(Re)presenting Papa: Intersubjectivity within Māori eco-literatures.

This article examines how Māori eco-literature, particularly works authored by wāhine Māori (Māori women), represents Papatūānuku—the Earth deity—as a living ancestor with agency, emphasizing intersubjectivity between humans and the more-than-human world through whakapapa (genealogy) and pūrākau (storytelling). It critiques mainstream environmental discourse in Aotearoa New Zealand for framing land primarily as a resource for human use, contrasting this with Māori perspectives that honor the dignity and spiritual experience of the land. Through analysis of poetry, prose, and short fiction, the article highlights how Māori writers resist colonial and patriarchal objectification of both Papatūānuku and wāhine Māori, advocating for an ethic of care grounded in interconnectedness and the feminine as vital to ecological well-being. The research underscores the potential of Māori literary traditions to reshape sustainability narratives by centering relational responsibilities to Earth beyond anthropocentric frameworks.