We will remember:

Francis Tipene of The Casketeers fame is presenting a one-off music show on Anzac Day where he will perform a song he remembers from his childhood. He talks to Sarah Nealon about what April 25 means to him and his wh nau.

Francis Tipene reflects on the significance of Anzac Day.

Before he became famous for The Casketeers, Francis Tipene had already made his mark on another television show.

On M ori Television’s now-defunct talent show Homai Te Pakipaki, he came runner-up in 2011.

A love of music and singing has drawn Tipene back to the channel for Te Rongo Toa, a one-off show he is presenting on Anzac Day.

The programme features waiata which honour and remember those who served abroad.

Before each song is performed, Tipene and four iwi historians – Kaa Williams, Colonel Miki Apiti, Hone Sadler and Te Keepa Stirling – offer some historical context.

Singers include actor and musician Troy Kingi (Hunt For The Wilderpeople), Metotagivale Schmidt-Peke from the pop group Maimoa, and Francis Tipene who lends his vocals to Te Piriti.

“I remember that song from my childhood,” says Tipene. “My grandparents loved it.”

He says performing the song and learning about the meaning behind its lyrics was a privilege.

“I was thinking about it and going ‘Wow’,” he says.

“It means so much more when

you know a little bit about the song rather than it just being an old tune Nan and Pop used to hum along, whistle along to. It’s so beautiful to be able to have the opportunity.”

Tipene, who was raised by his grandparents, can’t remember if he learned about Anzac Day at primary school.

“I went to a small Catholic convent school up north,” he says.

“Possibly they might have (taught us about it) but I might not have been listening.”

However, he does remember marking the day as a teenager when he attended boarding school in Auckland.

Back then he would perform waiata and a haka at the local RSA along with other students.

Last year on Anzac Day morning, when New Zealand was in lockdown, he and his wife Kaiora and their children stood at the end of their driveway in the dark. Their neighbours did something similar on their respective driveways.

“The kids were like, ‘Why the heck are we getting up this early?’ But we went out there and our neighbour, a young boy, played The Last Post on his trumpet.

“And the kids were like, ‘Oh, Daddy that was so sad’.”

Afterwards, his family didn’t go back to sleep but instead talked about the meaning of Anzac Day.

“There were lots of conversations and questions,” he says.

This year the wh nau will attend the annual Dawn Service at Auckland War Memorial Museum, which was the filming location for his role in Te Rongo Toa.

For anyone who doesn’t see the significance of Anzac Day, Tipene has some thoughts.

Continued page 8

“It should be important to all New Zealanders and especially our children because it could easily be forgotten,” he says.

“If we look at our lifestyle now with our phones, and our busyness and social media, it’s easy to forget these things.

“Sometimes I reckon they should make it mandatory that when we’re in museums or go to Anzac Day (commemoration events) we should have no internet access.

“We should be allowed to take photos, but people should be off their phones so the kids can concentrate and understand.

“So why I think it’s important is because we have to be the ones to tell the stories of those who have gone before us, those who fought.

“Otherwise it’s going to be nothing. It’s going to be memories for a few people that know a little bit about it all. And it’s going to stay with them until they die.

“We need to continue to keep these people alive in our memories of hearts for our children to understand, because who knows, we might have a World War Three one day, God forbid.

“But we just never know what’s around the corner. So this is what I’m saying to the children and the people. Let us learn from those who have gone before us and keep them always in our hearts and minds because it is important to understand the sacrifice.

“I mean, the pain of their parents, their wives, their children, their loved ones when they have gone overseas...

“For the many that didn’t come home, the many we still don’t have bodies for, this is very important.”