In Māori, the indigenous culture of Aotearoa (New Zealand), there’s a concept called Tūrangawaewae, which translates as “a place to stand.” It’s where we feel empowered and connected a foundation on which we foster a sense of belonging. Manaaki whispers something in Johnny’s ear. It’s something Manaaki learned from his father about carving your confessions into the sand - “Release it all to Tangaroa,” his father would say - and asking the Māori god of the sea to wash them away.
His love interest, 19-year-old Johnny, writes his deepest secret on the shoreline, awaiting the tide. Manaaki, the 19-year-old Māori protagonist in the TikTok BL series Ships in the Night, is standing on the moonlit beach, scuffing his shoes in the sand as the lights of Tāmaki Makaurau gleam behind him.
