RISING ELECTRONIC MUSIC Captions by Madison Batten. Edited by Glenna Casalme. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016 LAID-BACK ELECTRONIC MUSIC Ko Tongariro te maunga. Ko Taupo te moana. Ko Waikato te awa. Ko Ngati Tuwharetoa te iwi. Taupo is the heart of our beautiful country. It's also the heart of Te Ika-a-Maui. Maui fished up this beautiful North Island that many of us call home. For me, it is my turangawaewae ` my place to stand. I was born in Taupo and bred here in Waitahanui and on this marae, Pakira. I'm Ngati Tuwharetoa me Waikato. When I grew up, Maori were 30% of the population. And so I have a strong sense of Maori identity and pride, and I'm really happy to be here, home at my marae. This is my great-great-grandfather. And things have obviously changed. Forestry was a major employer here in Taupo, but now that's been replaced by tourism. And with tourism has seen an influx of new migrants ` new NZers who have come to call Taupo home. In this episode of Neighbourhood, we'll meet a man from Nepal who's here for love,... My first week back in NZ, I spent $500 on my cell phone calling him. I spent a couple hundred rupees too. BOTH LAUGH You big spender, you. ...a Czech woman shares her fairy-tale vision with the local kids,... Last term we basically have done` We have a theme ` fairy tale stories. So, uh, we were reading books. And after that, the kids, they were making creations ` like, for example, Puss in Boots. ...a woman welcomes her family with a traditional Cambodian meal... She taught me to cook any` like, a lot of our normal food` everyday food. But I've seen her cook Cambodian chicken curry when I was young. I didn't get to cook because it was a fancy food for us back then, so she didn't want me to muck it up, her expensive food. ...and we'll join the celebrations with the Tokelau community. And when you go in the hall, a big sign in the front ` 'Tokelau'. Everybody entitled and got a right to be going to that hall, no matter whether they just come from the island maybe a couple of days. But when you go under the name Tokelau, you belong. I'm Louisa Wall. Haere mai. Welcome to my neighbourhood. 'NEIGHBOURHOOD' THEME PEACEFUL MUSIC I realised I was gay in my late teens. One of the hardest things was telling my parents. The reaction from my mum and dad when I told them I was gay was that they loved me unconditionally. I think, for a lot of our young people, that's what they need to hear, especially from their parents. For me, my takatapui identity is something to be proud of. Just like my sporting talent, it's something that my tupuna gifted to me. It was my privilege to champion marriage equality in NZ. It was at a time when we'd highlighted that the state was actively discriminating against LGBTI NZ citizens. So for me, being able to pull a team across the House together to champion and have marriage equality legislation in NZ was something that I'm incredibly proud of. So a fundamental human right is that we are all born free and equal in dignity and rights. And what that means is that we can fully express ourselves ` in our sexuality, in our appreciation of arts and culture, and the heritage that actually defines who we are. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC But, uh, we went on holiday to Taupo and we just... I just think that the lake, it's very magical. And the mountains. And it reminds me of Europe as well, so I feel, um, kind of home here and safe. So, yeah. That's why we chose Taupo. And we really love it. I think we have fairy tales everywhere in Czech Republic, so, uh` because we have lots of castles. So the stories, they are connected to castles. But, uh, we have many different kinds of books, and it's always some kind of story. So it was fantastic. Uh, my favourite book when I was a kid was definitely Cesky Honza. If I translate it, it's called 'Czech John'. And my grandma, she used to read stories from this old book to me, and I was fascinated. (READS ALOUD IN CZECH) So, do you know how old is the book? Very old. Very old. So, who was the book before? Who it belongs to? Babi? Babi. And belong`? Before Babi? Nana. And before Babi? Nana. The main character is basically Czech John, (CHUCKLES) and he's in different kinds of situations. He's, uh, saving princesses or he's fighting with dragons. UPLIFTING MUSIC When I was in school, I was really really interested in art. I did some pottery when I was very little ` maybe 8 or 10. And I remember making some statue, and I won some prize. That was very very encouraging for me. And, um` And after that I was drawing. I was just doing drawing because I liked to do it. I had an exhibition in the Taupo Museum, and I was drawing surroundings around Taupo. So, um, the exhibition name was Taupo Ink. And I like drawing with Indian ink. Um, so that's what I do now. I decided to study to be a teacher. And, uh, I was basically studying to be an art teacher. So the art was always part of me. RELAXING MUSIC When I started doing pottery here in Taupo, I just realised that there are