Nikau Parata of Home and Away dazzles his uncle Tane with a crucial turning point on UK television next week.
Since his other uncle Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams) gave a fake confession to Matthew Montgomery’s murder, Nikau has been struggling.
Ari took the fall to protect his fiancée Mia Anderson (Anna Samson) and her daughter Chloe (Sam Barrett), but Nikau is concerned that he may be sentenced to life in prison.
Tane (Ethan Browne) chooses to help Nikau by taking him on a spiritual journey, as we previously detailed.
Tane instructs Nikau on how to handle the Taiaha, a traditional Mori weapon, in a tranquil riverside setting.
Tane feels that the Taiaha can bring spiritual direction in tough times, and that this might be an essential rite of passage for Nikau as the Parata family prepares to face what lies ahead with Ari.
Tane encourages Nikau to keep trying even though he has some early difficulties with the Taiaha.
Tane also performs a professional demonstration in the hopes of motivating his nephew.
Nikau has finally gotten his stride with the Taiaha in next week’s broadcasts on Channel 5.
Tane is pleased by Nikau’s fighting spirit and determines that the Taiaha, which originally belonged to Nikau’s father, should be permanently handed up to him.
Nikau is ecstatic about what he’s accomplished, but Tane reminds him of their initial training goal: they must now return to Summer Bay and confront whatever awaits them with Ari.
Nikau recognises that the difficult trip ahead is far from over.
Nikau’s Kawakawa Fox-Reo recently commented about how important it is for Home and Away to continue to reflect Mori culture on TV.
“For many people, it’s their first touch with what it’s like to be a Mori, and I’m delighted to be a part of it,” he told the New Zealand website Stuff. However, this is only the top of the iceberg.
“I want to be clear that there are so many more things that are just as rich, and there is so much to offer that we haven’t featured on the show,” she says.
