Fakatoukatea Indigenous Leadership

Matariki 🌟✨💫

Malie Papakura High School!

Kia ora.

Malo 🥰

❤️

Anahila Kanongata'a for Papakura at Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa Symposium

🥰😇

Today I celebrate our big brother, Haniteli Kanongata'a 🪽who was born on 15 June 1965. I arrived four years later on 22 June.

As I sit here looking at a photo of us from 1983, so many memories come flooding back. In the photo, I am holding my Fakame notes because I had to read them — I never quite mastered memorising them. Teli, on the other hand, needed no notes. He was brilliant at Fakame, often getting the starring roles while I happily took on the role of narrator.

From the day I was born, I knew he was Mum's favourite. I was always okay with that as that was our fatongia - to look after our brothers. Teli got the best birthday gifts and I was grateful for whatever came my way. As long as Teli was happy, that was enough for us.

He had a gift for making people laugh. I miss the way he would mock all of us, including the kids and somehow get away with it. His humour, confidence, talent and presence filled every room he entered.

Today, on what would have been his 61st birthday, I remember him with love, gratitude and a smile.😇

ʻOfa atu, Teli. You are deeply missed and forever loved. ❤️

📸 *1983 — Teli and me. One with notes, one without😊

Malo 💪🙌

Happy Friday! - Quality time with my youngest 💪🙌❤️! Have a blessed Weekend!

Fakalata