My mother's father is from the Te Uriroroi in Poroti, where the watercress is fresh and the vibrance and intellectual rigour of my people is fresher. It is through Te Owai that we are connected to people across the Tai Tokerau. My grandmother is from NgāiTakoto. Our marae there is Paparore—you have to drive past Awanui, and if you don't drive fast enough, you will be pulled like a tractor beam into Hone Harawira's house for a cup of tea, because you've got to go past his house to get there.