Ana Apatu: Marae a sanctuary for those in need

Ana Apatu

During my time as chief executive for the U-Turn Trust my base has been Te Aranga Marae Boston Crescent Flaxmere. I have met a number of people (both paid and unpaid) who keep the marae going. When I mean keep the marae going, I mean - being on call for tangi, working in the kitchen, maintaining the gardens and buildings, cooking for visitors, making sure everything is kept clean and in working order, responding to visitors who arrive hungry or simply in need of a cup of tea and someone to talk to.

There are a number of people who find Te Aranga their sanctuary. Because they have been given support that has helped them through a tough patch in their lives they then give back to the marae which in turn gives back to others. One such person is Rosetta Wright (Wardlaw).

Rosetta was born on March 1, 1972 in Stratford. She describes herself as being the youngest of four on her mother's side and the youngest of 11 on her father's. Her mother is Kiwi and her father is Aborigine born in Australia. Rosetta and her siblings were removed from their mother when Rosetta was 18-months-old. Rosetta shares with me: "Even though I knew my brother through a friend at high school I never found out that he was my brother until it was too late as he died of suicide when he was 19." During Rosetta's first years as a child she was in and out of foster homes. At the age of four Rosetta was fostered, as she describes, by a loving couple who went on to be her adopted family. At that time they had no other children.

However, when Rosetta was eight her mum (adopted) gave birth to a baby girl, and things for Rosetta changed. Her parents separated when she was nine. At the age of 11 Rosetta was diagnosed with a tumour in her jaw called Fibrous Dysplasia of the right maxillary bone. She was teased as her face was badly disfigured. She started to get into trouble and left home at 15. Rosetta lived with friends from school and stayed attending Central Hawke's Bay Collage until she was 16.

Rosetta eventually married in 2002.

A year into her marriage her husband had a major head injury and then had a stroke. During that time he became depressed and had trouble speaking and walking.

Rosetta said, "My husband's depression became worse and he could not work or look after my children while I was working. This coincided with having to have major surgery to my face where my face became even more disfigured than before the operation. I had to give up my job and go on the invalid's benefit".

Rosetta could not talk or eat. "My life was basically a mess so I packed up and shifted to Flaxmere. I did two years at EIT doing fashion which has always been my passion. During this time I was lucky enough to meet Pam and Henare O'Keefe. I worked at Te Aranga Marae doing community service. "These two did not judge where I came from, what I had done in my past or what I looked like. They just saw the good person inside waiting to come back out and they helped me release that person. I grew a little bit every day.

"I would go out with Tunu Tunu. I was only a text away if they need something urgently. I love listening to Henare speak. He really gets people thinking. My most favourite saying of his is 'Flaxmere Heal thyself' but I have changed that to 'Rosetta heal Thyself.'

"Thankfully I have Pam, Henare, Te Aranga Marae and the trustees there for me and my family. They were the ones that put their arms around my family and welcomed us. They were there for me to talk to.

Because of the love of my family and my family At Te Aranga Marae I am looking to the future with hope. I know that at the end of the phone there is someone that is always ready to steer me on the right path again and give me a hug or a few kind words."

-Ana Apatu is chief executive of the U-Turn Trust, based at Te Aranga Marae in Flaxmere.