Kia Ora Dame! 'I HAD A BIGGER PURPOSE'

It could have taken a toll on her, but Naida's phone greeting started a legacy

- Kasia De Vydt-Jillings

I was born in the front seat of my father's Studebaker car. Both my grandmothers lived across the road from each other. One was Ngāti Whātua and Ngāti Hine, and the other one Croatian. I'm as proud of being Croatian as I am to be Māori.

After I was born, my Māori grandmother took me home and raised me on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour. I was certainly a well-cared-for child, bouncing between these two grandmothers - neither of whom could speak English so I grew up with the reo.

I'm mother of two sons and three daughters, a grandmother of 19 mokopuna [grandchildren], a great-grandmother of 43 greats, with my 44th great-grandchild due this December. Nothing happens with any of my mokopuna that I'm not involved with.

About five years ago, one of my moko was in court.

When the judge saw me, I said, 'I called that moko from the sacred womb of his mother and it wasn't to stand in this courtroom.

I've come here today to take him home and remind him who he is.' The judge agreed the best thing was to put him in my care. It's known by all those moko, wherever they are, that Māmā will be.