15 Comments
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Grace Iwashita-Taylor's avatar

you deserve it all uso ❤️‍🔥

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Thanks darling uso xox

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VS's avatar

Love this, and yes, weird we exist in English only hubris laden bubble.

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laure lamason's avatar

Mīharo Tusiata!

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Morrinjrout's avatar

You’ve always been a rockstar to us but I’m thrilled you’ve had the full experience - you look so vibrant and happy in the photo X

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Thanks Morrin, you are a sweetheart. After my rockstar moment I’ve spent a lot of time in bed having seizures galore. I don’t know if the universe is trying to teach me some kind of monk like acceptance of all states of being, or what! BIggest congrats to you on your Kings Birthday award, well deserved! Hope you are out there rocking that medal xox

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Irene Webley's avatar

Your courage continues to amaze me - congratulations - so glad you had such a warm and wonderful listening and response to your poetry. Thanks too for sharing your experience of this amazing festival.

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Thanks Irene, so lovely of you. x

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Lynn V's avatar

Wow it looks and sounds amazing! So glad you are there, fabulous

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Dominic Blaazer's avatar

This post has brought me so much joy, in a windswept, class-conscious, tennis-obsessed London. You highlight so perfectly without even saying it how low a value we put on poetry in Aotearoa (or NZ for ACT).

I would love to know what you read for the audience, please?

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Hola Dominic, I so glad you enjoyed my post. I read My Dog (from Wild Dogs Under My Skirt), I Cannot Write a Poem about Gaza (from Fale Aitu/ Spirit House) and 250th Anniversary of James Cook’s Arrival IN New Zealand (from The Savage Coloniser Book).

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Rebecca Bayliss's avatar

You looked resplendent on stage - rock star poet and hardcore Aranui girl at the same time. You are so brave and so magnificent. You so deserved this ❤️

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Thanks so much Rebecca, it's been a crazy old time swinging from these moments of rock-star-ness to languishing in my room with a bunch of seizures. But, life, ay?

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Merissa Foryani's avatar

God how fabulous. Go you, rockstar goddess. ❤️💐🎉

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Tusiata Avia's avatar

Thanks Merissa xx

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