"Bloody hell!" responded Nanny 82. "No wonder she has no hoki mai ki te kainga." She paused then added, "Her mokopuna will look after her."
We are certain they are. The new baby is the youngest of six, they with the older siblings all raised to be caring, thoughtful and hard-working. So there are five sets of dedicated mokopuna hands to look after not only their new brother and recovering mother, but also their beloved kuia.
Nanny 75 still hasn't come home. We miss her. She is now Nanny 76, having spent her birthday surrounded by her loving mokopuna. While she has been gone, Nanny 82 and I have found other ways to inject some life into our days.
Recently, Nanny 82 hosted an energetic East Coast lad. One of our old neighbour's relations, he had stayed with her before a few months ago when he needed somewhere to stay. If there is one thing that Nanny 82 has always been, it is generous.
At that first stay an invitation was issued for the East Coast lad to come back and tend her gardens in exchange for food and shelter. He accepted before he left and eventually took up the offer. He arrived full of smiles and bearing gifts for Nanny 82. Delicious home-made preserves.
"Kaua e haere ki tou mahunga anake" is an old family saying of ours – don't go with just your head. Basically, always take something to eat with you when you visit someone. Big tick for East Coast lad.
He accepted our additional invitation to help with a hui at our marae the next day, the monthly Kaumātua Day for the elders of our district. He was a star and charmed some 70 kuia and koroua with his tea pouring skills and general helpfulness. Another big tick for East Coast lad.
Said lad is also a professional acupressure practitioner. After our kaumātua left, he did a session in our wharepuni with a client. A lad cannot live by generosity alone. While he was working out whatever kutu were ailing our relation, I finished cleaning our marae. Nanny 82 went home for a nap.
Then it was time for the matter he was there for, tackling the overgrown jungle that was the gardens of Nanny 82. He gave it a good start before dark. I left them both quite happy that evening. I would see them again after I'd been to work in town the next day.
By the time I returned almost all the gardens were weeded and tamed, the lawn edges were trimmed and the grass was cut. He did all this while dealing with an upsetting email and the constant oversight of Nanny 82, which included her running commentary and piles of food while he worked.
If you know Nanny 82 like we do, entertaining her is not an easy feat when you want to get a job done. Power to the East Coast lad. His patience and warmth to our elders is becoming legend.
It is a trait we don't see much of these days, respect for our elders.
Another big tick for East Coast lad.
I'm certain Nanny 82 overworked him. I hope we haven't put him off returning. Nanny 76 will have five cents plus change to add to all this once she learns of it.
East Coast lad's brief and very productive stay was concluded with more invitations issued by Nanny 82, along with more plans on how to best use his skills. She never wastes an opportunity. She continues to sing his praises.
Nannies!
Nigel How is chairman of Ngati Kahungunu Wairoa Taiwhenua Incorporated, and a board member of Ngati Kahungunu Iwi Incorporated.
