest names.

time-read
4 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025
Gone girl
New Zealand Listener

Gone girl

She wandered in on Thursday morning looking very wan, and climbed into her bed. I sat on the edge and stroked her back.

time-read
2 dak  |
March 1-7, 2025