A Tribute from The Administrator

Having acting aspirations as a child I was excited when I learned that a close member of the Kaa whanau was indeed living that dream.  I recall seeing 'Utu' as a young child and later saw him on other projects inlcluding 'The Bounty.'  I recall earlier seeing him in a miniseries based here in Australia playing a policeman.  I recently watched early morning TV here in Australia and lo and behold there he was with Jack Thompson on 'Spyforce.'   To me, he was a star!

At age 11, he came to Illminster Intermediate in Gisborne to address students at assembly.  I thought that this would be my chance to meet him in the flesh; to me it was like having the biggest star in the world coming to our school.  Our Syndicate had recently been to see 'Ngati' and so it was a big deal to have one of the main cast members at our school.  I had bragged at the screening of 'Ngati' that Wi Kuki Kaa was my uncle.  Not all my fellow students cared that much, though some were impressed.  I was jealous of Michael Tibble, the young heroine of the film - he not only got to meet and work with Kuki, but also got to pretend that he was his mokopuna.  Yet on this day in 1987, when Wi Kuki Kaa was just 10 rows of students away, I hesitated to impress upon my teacher the importance of such a meet or my familial relationship to the renowned actor, and we were ushered back to class immediately after assembly.  I never did get to meet him in person.

Then, last year I began this project - Te Whakapapa O Te Whanau Kaa.  My dilemma was that outside of my own lineage back to my Grandfather - I really didn't know much.  So, I got out the phonebook and started doing research.  I can't remember now who the whanau member was, but Kuki's home phone number was passed on to me. 

I picked up the phone.  I felt like I was 11 years old.  But I wasn't and I dialled the number with the assumed confidence of a 30 year old man.  A female voice answered, but then went to get Kuki upon request.  I almost hung up while I waited; I was nervous.

A forceful voice came through the copper wire.  I faltered beginning my explanation of why I was calling.   I wanted to make clear my relationship to him.  "Pat & Jill's moko?" he asked.  Indeed.  I went on about the website but he waited until I asked him a direct question.  Yeah, but What do you want from me?  He didn't say this but it was tonally implied.  So, I asked.  I needed help; I needed names, dates, places and stories.  I thought he'd say no. 

He didn't say no, but asked me if I had a pen ready.  Then, he gave me names.   Full names too.  For now he would give me the names and other info of his parents and his brothers and sisters.  He would oblige me with more later, only that he had to go out.  And in between he would tell me stories.  Anecdotes really.  He was funny; and had a foul mouth.  The F word would pop up frequently, and he never glossed over his opinion with diplomatic words.  He was different from his characters onscreen - they were subtle yet spoke volumes.  In person he was the inverse; he was charismatic.

I asked how his work was going.  Not much as usual.  "Not many leading Maori roles for old bastards like me," he said.

Then, I asked him for his email adress.  "What the !*?%ing hell you want that for?  Don't you put that on the internet.  I'll have all kinds of silly bastards e-mailing me!"  He was shouting, but he wasn't.  I almost tikoed my pants. 

I rushed in, "No, no, no, it's just for me, I promise, I only want to e-mail updates and stuff."

"Oh, that's OK then.  So long as you don't  give it out to anyone.  Got a pen?"

"Yep!"  I never did use it.

I couldn't have thanked him enough and he said 'Kia Ora boy.'  Seal of approval!  "Give my love to Pat & JIll and Mita, your dad - I saw him on Starquest."  Really?  That was in 1983?  He had a good memory! 

Ka kite, he said. 

Ka kite, I said.

In a thirty-minute phone call I had collated more information than I had hoped and met an idol of mine.  He was one of the first whanau outside of my Grandfathers lineage that I spoke to who was more than willing to share what he knew.  I count on that for this website.  Wharekawa in Christchurch was a huge contributor as well  in my investigative infancy.  But to finally meet my childhood idol - though my dreams have changed - was special.  Not all whanau are confident about the objectives of this website.  Kuki was.  If the information about the Kaa family's history is not passed on it will die with those that possess it.  Kia Ora Kuki - your legacy will not die.

May he rest in peace. 

In Memoriam

Wi Kuki Kaa

16 December 1938 - 19 February 2006