A beautiful life

Joannee Hawke, who died tragically at Bastion Point in 1977, helped inspire one of New Zealand's most effective protest actions. Thirty-three years on, the life of this 'happy little girl' is still being celebrated, as John Landrigan discovers.
As 38th birthday celebrations go, this has to be among the calmest and most dignified.
A short life still resounds today at the memorial to Joannee Hawke on the Ngati Whatua land that looks out to Rangitoto Island.
After 506 days occupying Bastion Point, the makeshift meeting house, buildings, and gardens that sheltered hundreds of protesters were destroyed.
Protesters, already seething from surrounding land losses, occupied Bastion Point, or Kohimarama, from January 1977 after the Government announced plans for a housing development.
While those who squared off with the authorities left a legacy of one of the largest, longest and, eventually, most effective occupations in New Zealand history, others, sadly, left much more.
Five-year-old Joannee Hawke died at the very top of the hill in a fire that could be seen across Auckland. The makeshift whare, which sat in the middle of the lean-to village, burned down in front her family.
Alec Hawke is putting the finishing touches on the refurbished memorial for his "happy little girl" when we meet. He does not want to talk about how his daughter died but agrees to show The Aucklander how whanau still celebrate Joannee's life.
Family met last Sunday to unveil a new plaque, improved carvings and a new tear-shaped garden. The little girl with a big grin, who made daisy chains during the occupation, would have turned 38 last Monday.
The emotion of the time and Mr Hawke's loss is barely hidden beneath the surface of his face. His eyes well up and he has to stop himself several times as he recollects what happened.
"This is the exact place where the whare burnt down. It was a tragedy. She was a beautiful kid," he manages to say.
Joannee died on September 28, 1977.
The protesters were forcibly evicted eight months later in May 25, 1978, after 506 days.
Since then, more than 50 clergy from different denominations have paid their respects to Joannee's memory at the site. Waiata written about her are sung by children to this day, and the memorial garden has been upgraded four times in her honour.
Joe Hawke stands with Alec as he talks  to The Aucklander. He knew his beautiful little niece had perished while still watching the blaze.
"I rushed to where the accident happened, asking, 'Where is Joannee? Where is Joannee?'," Joe recalls. "Several of our menfolk ran into the flames covered head and foot with whatever they could find. Her position was too small and the heat too fierce.
"It was hell on Earth, mind-shattering and spirit-breaking. We lost our little Joannee."
Joe says whanau celebrate her birthday every year and know she's in heaven with God. "Our hearts still bleed for her. She could laugh and chatter. Everyone would steal her.
"They wanted to have 10 minutes solitary with our child. Koro had her, bro, mum or her cousins.
"Why she died has been asked thousands of times. You could see the sorrow and anguish. Our elders were staunch. We did not see them cry.
"The fire took Joannee's life, it could have taken our take, our cause. It increased our resolve for the take. Either we walk, and [then prime minister Rob] Muldoon wins, or we stay and Joannee wins."
The Bastion Point occupation became one of the most famous protest actions in New Zealand history.
Ten years later, the Waitangi Tribunal supported Maori claims to the land, a decision that was then endorsed by the Government.