NGUTU PĀ

Ngutu Pā as a fragrance is extremely deep, earthy, animalistic, and complex.  It arrives with an other worldly, bodily presence, then, once the liquid becomes one with the wearer it smoothes.  Joining the Ngutu Pā extrait de parfum range is an exclusive uku vessel made in collaboration with Esther (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pukenga, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Pakeha) of Thea Ceramics, who are based on Waiheke Island. A special uku (clay) has been gathered for this project, from Rangihoua on Waiheke.  This project is about connection; embracing of bodies, water, and land.  Rangihoua is a ridgeline which moves into an Awa, under Putiki o Kahu-moemoe te maunga, running into Putiki bay and Tikapa Moana.

Deeply inspired by sensual tales from tawhito Māori pūrakāu, Tiffany Witehira accompanies Ngutu Pā with the poem, ‘I like my body when it is with your….’ by E.E Cummings, translated for Ngutu Pā, by the formidable Māori language tutor, consultant, certified translator, script writer and editor, Te Haumihiata Mason (Ngāi Tuhoe, Ngāti Pango,Te Arawa).

Uma ki te uma, pito ki te pito, kūhā ki te kūhā
He mea tauhou ki a au.
He uaua ka āhuareka, he io ka reka kē atu.
He tinana pai tōu. He mahi pai tāna.
Ōna āhua katoa. Kia rere aku ringa ki tōna tuaroa, ki ōna koiwi,
Tinana arohaki, karengo kau e tahuri atu ai au
Ka tahi, ka rua, ka toru, ka whā
Te pānga atu ō ngutu, ki hea, ki hea ake ōu,

Ka rawe te mirimiri i tō puke huruhuru, ō huru whakahiko-
Kua paratī mai, i ngā kūhā wherawhera…

he maramara nui no te aroha kei te kamo.
Whakahiamo ana
Ko au ki runga, ko koe ki raro
Tauhou ana

‘I like my body when it is with your…’ by E. E. Cummings
Translated by Te Haumihiata Mason.

Ngutu Pā is available from the Curionoir perfumery, and select retailers from December 1st.