Ngā mate

A tribute to Bernice Tainui – This is my song, a serenade to you – Mum

This Sentimental Journey, is a story of a Poor Cinderella who Dreamed A Little Dream of Moonlight and Roses. Among her Souvenirs, a song book, and when A Little On The Lonely Side, this Ukulele Lady would play and sing melodies like Elmer’s Tune … Sometimes while Drifting and Dreaming of her Mother, Mexicali Rose, whose roots where far from The Lights of London on the Long and Winding Road where Irish Eyes Where Smiling she would remember …It’s a Long Way to Tipperary for this Rambling Rose

Our Mother was born when it was Springtime in the Rockies or more often referred to as the Valley of the Moon… Lower Hutt. Mum’s father was from the Red River Valley in Ōpōtiki. A distinguished soldier who survived Gallipoli where a Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy plays the Last Post … We Shall Remember … Bless em all.

At Sweet Sixteen our Mother’s first visit to Moonlight Bay … Ōnuku, to feel the Cool Water of Akaroa Harbour… Whispering Hope that she will meet her Danny Boy. Harbour Lights danced across the sea as the Red Sails In The Sunset fell over Wainui.
Now In The Mood, to meet The Man of her Dreams she followed a Red Red Robin to the end of the street where the smell of Sweet Violets in the Whispering Grass filled the air and she knew…she was there. Past the Old Wooden Cross high on the steeple, she could see what would be “The Lights of Home”. Standing tall under a Blue Moon and wearing a White Sports Coat… and with his Angel Smile he said welcome to My Blue Heaven, Girl of My Dreams.

My Mother said… I Could have Danced all Night to a Serenade in BlueIf I Only had TimeStar Dust filled the air as they exchanged their glances and realised, Now Is The Hour for us to say goodbye because We’ll Meet Again, My HappinessVaya Con Dios, My Elusive Dream. This was Some Enchanted Evening.

As Time Goes By, a year would pass One by One and our Mother would watch Sad Movies and say I Don’t Want To Talk About It … as these Lonely Blues caused Tear Drops In Her Heart and she would say in her defence … Smoke Gets In Her Eyes TillSomewhere over the Rainbow she heard the sweet melody of her husband to be singing You Are My Sunshine. Our Mother’s Nursing career was over as she Packed Up Her Troubles and said Cab Driver… There’s an Anniversary Waltz playing with Someone Like You in a sleepy little town where soft breezes blow… For Sentimental Reasons she was wearing A String of Pearls to Accentuate the Positive and at Five Foot Two and Eyes of Blue, her Baby Face for him was …..Unforgettable. Our Mother found her Thrill on Blueberry Hill, her Little Pal, and Dad said …. It Had To Be YouYou Are Too Good To Be True as he was Walking His Baby Back Home. For Ever and EverAbide by me. Nā Ngaire Tainui.

Drilling protest

Some Ōnuku whānau recently took part in the anti-drilling protest, Banners on the Beach, at Akaroa.

Ōnuku chair, Donna Tainui (centre), joins the demonstration against oil drilling.

Ōnuku chair, Donna Tainui (centre), joins the demonstration against oil drilling.

Miriam Robinson, Matakaea Tikao, Amiria Tikao and Amiria Robinson taking a stand against explorative oil drilling in Banners on the Beach Akaroa.

Miriam Robinson, Matakaea Tikao, Amiria Tikao and Amiria Robinson taking a stand against explorative oil drilling in Banners on the Beach Akaroa.