My journey into law and mātauranga is one more defined by absence, understanding of loss, whakamā, accident and a sense of coming in from the cold, than by any programmatic acquisition of expertise.

This collection of writing from Māmari Stephens (Te Rarawa) travels through introspection, loss and doubt, to present striking moments of insight into the world around us. From one of New Zealand's most perceptive legal scholars, these are words that question neat categorisations and easy assumptions. Kārearea returns, always, to the ground, the people, the experiences that make up a life of learning, and to the stories that we tell ourselves.