People whose ancestors are not native to a country often underestimate the spiritual and cultural connection that indigenous inhabitants have to their traditional family lands. This melancholy story from Roderick Finlayson describes the disappointment and disillusionment of a city-based Maori man who takes advantage of a rare weekday off work to visit an uncle still living in his kainga (home village). He comes away with a great sense of loss, not only of his relationship with “home”, but also of his language. Themes: urbanization, connection (to family, land and culture); change (industrialization, land development), loss.
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