so many kids who would love to do pottery, but there were not any pottery classes for kids. So basically, with my, um` with my knowledge that I have, we started running pottery classes for kids after school. And, yeah, it's` We are doing very well, and they are very excited, and we are learning, basically, from scratch. Last term we basically have done` We have a theme ` fairy tale stories. So, uh, we were reading book, and after that, the kids, they were making creations, like, for example, Puss in Boots or, um, Alice in Wonderland. So we were doing the white little rabbit. And all the creations are displayed in the Taupo Library at the moment. So there is a little exhibition. And it's very encouraging for the kids to show, basically, what they are doing, because they are very proud of the work that they are doing. It was very creative and made you think how it would look and how you can make it more unique. It feels good to see that people can see your other work that you've done. They can give them inspiration to make their own things. And it's cool to see their reaction on what you made. GENTLE MUSIC I think it's absolutely great that, um, the kids, basically, they learn what I can do, and they are excited about every project and... Basically, ask them. (LAUGHS) Um, they` I think they love pottery, but I hope that maybe one day some of them become potters or, uh` Shannon, what would you like to be? A 3D designer. > 3D designer. So I think, you know, working with clay, it's a great start to be a 3D designer. So it's great to share, basically, something that you can do with kids. I think that I'm also influenced by the kids that I am teaching. Because when I started doing pottery, my pottery was a little bit serious. Like, traditional. But, uh, since I am teaching kids and I can see how they are different, how they think differently, I start, a little bit, thinking like the` like children. UPLIFTING MUSIC Prue and I got married last year. It was the fifth anniversary of our civil union. We decided to get married because we could. Uh, but also because for us, marriage is, um, really special, really important. It was important for us to restate to our family and our community that we were committed to one another, that we together were a family. But also, it consolidated the love that we had for one another. Marriage is about family, commitment and love. I think the purpose of life is to find that one person that you wanna commit yourself to in a marriage. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC Oh, I was like a giddy little schoolgirl when I first met Rabin. I just kind of went, 'Hi!' (LAUGHS) And I'd been walking for hours, so I felt disgusting, but` And cos I had no idea who he was when I first saw him. And Mum was like, 'This is Rabin.' I'm just like... (GIGGLES) So I went and got changed and everything and, yeah, just sat down and had a beer with him and just chatted away, and that was the rest of the night for us, really. Just, yeah, got on really really well. And I just couldn't keep my eyes off him. It's fantastic. My name's Gemma Tamang, and I was born in NZ. Uh, my name is Rabin Tamang. I was born in Nepal. From Kathmandu to my village, around five to six hours by bus. Uh, I used to work, uh, in trekking company, in mountain ` trekking guide. And I worked, uh, six months and six months off. And in six months` working six months, off time I'm going to help my family and village. We met, but I was, like, thinking, like, friend and, you know, like family. You know? But I was like, 'Ooh, see, Gemma.' (LAUGHS) And you gave me a cuddle, eh? BOTH LAUGH We had six days in Nepal together before I had to fly back to NZ, but we were pretty much already talking about him coming to NZ and getting married and children and getting a passport organised. And Skyping, yeah. Every day. My first week back in NZ, I spent $500 on my cell phone calling him. I spent a couple hundred rupees too. BOTH LAUGH You big spender, you. CALM MUSIC I moved to Nepal at the end of 2011, um, after the Christchurch earthquake. So I just packed up and left, really, and moved in with him and his sisters and brothers in Kathmandu. (LAUGHS) Uh, culture shock. But it was fantastic. Like, you learn lots. You learn to appreciate things a lot more ` like, you don't have running clean water; you don't have hot water; you don't have power 24-7. So it was just very humbling, I think. In Nepal there's lots of families want to marry, like, parents ` Dad and Mum ` have to choose. Dad and Mum have to say, like, 'OK, this girl is good for, um, helping us ` like, working hard.' Uh, my dad said, 'OK. You can do whatever you like.' And he's happy with Gemma. And he's` My whole family is happy with Gemma. Both our families have been so supportive through all of this kind of thing. Um, it would never have worked if we didn't have the support of Rabin's family and my family also, because we've got such different lifestyles and cultures. Taupo is a nice town. It's good. In here there's lots of, like, outdoorsy stuff. Where are you from? Netherlands. Netherlands? Yes. You on holiday here? Yes. For how long in NZ? Two months. 