KOE KOE Ā
PHOTO: NAOMI APORO
KAIMAHI KŌRERO
Susan Tawaka NGĀTI KOATA, TE ĀTIAWA, NGĀTI KUIA, RANGITĀNE, NGĀI TAHU, TUHOURANGI NGĀTI WĀHIAO, NGĀ PUHI
I
am the youngest of three. I’ve an older brother,
stronghold of whakapapa in our whānau. She was
Callan, and a sister, Janis. I grew up in Whakatū
also a talented craftsperson, proficient in weaving,
until I was around 11, when my English step-dad
piupiu-making and taaniko; she was always creating
and my mum decided to move to the UK. I lived
something, or gardening or cooking.
with them in the UK for a year. Although it was an
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My grandad was a hard worker with a quick sense
interesting experience, I got homesick, so I asked
of humour and a big heart. He involved all his moko
if I could move back to Aotearoa and live with
in work – whether it was potato harvesting, picking
my grandparents, Teoti-Hou (Jo) and Shirley (née
pinecones and sorting the seeds. He also organised
Wilson) MacDonald, and my sister, Janis. Looking
us to gather apples and pears from friends’ orchards
back on it now, I’m surprised my parents agreed,
to give away to families. I became a pro tea-maker
but they did, so I moved back to Whakatū.
for whānau and visitors who called in home most
My grandparents and sister have been hugely
days. It was an automatic thing to do, without
influential in my life. They were all deeply involved
asking. Grandad also worked with those who
in the Māori community. Grandmum was a
needed to complete community service hours.
