Early Memories of New Zealand
In 1992, while traveling thru Tauranga, NZ with my father-in-law, MARK HARAWIRA whom I'd only met 18 months earlier I asked him, "You're originally from this area of Tauranga, aren't you?" This simple question open a wide door of memories for Dad.
He began talking about the natural terrain & identifying landmarks, but soon stretched out his arm and said, "You see the flat area on that hill? That's where our home once stood. My brothers & I would sneak over the neighbors fence & go eeling when we thought he was away. I'll never forget a time that he caught us in his paddock & came running at us yelling,with both arms flinging in the air. I wan't too old then, but we ran as fast as we could. My brother said, "Leave the eels, leave them! He's going to catch us!' But I wasn't keen on leaving my kai behind."
"My Dad would watch the moon & he could tell what the tides were doing. He'd know the best time to go fishing. We'd walk to the beach in the early evening when our chores were done . He made his own lines, more like heavy string, really long with multiple hooks baited with Pipi's tied on with cotton (thread). Once in the water, the tides would carry them out."
Then we'd build a fire before sunset & then he'd use the warm sand like a blanket & cover me up until morning when we'd pull in the lines, loaded with fish! After the fish was cleaned, we'd set them out to dry in the sun. My school mates would ask me if I wanted to trade my lunch because they wanted my fish."
In 2005, Dad retold his story again on a camcorder. We're so grateful to have this precious record of his story, & his laughter for future generations to enjoy!
He began talking about the natural terrain & identifying landmarks, but soon stretched out his arm and said, "You see the flat area on that hill? That's where our home once stood. My brothers & I would sneak over the neighbors fence & go eeling when we thought he was away. I'll never forget a time that he caught us in his paddock & came running at us yelling,with both arms flinging in the air. I wan't too old then, but we ran as fast as we could. My brother said, "Leave the eels, leave them! He's going to catch us!' But I wasn't keen on leaving my kai behind."
"My Dad would watch the moon & he could tell what the tides were doing. He'd know the best time to go fishing. We'd walk to the beach in the early evening when our chores were done . He made his own lines, more like heavy string, really long with multiple hooks baited with Pipi's tied on with cotton (thread). Once in the water, the tides would carry them out."
Then we'd build a fire before sunset & then he'd use the warm sand like a blanket & cover me up until morning when we'd pull in the lines, loaded with fish! After the fish was cleaned, we'd set them out to dry in the sun. My school mates would ask me if I wanted to trade my lunch because they wanted my fish."
In 2005, Dad retold his story again on a camcorder. We're so grateful to have this precious record of his story, & his laughter for future generations to enjoy!