What is a modern Māori famiy construct? Labour MP, Tamati Coffey (Tūhourangi-Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Te Roro o Te Rangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Te Āti Awa) knew he wasn’t going to have the ‘coffee-book’ family.

At 15 years old, Coffey realised something. Because he was gay, his line of whakapapa would stop with him. It was an internalised turmoil he faced and overcome. Fate, however, had other ideas – and two weeks ago, Coffey became a father. This is Tamati’s story. This is The