Hinemoa Elder for daughter Millie (28) and son Reuben (25)

“My darlings. Our leaders of the future, I salute you both. It is because of you I learnt the necessary skills and from the bottom of my heart, I developed the ways of thinking to properly raise you. According to the central theme of the whakataukî, ‘In togetherness is health, in separation is loss.’ It is because of you both that this whānau is strengthened and brought together as one, despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. My precious darlings, whatever occurs, we remain constant in our love for each other. I am so proud of you holding onto your dreams, your wisdom about the health of the wider world, love of children, the earth, the sea, the forests and creatures. Being your mother is the most important role I have. I am so fortunate to experience the bonds between us. Our habitual exchange of ideas inspires me because of your creativity, your values and high principles. I look beyond the horizon to my dreams for you both, the most important being your holistic wellbeing, your care of others, and your humility. I cast my mind back to when you were born. A new world that opened up and literally blew my mind! I had no idea before that time of the extraordinary flood of love for you both that I experienced. Something extraordinary happened! Over time, when you were growing up, my goodness, my darlings, when it came to hard-case you guys took the cake! If it hadn’t been for you both I never would have understood the depths of love, and similarly, I was better able to understand my parents and those generations who have gone before. My treasures, my heart cannot describe all that it encompasses when I think of all the blessings you have given to me.”