e kō, nō hea koe?’ is my debut collection of poetry, written in my late teens/ early twenties, it is a series of goodbyes and failed attempts to slow the shedding, it’s a group of 15 year olds sparking up as they watch the pacific garbage patch catapult into space and become a second moon, it’s endless conversations with grandmama about stars, it is the constant rebirth of whakapapa and learning that my silence isn’t the best part of me.
Matariki Bennett is a 23 year old award-winning Slam Poet and Filmmaker. She released her first pukapuka, e kō, nō hea koe published by Dead Bird Books in May 2025. She is a founding member of Ngā Hinepūkōrero, a bilingual Wāhine Māori Slam Poetry Collective, who in 2021, were honoured with the Creative New Zealand Ngā Manu Pirere Award, recognising outstanding emerging Māori artists. In 2023, Matariki was the Wellington Poetry Slam Champion. Matariki co-wrote and co-directed, ‘Te Kohu’ (2022)’ and directed the short documentary, ‘Wind, Song and Rain (2022)’.
