E NEWS 14th JULY 2023
We were shocked by the news of Margaret Rushbrook’s critical diagnosis last Friday. She is being well cared for by her children and she welcomes texts from her friends at SAOTT. Also in hospital is Bridget Martin, she has been there almost two weeks and after many tests is still awaiting a diagnosis. Another of our parishioners will be having a brain procedure next week and I will be with her pre-op. Please keep them all in our prayers.
I attended the Launch of the Vaka of Stories in Auckland last Thursday 6th July. The Vaka journeys will now begin this Saturday in West Auckland then travelling down the country and stopping at various stops along the way where people will be able to share/tell/record their untold stories of their experiences of the Dawn Raids. Sad to say it is still happening today. There is still much trauma from those who were deported and harshly treated by the police at the time, that generation don’t want to talk about it, but this vaka is an encouragement for them to do this in a safe place. We have arranged for counsellors and clinical psychologist from Le Va to be present. There are rooms to talk in private as well open public session options. The Vaka will reach Wellington in the CBD and Porirua on 1st and 2nd September. This will end early September in Dunedin. This is some of our Vaka Team below from left Sonia Pope Clinical Psychologist, Assoc Prof Dr Melanie Anae also one of the founders of the anti-racism Polynesian Panthers, the Hon. Barbara Edmonds Minister of Pacific Peoples, me SAOTT, and Matalaoa Barlow Auckland University. These Vaka stops are open to the public.
On Friday night I had a wonderful dinner reunion with all my siblings and in-laws, we had a fabulous time and if I was to give it an emoji, I would call our gathering “healing” it 
was so good for the spirit and soul. Sadly, we are still awaiting a date for the dis-interment of our dear mum from her crypt after Cyclone Gabriel caused all the crypts to leak and now need repair. Our dear mum is not resting in peace.
My aunty Lily died on the 5th of July aged 95, the last of the Mohicans on mum’s side of the family. She had dementia for 8 years, after eating her lunch on Wednesday last week she sat in her lazy boy chair and when the caregiver returned 5 minutes later, she had passed away very gently and peacefully. What a nice way to go. I visited her last surviving daughter on my way to the airport on Saturday morning. The families 3-storey beautiful home in Hillsborough with views of the 3 harbours the Hauraki Gulf, Kaipara and the Manukau harbours from their 3rd floor lounge. Their house has now been yellow stickered after Cyclone Gabriel and their home is teetering close to a cliff that has emerged after the backyard disappeared. Their multi-million dollar home is now worthless, not sure what Insurance claims they will be able to make.
On Sunday early morning I tried to watch the rugby live on my Sky sports app on my phone and transfer it on to my Chromecast on TV, but alas I could not so I downloaded an app which said “watch the All Blacks test live” which I did it cost $3.49. Nothing appeared, no rugby so in my disappointment I listened to it on the radio. Today I had a deduction from my credit card for $59.99 from MyBudget.net that I apparently paid the $3.49 for the non-existent rugby game app unbeknownst to me. They say they will now continue to take payments from my credit card for their services unless I cancel, and hello there is no contact address to cancel. I’ve been scammed. The bank has now cancelled my credit card and handed it over to the Disputes Request to investigate. Unbelievable and very unnerving and scary makes you feel sick to the stomach.
I soothed myself on my day off on Monday and went to my new favourite go to place, the Lighthouse Petone Cinema and watched a great movie. I want to recommend a feel good movie “Sugar and Stars” part of the French Film Festival based on a true story. I won’t give the story line away, so if you get a chance do go and see it.
I’m looking forward our Kapiti Coast Cluster group this Saturday at the home of Russell and Gillian Feist.
This Sunday is Matariki, and for Reflection Time we will be having a Panel of 5 people from our church talking about their Waka Journey to this place, this city, this country and also about where they feel their Turangawaewae is either here in Aotearoa NZ or elsewhere. Afterwards we will be having a shared lunch of soup and bread. Be great to see as many of you as are able come and join us.
Enjoy your Matariki holiday on Friday. Fei
You can read the full E-new here: https://mailchi.mp/c469f002ecf3/this-weeks-newsletter-from-st-andrews-on-the-terrace-9370715