'I work at, uh, Taupo Bungy. Yes, I like outdoor jobs like, um... I like trekking,' uh, and rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and bungee jump, swing. Yeah. Here we go. Three, two, one, bungee. Awesome. (YELLS) (CONTINUES YELLING) (CONTINUES YELLING) Good feel and good environment around here. WOMAN SHRIEKS, LAUGHS My future is I wanna help my kids. I wanna see their life is good, not like my life ` is hard life when I was young ` but I wanna see their life is good. And I wanna help my family. If I can, I wanna bring, um, my whole family. RELAXING MUSIC For me, becoming a Silver Fern was the fulfilment of a dream that I had in 1987. Uh, our team had won over in Scotland, so as a 15-year-old I said, 'I want to be a Silver Fern.' Uh, and essentially, with the support of my family and our community, I achieved that goal. So I became a Silver Fern at the age of 17. I also remember the community here supporting me. Um, Sandy, who worked here at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College, we would clean the school, and then we'd go off to, uh, our trainings, whether they were here in Taupo or Tokoroa or Putaruru. I'd made the senior South Waikato team then. So, you know, I feel really, uh, privileged and humbled that I came from a community that supported me 100%. And I could never have achieved what I did without the community support. I was 9 years old when I came to NZ. I came by myself, but we came as a group. There are three islands, so they choose all different scholarships from there. So there's about six of us going at the same time. Don't know where you're going. You're missing and you start realising that you're gonna miss your parents, and you're gonna be homesick, and you don't know what you're gonna be, um` the food, and you have to get used to it with, uh, the life that we had in Tokelau. The National Party led by, uh, Keith Holyoake, they introduced this, um, programme they called 'resettlement scheme', and this allowed all the Tokelauans to come here. So in 1967 a group from Tokelau came to Taupo. And my father, my parents, came in the first group. And it was amazing when I first met them ` not just my parents ` the first group that came in that time. It just` So pleased. Oh, this is my passport when I was actually ready to come for the scholarship from Tokelau Island. As you can see the date, I was only just about 9 then. This is the Taupo District Council, and I was awarded for helping out the wider community, involving everything ` the sport, Taupo District Council, school, church and everywhere. And she came all the way from Wellington to do this, um, blessing or affirming in Taupo. This is when I was actually affirming to be a JP. And there's, uh, three of us here so far. According to the judge, as you can see down here, probably the first Tokelauan to affirm to be one. UPLIFTING MUSIC I came here in 1975. The first time I came to Taupo in 1975, the Tokelauan community was very big at that time. There were 1500 Tokelauan settled in Taupo at that time. Well, the only job when the first group came here ` the forestry. It used to be owned by the government. 60 bottom rate. The ladies used to work at the sewing factory. Young people, they... go. They leave Taupo, uh, because of, uh, education and wanting to better their education, so they're chasing the universities. The community` Tokelauan community is getting smaller now. About 500 Tokelauans settling in Taupo. Also they're moving to Australia, seeking more money and employment. And, uh, the old people now have passed away. TOKELAUAN CHORAL MUSIC Well, today the community is gonna have a big party. They decided to acknowledge all the ones who, uh, turned 60. The hall is named Tokelauan, so we are the only group in NZ who go under the name Tokelau. And when you go in the hall, the big sign in the front ` 'Tokelau'. Everybody entitled and got a right to be going to that hall, no matter whether you just come from the island maybe a couple of days. But when you go under the name Tokelau, you belong, and it sort of reminds you you belong to Tokelau Island. There's, like, four things that are important to us. It's, um` It's our religion, family, culture is important, and, uh, sports. Like, the young` new generations that are coming through as well ` important for them to keep those links too to their own identities, and being able to grow up without their parents and their grandparents and all that. But it's cool. It keeps everyone` brings them all back together again. ALL SING IN HARMONY To the community, it's our tradition. Uh, he's our eldest male in our community, and we are very grateful that he's with us. He's very important. You can feel that people are so happy, and that's the way we were always brought up. That's who we are. Gather together. The music is one of ours ` it brings everybody together. And hopefully they will help our community and also our