Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
An elderly woman of Ngati Te Ata celebrates her 100th birthday.
Her name is Pani Flavell.
The mind's still sharp and she still has a lot to say.
She's one of the last matriarch's of Ngati Te Ata
a tribe located near the Manukau harbour.
She's still fit.
She bathes herself, she makes her own bed.
She dresses herself everyday.
Even her gardens - there are no weeds.
She's a very tidy woman.
She grew up in Waiuku and is a wealth of knowledge.
We've heard her stories about this and that, who lived where,
who engaged with whom and who their children were.
She was the kuia of Te Ngira Marae in Papakura
and the Kohanga reo based there.
She had five children and lots of grandchildren.
She cared for all her children and her grandchildren.
That's her reason for living
Records show she's actually 102 years old.
They wouldn't listen to her.
They held their own party for her.
She said she went to their party, ate their cake and left it at that,
knowing that this is actually her real birthday.
On Saturday, Papakura Marae are holding birthday celebrations
for this great matriarch.
Anzac Pikia, Te Karere.