Puke

A takataapui verse epic that follows two atua waahine living their queer, poorhara lives on a giant Dead Fish

They first meet a million years ago, in the eruption of a volcano.

The second time, it’s in a liquor store: Hinenuitepo is buying a lighter for Mahuika; Hinemoana is picking up drinks.

Before long, they become entangled in rituals of mortality— love, hot chips, a carved bone strap-on, multiple evictions and a new puppy—all while holding down their duties as Death and the Sea.

But there is a great sickness rising in them both. The other atua have begun to disappear, and their world is slowly dying. Somewhere, an insidious power waits.

As the story shifts between our two lovers, Puke weaves a modern puuraakau of desire, decay and decolonisation.

‘Ranapiri exceeds expectations with their extraordinary third book. Death-sex, atua and taiao converge in an epic poem with a lover’s ache at its core. Puke is a mythopoetic waananga, a Rarohenga fever dream, a book that understands the stakes for te ao Māori are planetary.’ 
—Tru Paraha, poet and lecturer in Māori Literature at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

essa may ranapiri (Ngaati Raukawa, Ngaati Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngaati Awa, Ngaai Tai, takataapui, Clan Gunn) is a poet based on Ngaati Wairere whenua. Their books include ransack (2019) and ECHIDNA (2022), both longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. In 2023 they received the Janet Frame Poetry Award and the inaugural Keri Hulme Award, and in 2026 they were the Randell Cottage Fellow. They co-edit Kupu Toi Takataapui and were the featured writer in Poetry New Zealand Yearbook 2020. They love language, LAND BACK and hot chips. They will write until they’re dead.

Cover art: essa may ranapiri
Cover design: Todd Atticus