Greenstone taonga actress’ piece of home
My taonga is a New Zealand jade pendant, or greenstone, as we call it. I’ve named my taonga Buddy and I received it from my mum 10 years ago when I was 20.
I was heading over to America to do my third year at a musical theatre school in California. Before I left, my mum made me a dinner with my siblings, and presented me with this taonga.
She said my wha¯ nau each had it for a night and held it and put good wairua, energies and aroha into it. They gave it to me to take on all of my journeys so I can be safe, hold it when I missed them and to remind me where I was from and that I was loved.
Wha¯ nau is paramount to me, especially growing up in Rotorua where culture and wha¯ nau are part of the fabric, the foundation, of your childhood. It’s an unspoken importance. It’s inherent.
The taonga grounds me. It’s humbling and keeps me in check, especially when I’ve
chosen an industry that can easily lead you astray.
I’ve performed on television, film and most of the major stages in New Zealand. Now I’m stepping into an interesting time in my mahi, where I’m more interested in the genesis of a story.
‘‘I’m more interested in affecting the narratives and the way that Ma¯ ori and Polynesians are portrayed in our storytelling and our stories.
That’s why summer is important to me because it’s the time when I recharge my batteries and gives me the energy and strength to develop and create my own work throughout the year.
So you’ll often find me roadtripping, chasing the sun from the lakes of Rotorua to the beaches of Mount Maunganui.
Summer is a time when I do a lot of manifesting for my year ahead.
I bathe in the sun’s rays and lap up the warm vibes while I can, dreaming big and enjoying the redwood walks in Rotorua or the Rotorua lake front.
I wear my taonga during the summer, even when I’m swimming.
People ask if I’m scared if it will fall off me and I lose it. I just come back to that ko¯ rero, the saying, ‘‘if you lose it then it’s either not meant for you’’, or it’s served its purpose and its journey has come to an end.
I’m not fearful of losing it and I’ve come to an understanding and acceptance that whatever will be, will be.
I will always treasure and appreciate what it has been for me. I have other taonga as well but, to me, Buddy has been the one that has stayed with me the longest.