children coming up to hang on to our culture. ALL CHEER, CLAP SERENE, ROLLING MUSIC This is my sister Janice and my cousin Ngahere. We're here at our beautiful marae. So, um, our whanau here are ahi ka, which means that they continue to live on the land, live off the land, and for me, this really brings back memories to, uh, when our dad used to get up at 4 o'clock or 5 o'clock in the morning. He'd go and gather the trout, and we'd wake up and we'd have trout for breakfast, sometimes lunch and dinner. Uh, but what are the different varieties of trout that used to get cooked for us, cuz? Oh, the main one was whole trout, smoked trout, baked trout, uh, yeah, battered trout,... < (LAUGHS) ...raw trout... < Raw trout. Yeah. Look at that. That's perfect. < Yum. Thank you. Tastes like fish. > LAUGHTER So the experiences we've had here really are about family; they're about tradition; and they're about remembering people in the past. So, thank you, Dad. Thank you, Uncle Nick. And I'm going to enjoy this piece of trout. Kia ora. Yum. REFLECTIVE MUSIC I love the whole NZ ` the` the space, the fresh air, the green, which I don't have it at Cambodia. So that is, like, amazing. That's what it` I went home. I stayed there for six weeks, And I couldn't wait to come back to NZ. My name is Nen, and I was born in Cambodia. My parents are farmers. They grow chilli, they grow corns, they grow rice. And I have one brother and one sister. I didn't get to go to high school. And not just me ` a lot of girls quit before they got to high school. Some of them got married; some of them just couldn't. Like, their parents couldn't afford to go to high school. Like me, one of them that couldn't afford. DREAMY MUSIC I still went to study English. So I never stopped. I always found a way to do that. So, well... Growing chilli is not the only choice. But there must be something out there that I might like. This is where I used to work in Helicopters Cambodia. And, um, I had a good time. I worked as the office manager. Did the booking. Got to meet people to come and book for the flight ` tourists. All the type of tourists come from all over the world. Well, the fact that he went to visit his friend that I worked with the first time, we didn't have any interest, like, he did his own thing. I did my own thing. But then the second time, before I took him on the motorbike, he came for a cup of tea, which was` made me thinking how could he want a cup of tea in the hot morning? You know? Like... So I thought, 'Oh, is it maybe the way Kiwis drink?' The wedding was very special. Cambodia's just the most wonderful place, and unique. Those first couple of times when you go there, it's just` everything is new. And` But the wedding, the wedding was great, you know? Yeah, we had a lot of` We had a lot of fun. Good time. Yeah, we had a lot of fun. LIGHT, GENTLE MUSIC Moving to NZ, it was terrifying ` the new environment, the new friends that you had to make, new challenges. But all of those things have made me grow as the person I am today. Mum and Dad are here, so I thought we might just try to do the curry that we usually eat back in Cambodia when we were young. So, yeah, I'm cooking tonight that curry for Mum and Dad and the whole family. LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC I got Mum to help me. She's a great help. She taught me to cook any` like, a lot of our normal food, everyday food. But I've seen her cook Cambodian chicken curry when I was young. I didn't get to cook because it is a fancy food for us back then, so she didn't want me to muck it up, her expensive food. So I got to sit down and watch her cooking. I have lemongrass in this, garlic and... Oops. And, um, galangal. And... to make this yellow colour, curry powder. PLAYFUL MUSIC I think I was told that because we were in a farm, in the heat, so we needed a lot of water, so that's why they cooked soups, like, almost all the time. Having Mum and Dad... to sit down sometime during the day, talk about what we used to do at home, what happened to the girl that used to go to school with me, what happened to the girl who got married when she was 16, life is so different... I am proud because when I go to Cambodia, I go and visit them, and I thought, 'Well, I actually have a good life.' I mean, like, the way that I want it. Cos I don't want to... to grow chilli the same as my parents and have a lot of children and never got to go anywhere else, to look outside what's out there in the world. So I am proud of every` every step I took, you know? Like, to come this far. UPLIFTING MUSIC Taupo's changing. New NZers are settling here in our wonderful community. But for me, Taupo is also consistent. Ko Tongariro te maunga, ko Taupo te moana, ko Ngati Tuwharetoa te iwi. Together, we can ensure that all people who call Taupo home have a turangawaewae ` a place to stand, that they're valued and respected as equal citizens. Captions by Madison Batten. Edited by Glenna Casalme. www.able.co.nz Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright Able 2016