The news image of a police officer holding a photo of the then missing woman from Rawene caught my attention. The policeman's stance was like that of a vigil in a kawe mate.
Normally, at a later time after a tangi, a whanau member carries a photoof the deceased to another marae to memorialise the life of the person and to remind us of our whakapapa connections to that person. At the time, the young woman was missing in dubious circumstances.
I wish to thank the policeman for projecting her photo into the media calling for help from those who cared to break a code of silence. Luckily with diligence, the body of Barbara Ann Moka was found and returned to her whanau. She will be laid to rest in Mangere today away from the site of her murder.
Our women are important. The loss of a mother , a daughter, a sister and a granddaughter and friend does count. Thanks once again to the police for your vigilance and persistence in locating Barbara Ann and returning her with dignity to her whanau. To our young women - value yourself and your children, get out early from domestic violence.
