Nafanua Purcell Kersel



‘Carry the sound of all the people we come from’: Nafanua Purcell Kersel in conversation with Anne-Marie Te Whiu

In 2019, I found myself in a classroom at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington sitting alongside 15 other Māori and Pasifika writers doing the CREW 256 course, led by Victor Rodger. One of those students whose writing stopped me in my tracks was Nafanua Purcell Kersel. Our shared journey to publication sings synchronicities in terms of timing and our chosen artist for the cover design of our debut poetry collections. Both of us unknowingly selected pieces by the remarkable artist, Momoe i manu ae ala atea’e Tasker.

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Moana Pōetics

We build a safe around our birth stones crafted from a dream, a gourd, a drum–made chant. Pile it high with frigate bird bones, song bones, bones of cherished names. We rub sinnet along our thighs and lash our cache. …

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