How are you?

Hera | Ōtautahi

Hera (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāi Tahu) has found a new path in life, guided by the love of her mokopuna. 

“I know what it’s like to be put down. I know what it’s like to be abused. I don’t have the abuse in my life no more. I don’t have negativity in my life no more. It’s all positive and love.

I’m good. I’m good actually. I’m between good and great. Do you wanna know why? Today I go and find out about my mokopunas’ push bikes, where I get them assembled.

Anything to do with my grandkids, my mokopuna, is great. They’re a part of me. They’re a part of my children, and they’re just so happy to see me. There’s lots of love in there. Lots of aroha.

I had to be deported from Australia eight years ago to actually find it, and to find good people in Christchurch. So I let go of a lot of hate, a lot of anger. It gave me a lot of peace with my children. My children are adults now. I made mistakes bringing them up. I was only a child myself.

So I try to, well, I don’t try, I just let them know that I’m there for them now, and my grandchildren. I could never make the mistake I did with their dad and mum. I would never do that. I’m not that person, I’m not that angry person anymore.

One day, I woke up and said, “that’s it, that’s enough, I’m not gonna put up with it no more. I’m not going to cry no more. It is what it is.” And now I can only do better for myself, to do better for my kids and my mokos and just keep my word and keep doing the good thing.”