Who or what brings light into your life?

Diante | Tauranga

Diante shares how the strength, humour and guidance of her nan, Mete, continues to shape her life.

“My nan’s name was Emma, but everyone in the North knew her as Mete. She wouldn’t let anyone call her ‘Whaea’ or ‘Kuia’ or anything like that. To everyone, even babies, she was just Mete, which means ‘mate.’

Nō Ngāpuhi, nō Ngāti Hine ia. (She is from Ngāpuhi, from Ngāti Hine).

She raised me, so she was my role model. Well, she still is. My pillar of strength, my inspiration, she shaped who I am today. That’s why we received our moko kauae together. And my moko kauae represents her because she is the reason I have a voice. She’s the one that taught me how to use my voice, and my reo Māori as well.

My kaiako is a kuia from Te Tai Tokerau, from Ngāpuhi. She’s constantly making us laugh. And when she’s making us laugh or when she’s teaching us, she reminds me so much of my nan.

For me, I feel like it means that I’m on the right path. Although she’s not here physically, she’s definitely here ā-wairua (spiritually). Also that I’m carrying on her legacy. Everything that she poured into me I carry with purpose, and I am not letting her knowledge and teachings go to waste.

Before she passed away I always feared that day my whole life. Once she passed away, of course, I did feel that deep grief and I still do, because that’s the price of love. But it’s not as heavy as I thought it would be. I actually feel more kaha (strength) when I walk this earth now, because I constantly feel like she’s there. I always hear her voice and her laugh, and I see her smile.

And I think about everything she’s been through. If she could get through whatever she went through and still come out bubbly and strong, then so can I.”