Poorhara

by Michelle Rahurahu

A tragicomedy set in the confines of a 1994 Daihatsu Mira, Poorhara is a journey of epic proportions—a poignant, expansive and darkly funny first novel written by a true poorhara

ERIN can hear the whaanau whispering, and they won’t tell her why. She’s ditched school to help her aunty clean houses—even though she has a full-time job looking after all the moko. But no one cares, and soon she will be picked clean, like the bones in her maamaa’s bedroom.

STAR is home for the first time in years, and he’s worn the same clothes for days. Everything feels unfamiliar: the karakia, his nephews, the house that he grew up in. He’s too scared to tell his family that he’s bombing back at uni. And the past is an affliction, a gently rising tide.

It is 178 years after colonisation. Together, the cousins escape. Free-wheeling across the countryside in a car without a warrant, they cast their net widely. Their family mythologies, heartaches and rifts will surface, and among it the glint of possibility: a return to the whenua where it all began.

Genres: Fiction, Queer, Contemporary

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Michelle Rahurahu (Ngaati Rahurahu, Ngaati Tahu-Ngaati Whaoa) is a writer who was raised by taangata turi. She was a co-editor of Te Rito o te Harakeke, an anthology of Maaori voices for Ihumaatao. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from the IIML, where she won the Modern Letters Fiction Prize, and was shortlisted for the Michael Gifkins Prize for Poorhara.

Reviews

[Zachary Ngow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book! My 50th book this year on this app. Woohoo! Not sure what to write here since I just finished it and I am getting sleepy now 😴

Star and Erin reunite at their Koro's birthday at Erin's packed house, are foisted with a dog and go on a journey together. This physical journey represents the spiritual journey that they are undertaking, to repair themselves being a part of a hurt family. They face many problems along the way but it is their (very sweet) relationship that keeps them together.

I loved the structure: a main narrative in titled chapters is fragmented by texts between the two characters. Erin's texts are a bit annoying but that's the point, she is a teenager... I like when chapters have titles especially when they have some sort of rhetorical meaning (THERE IS FOOD AT THE END OF MY HANDS). There is also a story about rarauhe (bracken) that represents how the family was broken by colonization.

The writing is good. I especially liked the descriptions of the whare, a claustrophobic, breathing (if decaying) creature. I thought the dialogue was really strong too.

Admittedly I haven't read as many recent books as I would like to, but this is one that really feels deeply real(ist). Later on the characters break the fourth wall by talking about 'gritty realism'. That was sort of jolting and the only time I realised I was reading a book. It's very immersive.

Watching keenly to see what comes next from Michelle Rahurahu 👁️

[Michelle Campbell · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unrelenting tale - I found this book tiresome. There’s something a bit “American fiction” about the book, a perfect candidate for a round of sad Maori story bingo. It has it all;
-rape
-child abuse
-self harm
-suicide
-animal abuse
-racism
Yada yada…another grim tale that paints our culture in abject poverty and hardship that should probably come with a trigger warning. I was waiting for the story to arch with some uplifting prose to break up the monotony of the truisms, or humour which seems to begin and die with the line “hangi pants”.
Seriously I feel like I’ve read this story 40 times over. What is it with this incessant trauma baiting using Maori characters?
Far from a recent Kete review that believes this book is-
“essential for its portrayal of cultural identity, intergenerational trauma, and the resilience required to keep fighting.“
This book just straight up smacks of Māori tropes and without humour or character swagger reading becomes a chore

[Ella Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad gripping and insightful

[Chris Weasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed every chapter of this gritty, honest Aotearoa story filled with Māoridom culture; the beauty and the struggles of life for the lead characters on their road trip to small town Aotearoa uI didn't want the road trip to end. I will say this is the first time I've seen a book not use macrons and instead double letters like "Maaori" instead of Māori and this threw me off with my already limited Reo. also no speech marks i.e "Let's go" , instead was -let's go, which had me sometimes confused as to who was speaking, not really a complaint I just haven't seen it before.

[Geena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so heartbreaking yet witty all at once. The part I enjoy the most about the story is that instead of being a narrative about poor outcomes for pākeha audiences to go, 'Aw man, that sucks', the story fleshes out each character and draws out the role of colonisation today. It moves the audience from sympathy to empathy. I also enjoyed the string of anger underlining the text, where Erin would constantly point out the issues around stolen land. The book never attempts to make pākeha audiences comfortable in their privilege or to cater towards their gaze. Another example of this is that Te Reo is never translated into English, which I thought was quite a cool element (if your Te Reo language skills aren't great, there are subpar Google translations and context clues, so don't let this deter you!).

The dialogue felt natural, like I was listening into someone else' conversation. I could easily see this text translated to a play because of how fast-paced and fun the conversations were.

While I loved the novel, I find it hard to recommend to my friends because of how much I loved the characters and how much my heart was constantly broken. It was worth the journey however -- it transformed an experience of colonialism into something tangible, witty and heartbreaking all at once. I'm looking forward to whatever Michelle Rahurahu produces next!

