Miriama Kamo arrived in Antarctica the day before the first sunrise following six months of darkness. Momentarily captivated by the stark beauty surrounding her, she was quickly ushered off the plane and into waiting vehicles.
“When we got off, we were immediately struck by how cold it was,” shares Miriama, 52.
“You’re told, ‘When the doors open, move quickly to get out of the way.’ It was a whirlwind going from the airstrip to the base, but beautiful.”
While stationed at New Zealand’s Scott Base, the veteran broadcaster joined Māori astronomers Dr Rangi Matamua and Mataia Keepa to film a new documentary, funded by Te Māngai Pāho, and set for release next year to mark Matariki.
Learning from the frozen South
“Rangi and Mataia wanted to understand things like how the moon, stars and sun move differently there,” reveals Miriama.
“Their discussions were amazing. I just felt so privileged to witness that.”
After a week on the frozen continent, the team was scheduled to fly out, but Antarctica had other plans. A mix of wild snowstorms and technical delays left them stranded for another fortnight. Fortunately, Miriama wasn’t quite ready to leave either.
A moment of awe on the ice
“One of the most incredible moments was standing on the ocean,” she recalls.
“The sea ice was 1.5-metres thick, frozen in waves. We were looking up to the sky, seeing the sun and moon, and how close they were to each other. Meanwhile, beneath our feet was the deep ocean and all the life in it – it was astonishing. “I recently read so much of our happiness is tied to our ability to feel a sense of awe and wonder. Going to Antarctica certainly has awakened those two things. Very few people really can go down there and that in itself instils a sense of awe.”
Renewed respect for the planet
A fierce advocate for living a low-waste life, Antarctica left Miriama feeling more in tune with the environment than ever.
“It really bedded in my view we need to protect this planet and take care of it as much as we can,” she reflects.
“The interests of our planet are in our own interests. Ultimately, nature wins. We can fight it or work with it. That’s what Antarctica reminded me of – how precious our world is.”
Trapped in the storm
At times, the storms were so intense, they could not safely go outside.
“The winds can be formidable and get so strong they shake the base,” she shares.
“It’s a whiteout, so you can’t see anything out the windows, but it’s also super-cosy because the base is always kept at a lovely, liveable temperature. “Into the third week, I started missing my family. The daily delays didn’t help. You’d be ready to go at 6am, then find out an hour later there was another delay. It started to become a bit soul-crushing because I really wanted to see my family. But I never lost the sense of privilege of being there.”
A new chapter back home
Back home again, Miriama has channelled the same curiosity and gratitude into her latest project The Elephant, a panel discussion series she co-hosts with longtime friend Mark Crysell.
“We’re trying to provide a platform to discuss difficult subjects where we can listen to each other with an open mind, whether we agree or not,” she explains.
Tackling tough topics, like public shame with former politician Golriz Gharaman and ex-Wellington mayor Tory Whanau, or modern masculinity with social commentators, has pushed her to lean into some difficult conversations.
The power of listening
“When I’m confronted with a view I don’t like or don’t understand, the challenge for me is to say, ‘Let me listen and try to understand,’” she tells.
“We’re losing the art of listening and debating. Instead, we’re defaulting to knee-jerk reactions. “I’m often challenged by people’s views. But when I listen, I’m finding more understanding, more enlightenment and more empathy for views which I wouldn’t normally accept or understand. “As you get older, it doesn’t necessarily mean you become wiser, but certainly you collect more experience. I feel so grateful to be alive and able to do that. We often think of ageing as something to be avoided. I think of it as an extraordinary privilege.”
Lessons from two journeys
For Miriama, both journeys, to the edge of the world and into the heart of human conversation, have taught her the same lesson.
“The longer I live, the more I want these experiences and to live well into my old age,” she says.
“In a time of division and chaos, what might be useful for people as they navigate tricky times? That’s what drives me – to serve and hopefully to add something useful.”
Watch The Elephant at nzherald.co.nz/topic/ the-elephant/
