Milkshake
Page 30
He led the male members of the group onto the marae, followed by Anika and Katherine. Anika explained the protocol as they slowly moved up the path to the meeting house. The notion of the women following was not intended to indicate they were inferior to the men, in fact quite the opposite. The male entrance onto the marae ahead of the females traditionally signified the male warriors’ protection from any potential threat.
A small group of women stood on the steps, Maaka’s grandmothers and aunties, their plaintive oratory a karanga, a traditional welcome to the group
Maaka’s body had lain on the marae for three days. Today he’d finally be laid to rest. Katherine never expected her first exposure to Maori custom would be in the form of something as personal or intense as a family funeral.
Once Brent had finished responding to the karanga with a short speech in Maori, he led their group into the meeting house. As they removed their shoes before entering, Anika softly explained that such occasions were about family and friends gathering to support each other, the extended family coming together often for the first time in many years to say goodbye to the deceased and to talk with them for the last time.
The Turners were overwhelmed by the scene that greeted them. The room was large and open. Ornate carvings seemed to climb the wooden pillars, supporting a high carved roof. Katherine sensed the atmosphere to be one not of sadness but of joy. Small children were playing on the neatly manicured lawn. Inside, groups of men and women stood around laughing and talking.
This was certainly not the respectful, mournful atmosphere Katherine and David had experienced at funerals back in the UK. This was more like a happy family reunion.
Katherine thought the building looked basic, primitive even, contrasting as it did with the smart, modern clothing of the people who stood or sat on its floor. She felt guilt at her own narrow-minded misinterpretation of her surroundings. She wondered if a Maori family visiting a traditional English country church for the first time would also think it primitive.
Katherine was beginning to understand why this country had two names. It was only ‘New’ to the Europeans who‘d been arriving for the past one hundred and seventy years. Before that, the Maoris had been living without external influence for hundreds more years.
She gazed around the room with fresh eyes. This time it looked familiar. It was a village hall. Then, in the midst of the crowd, towards the centre of the room, she saw the open coffin and the reason for being there came back to her once more.
She felt Anika touch her arm. “I won’t be a moment, there’s just something I need to do.” She walked off into the crowd towards where Maaka’s body lay.
As they parted to let her through, Katherine could see a small group of young men standing at the head of the coffin. They each listened intently as one by one they spoke to their friend, their uncle, and their brother, as if he could hear them.
She watched as Anika took a brown envelope from her handbag and placed it in a large woven flax basket which lay at Maaka’s feet. When she returned, she saw the question in Katherine’s eyes. “It’s called a koha. It’s the custom for visitors to contribute a gift to the marae to help cover food or any other costs involved with us being here.”
Katherine was embarrassed. “You should have said before, I could have at least brought something.”
Anika smiled. “Don’t worry, that was from all of us.” She turned, caught Brent’s eye, and the pair made their way to where the group was taking it in turns to speak to Maaka. Intrigued, Katherine turned to her husband who was again at her side. “I think Captain Piri’s about to speak. Let’s go and listen.”
They made their way towards the front. Captain Brent Piri, in full dress uniform, stepped forward and cleared his throat. Saving his people from an uncertain future was easy. Speaking to them at this time was not. “Mak and me, we joined the army together. We became men together, and thought we could change the world. No one expects to bury their brother, do they? In our job, even giving a little is too much. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to watch your back, Bro'. It’s what we train to do and I … in the end … I wasn’t there for you and you made the ultimate sacrifice. I just want your Whanau to know that your death wasn’t in vain. You died in the service of your country and one day that will be recognised. Kia Ora, Bro’.”
Brent stepped back into the crowd, hoping to hide his emotion among strangers.
Maaka’s father approached him. “Thanks for that, Brent. I know you can’t say but that didn’t sound like a speech for a man who died training in the High Country to me.”
Brent looked him in the eye and no words were needed. As they walked back to the helicopter, Katherine asked Anika. “So this Koha, what exactly was it that was from all of us?”
“In his will, Patrick left me his shares in Dairytree. I suppose it was his way of apologising for, well, whatever is was that he felt guilty about. I don’t want them, so the best thing I can do is to pass them onto the people who will use them to protect their legacy. As long as such a large part of that business is in the hands of Maori, my people, the country is safe. With that insurance, there is nothing Cowood can do. The Americans are going to have to find some other way of fuelling their cars.”
Chapter 27
Senator Elmerstein thought that he probably already had the answer …...
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27