It's a nice tradition to keep up and we make sure we're all present. In Kristy's case we want her to know she is special to us.
When I came home to visit while living overseas, my family was always waiting including my mother and father, sisters, their husbands, and of course the children at the time. Ross was the eldest grandson. I can't help but wonder what my nephew would be like today.
Still the same I suspect. A loving grandson and son, adored big brother to his two siblings, dearest nephew and I know a doting father to his beautiful daughter. He was always so easy to love.
My great niece is a beautiful young woman. Her mother is Australian and she was born in Australia. My nephew would be proud of her. We are.
We want to ensure that, although her father is no longer with us, she knows she has a home in New Zealand and that she is of Te Arawa.
Once when Theo was visiting his son in Australia he rang home rather upset. His mokopuna had asked him "are you a Maori Koro?". "Yes, and so are you," Theo replied. His mokopuna was adamant he was Australian. Theo then had words with his son.
He wanted his son to make sure his mokopuna knew "who they are and where they come from". Easier said than done these days.
That's why we want Kristy's visits to be meaningful. Just because she was born and lives overseas, this is her home too.
It's up to us to ensure that she and the other younger members of our family who live overseas with their children, don't lose touch with home.
We have to make the effort. Particularly in Kristy's case as her father isn't here to make sure that happens.
Our children who live overseas, including those born overseas, won't know their own family history, let alone the stories from long ago. Where they come from and where they belong.
But we, as their older family members, can tell them and include them.
We can take them to stand on the land their parents and grandparents walked on; visit the places that are significant to their family and tribal history. Leave them with a sense of knowing this place will be a part of them forever. They may not even know it, but this is who they are.
Kristy's visits are always tinged with sadness. We all go to the cemetery and do the rounds. Visit with Kristy's great grandmother, grandfather and father. Uncles are there too. All loved family members no longer with us.
But we have this beautiful young woman with us now. Ross would have wanted us to love his daughter. And we do. What's not to love.
Merepeka lives in Rotorua. She writes, speaks and broadcasts to thwart the spread of political correctness.
