What Christmas means to me...chaos

When it comes to presents, Green goddess Marama repurposes it with love from the op shop.

This is what it looks like when not even the whole family comes together on Christmas Day. This photo was taken in 2016, with my auntie in the middle. She was in her last days, as you can probably tell. She passed from cancer only a little later. It was a very, very special day for us all – full of whaÌ„nau and kai.

Like most people, we make Christmas all about family. It’s about coming together, sharing food and celebrating each other. We know it’s a privilege to be part of a close, connected whaÌ„nau because not everyone has that, so we make an effort to spend the day all together, even if it can get a little chaotic.

There are so many babies!

My mum and dad have us six children, then myself, my siblings and our respective partners have 15 kids – six are mine – and now we’re on to the next generation with my granddaughter. It’s quite a turnout!