We Are Babies and Unity Books would like to welcome you to the launch of Nicole Titihuia Hawkins' debut poetry collection, Whai. Nau mai, haere mai.

Whai introduces the voice of a strong and assertive poet, who is unashamedly herself. With poems centred around whānau, mana wāhine, and love, Whai explores what it means to be Māori in a variety of spaces. These poems are playful, staunch, vulnerable and at times utterly hilarious. They have big kaiako energy. While her work is anchored in the present, Hawkins stays in conversation with her ancestors, and looks towards the future.

Nicole has been working on this pukapuka with us while also growing a pēpi in her puku. Please come help us celebrate this exciting time in Nicole's life.

Registration for this event is required so please register here for a free ticket. Our capacity for safe distancing is 50. You can enter from 6pm, we will check your ticket at our Willis St entrance and you will be asked to sanitize your hands and scan our QR code. Manual contact tracing also available. There will be signed copies available before and after the speeches and reading. There will be no food or drinks available under current alert level restrictions.