Family gathers for reunion

221016PBKoriniti KORINITI: The home of Ngati Pamoana and the setting for a wonderful family reunion. PICTURE: PAUL BROOKS

A real mix of races gathered over the weekend at Koriniti on the banks of the Whanganui.
From dark brown faces to red hair and freckles, people of many hues celebrated a common occasion at the home of their ancestors, because, despite the variety of skin colours, they were all of one family.
It was the Brooks family reunion and descendants of Tui and Ngareta Brooks congregated for a few days of fun and celebration. There was music, food and drink, a few formalities, lots of laughter and a chance for family members to renew bonds stretched by time and distance.
Some came from Australia; many came from far flung parts of New Zealand - but wherever they came from, the ties of family were strong enough to make Koriniti home for the weekend.
In fact, more than a few people found themselves referring to the small river settlement as "home" and vowed to return more often.
It could have been the tranquillity - bird song with a backing track of rippling water; it could have been the sense of history and the presence of earlier generations in the urupa on the hill and in the air around us, it could have been the large numbers of youngsters enjoying a freedom rarely experienced, under the benign gaze of their parents, grandparents and great grandparents. It could have been many things, but a promise was made to do this again, soon, and before interest could wane, committees were formed to make it happen.
The families of each of the children of Tui and Ngareta chose a T-shirt colour and had them embroidered or screen printed with a common logo and design, supposedly for easy identification of each family group, but there were so many and we still had to sometimes ask who was who. Not that anyone minded, in fact, it provided much hilarity as people slowly recognised each other. The facial expressions were priceless.
The children of Te Patu and Patricia (Pat and Pat) wore yellow (I called it gold) with pride on the paepae. There were also black, grey, purple, pink, mauve, green, red and black, red, black and white, light blue, cyan, lemon and white, giving the marae a colourful, festive feeling.
For some, this was a first-time marae experience and something they will remember and treasure forever. For others it was an opportunity to teach newcomers how things worked in such a setting ... there were many lessons taught and learned. Co-operation, work, organisation, protocols and the all-embracing sense of family.
To be a part of it was a privilege. To those who spent long months organising and preparing - thank you.