Keisha Castle-Hughes the 'winner' in Whangara

By AINSLEY THOMSON and STUART DYE

At Aunty Bumpy's Whangara house the conversation was so animated and the preparation of the celebration feast so meticulous that the television in the corner of the lounge beaming the Academy Awards was almost forgotten.

But, just in time, everyone rushed into the room, with its walls covered in Whale Rider memorabilia, to catch a glimpse of Keisha Castle-Hughes.

Crowded on the couch were Wikitoria Matete, 73, Elizabeth Nikora, 64, Hone Taumaunu, 74, and Heni "Aunty Bumpy" Leach, 72.

All four have a special connection to Whale Rider and Keisha - the women all acted in the film and Mr Taumaunu was the film's cultural adviser.

Three years ago when the film was shot at their tiny beach settlement 20 minutes north of Gisborne, they got to know Keisha - the girl they refer to as their "little Maori girl".

Yesterday was a day of nerves and excitement.

As they waited to see if she had won the best actress award, the chatter ranged from memories of the film, details of Aunty Bumpy's remarkable collection of Whale Rider memorabilia from the film, and plans to bring Keisha "back home" to Whangara for a visit.

"Right before our eyes she has grown up," said Mrs Nikora. "You see her in those beautiful frocks and you would think she was about 18."

Clad in her black Whale Rider crew T-shirt, Aunty Bumpy flitted around her home explaining the mementos, which included a painting Keisha drew for her, a trophy from the film crew for simply being their Aunty Bumpy, and numerous cards.

Then finally the moment they had been waiting for came.

"There she is. There she is. There's our girl," yelled Aunty Bumpy as Keisha's face came on the screen.

The disappointment was clear on their faces when she did not win, but it was quickly replaced with big smiles.

Said Mr Taumaunu: "We are absolutely proud and thrilled for her. And we still say she was a winner."

Meanwhile, back in Manukau

Crammed into a suburban home in Manukau, Keisha Castle-Hughes' family crowded round a huge television.

There was not quite the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles in Flatbush, but there was just as much tension and excitement.

And when the final decision was announced, after a moment's silence, there was cheering.

"It doesn't matter that she didn't win," said Nicky Hughes, Keisha's aunt. "She's an amazing little girl and we couldn't be prouder."

Uncles Michael and Steve, aunts Nicky and Verity, great-granddad (Poppa) Tom and cousins Hayley, Brooke, Ashlee, Eadon and Matthew gathered round a 47-inch widescreen TV to watch the 13-year-old who has become world famous.

Scattered round the room were magazines with Keisha on the cover and outside the house, if not a shrine, there was a tribute to her in chalk scrawled on to the road.

Inside, the tension was visibly growing as Keisha was introduced to her hero, Hollywood megastar Johnny Depp. "It's so great to meet you. Congratulations on everything ... I just think you're just amazing," Depp murmured, shaking her hand after an ABC reporter hauled Keisha over to his seat in the Kodak Theatre.

The meeting fulfilled a wish by the Whale Rider star, who eventually squeezed out a demure "thank you" before telling the reporter the hero of Pirates of the Caribbean was a "legend".

As the family whooped and yelled, only 80-year-old Tom seemed able to keep his cool, joking, "I hope we don't have a power cut now."

As Keisha's award category finally came round, there was not a finger nail unbitten or a seat edge vacant.

Aunt Verity was unbearably nervous, Hayley couldn't watch, and everyone agreed with Tom that Keisha was the most beautiful there.

Yes, there was disappointment when Charlize Theron eventually walked away with the trophy, but there was much more than that.

There was an enormous sense of pride for a youngster elevated from Glen Innes schoolgirl to the toast of Hollywood.

Tom was the most philosophical: "The experts were right and the favourite came through, but it doesn't mean anything. Keisha is our star."

If it was an anti-climax, as it must surely have been, none of the Hughes family were going to let it ruin their day or Keisha's moment.

"She is only 13 and if she wants to carry on in this industry she can do," said Aunt Nicky.

"She has been nominated for an Oscar at the age of 13. Not many 13-year-olds can say that."