[Jessica Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say I didn’t love this book, yet I couldn’t put it down. I think the reality is that this book made me confront some serious white privilege; I was screaming internally at the characters to get their shit together while needing to accept that maybe they actually weren’t capable. If you’re looking for a happy ending, this is not the book for you. It’s the novel form of Brett and Jermaine’s show pitch: “the story of two guys who start at the bottom with a lot of hard work continue along the bottom and finally end up at the bottom”. As a friend of mine said when I complained about wanting to both praise and berate the novel, “there is so much murky shit in reality but don’t you think the sign of a good book is to stir up a range of emotions?” If you’re in the headspace for a tragicomedy then give it a go, but please note it should come with a plethora of content warnings!!

[Daisy Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Game-changing. For me this was a fresh take on the stuff we Pākehā tend to read/think/share about colonisation. It makes the very effective (read: heartbreaking) point that nothing's easily fixed, and that very little of what we actually do is directly helpful - even when we're sympathetic white lefties. In talking about colonisation, we're talking about historical crimes we still can't comprehend the magnitude of: because of the colour of our skin; because of the way we grew up; because it would be horrifying to truly engage with this fact our whole country is built on. Poorhara invites us - compels us - to engage.

It's also exceptionally well-written: spare, funny and poignant in equal measure, opening our eyes while inspiring our empathy.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two cousins escape their everyday lives for a while in a journey of discovery... but what are they escaping from and what are they escaping to and is it even realistic.
An intriguing debut novel which feels very current and realistic and scrapes below the surface of what life is like for those caught between two (or more) worlds, trying to live up to expectations or create their own place in the world outside of those expectations.
Sometimes I had to slow down reading this, especially as I am obviously far too old to decipher some of the text talk (but that's on me and it does add a unique element to the writing). It packs a punch and a message without shouting it out loud explicitly. It was really helpful to read some of the author interviews to enhance the reading experience.

[Kate Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story but it probably isn’t something for everyone unfortunately. In my mind I think it is something everyone should read. It provides reason for empathy. I struggled with the Te Reo to begin with because I am used to the use of macrons rather than double vowels. Not that I am at all proficient in the language but I know enough to pick up threads. I really struggled with the random text language. I had to re-read them over and over to understand them and you needed to because they were such an integral part of the story. I liked the character’s reasoning for texting that way - her own language - but it made hard going for me as the story reader. A heart warming but also incredibly sad story.

[Stella Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story is incredibly well written, with exceptional characters than draw you into the lives of this whaanau and their grim history. i did find some parts quite difficult to fully grasp, but i commend Michelle Rahurahu on her ability to perfectly encapsulate both Erin and Whetuu/Star’s emotional experiences that baseline from aspects of intergenerational trauma - only fully revealed in the final moments of the story. the ending was disappointing for me, i would have loved to get a better insight into Star and Erin’s future.

[Katie Glasgow-Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s like a once were warriors of the 2020s, but more strong themes of class and the relentless intensifying crushing of poverty and class.

Really liked it but it got super intense by the end, which I enjoyed as a strong message of “Hey we can’t ignore this shit without it festering and threatening to end us”

Loved the bastardised English versions of famous whakatauki as the chapter titles, and the kitsch of Kiwiana plastic trash scattered throughout

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would. I thought it would be more of a difficult read - and it does traverse difficult and uncomfortable topics but the main characters Whetuu / Star and Erin somehow carry the story in such a way that gives you hope. It's written with compassion and empathy for the flawed characters of this novel.

[Emma Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book that discovers the raw emotions and impacts of generational trauma, colonisation and poverty. I found myself bound to it, unable to put it down, yet also constantly held captive by the discomfort of the bleak world the main characters faced.

[Josiah Morgan]

Review to come for Bad Apple.

[Anne Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very moving. A sad tale of the experience of some Maori in NZ

[Carly Vevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Ashley Lamont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional read - you get to truly care for & about the characters (even if the life they lead is different from yours).

I would not enjoy being an Ockham Book Awards judge this year...

[Veronica Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the theme of self discovery and the authenticness of the characters. Struggled with the txt language but enjoyed the challenge!!!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gruelling.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, depressing, realistic, worh reading. Excellent debut.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it. It gives a realistic feel of gritty hard life in NZ. It is an odyssey among family members. All Māori and all finding life tough. But their families support them.

[DD L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the storytelling throughout the whole book

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a pretty read, but I enjoyed it.

[Chris Tottenham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Original, clever and a genius all rolled into one from a young writer who never lost faith in her story and reworked on it.

Looking forward to the next book as soon as it comes out. Well done Michelle, you're the star of the future.
(any NZSL stories I am happy to contribute for your next manuscript if you like)

Happy New Year for 2026 and happy writing!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tender, relatable, and heart-breaking.