A familiar Raetihi figure

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 318, 19 December 1989, Page 7

A familiar Raetihi figure

by

donna

mcorath

Tewairua Makatea at 'about 85,' is known and respected among the maori community as a kaumatua (elder) of the Raetihi marae, and to others he's "Joker" the street walker.

Joker's life is a hard one to write about. Over recent years he has suffered a series of minor strokes that has left him incoherent in speech, but with full awareness and understanding of people and things around him. Through the eyes and memories of his friends it has been possible to pick up a sense of sincere comradeship between him and his world. It is easy to recognise the love he has for Raetihi arid\the Ratana Church. To those in business, Joker is a figure that walks the Seddon Street paths sometimes more than three times a day. Joker was born in Raetihi sometime in the early 1900's. His home was across the "papa" below Peter Perkin's Carrot Shed. At an early age Joker married his sweetheart from Otoko Pa on the Paraparas. Their wedding took place at Otoko where they both lived for a number of years while Joker worked for the Ministry of Works. Together he and his wife Ngatono had eight children. Later Joker brought his wife and family to Raetihi where he purcliased their Plunket Street home. Ngatono died soon after she moved into the Plunket Street home from a goitre infection. Since that day Joker has been alone though grandchildren occasionally visit and stay with him. Joker's home offers the bare essentials - a kitchen and a bed as well as his banjo and ukulele. His love for music and powerful ability to play with enthusiasm has marked him with a reputation as "The man with the banjo." He is often seen carrying a large brown bag with an old banjo and ukulele in-

side. Back home locked up in a case he keeps his favourite banjo. Joker enjoys playing in front of an audience. His favourite tune "Baby Blue" brings signs of frustration from being unable to sing, but a shout of laughter when he misses a note. Joker still continues to follow the things in life that mean the most. He still looks forward most of all to the gatherings of the Maori community and his admiration for children and theirs' for him is overwhelming. They love to hear him play his music and join in with him with his games and jokes, which gave him his nickname. Joker periodically spends time in Waimarino hospital, but he escapes for home the first chance he gets. Hospital staff, neigh-

bours £nd concerned friends watch over him

day by day. His son Mathew takes him home to Wellington and looks after him occasionally, but again its not long before he's on his way back home, pacing the streets and finding company and recognition among the towns folk.