(MUSIC BECOMES ELEGANT) Captions by Kristin Williams. Edited by Tracey Dawson. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2020 (BELL TOLLS) (CURIOUS MUSIC) Nona's office is small,... and it's exactly two square metres of mess. Fehi, dear, we're gonna look at Fiona's office. FEHI: Oh, what's happening in Fiona's office? WOMAN: Francis wants to clean it out. We're gonna surprise her and clean it up. Francis always wants to clean my office cos he thinks it's a pigsty. But he doesn't understand that I put certain things in my office so then I know how to operate. I don't even know why you bother to clean it. It's not gonna last long. It only lasts a day, and then you're back at it again. (CHUCKLES) GLOOMILY: I know. I sort of don't like him cleaning my office cos then he gets poor Fehi in to help as well. He can't do anything on his own. He always has to have helpers. Fehi, what else are we gonna throw? Oh my gosh, don't` (GASPS) She was eating that this morning. She just` (CHUCKLES) You're gonna be dead in her eyes now. Oh, I'll never die with her. Nona doesn't like me in her office. She doesn't like any of us in her office cleaning it. And I know why, cos she has her stuff strategically placed. Miss Fiona Bakulich. (GASPS) She's got Roses. Oh my goodness. KAIORA: Should we be throwing that out? Yeah. We won't throw the Roses. Francis is always cleaning her office. He's her cleaner. (VACUUM WHIRRS) Oh God. Look at that. What's wrong, dear? Is it broken? The thing here is completely coming off. Yeah. I'll get on my knees. Oh, dear. She's got about 10 pairs of shoes. I think I'm encouraging her to keep it clean. But what happens is she quite likes the encouragement. And so she just wants encouragement all the time. I filled up a rubbish bag, a Kleensak, of rubbish. (GENTLE MUSIC) (FAST PIANO MUSIC) Thank you, dear. Can you help me lift the casket? Yeah. Which one? What time does your service start? 6. Oh, I'm sorry. Tonight we're so busy at the funeral home. We've got three funerals to organise, and at the same time, we have Fiona's own family service for her whanau here in the chapel, so we need to move quickly as to not make too much noise. Oh, aue! I love it when Nona has her own family funerals here because she's well looked after with all the food and the supper plates, but so are we. Where's the food? No, for you. That's for you. WHISPERS: Oh. After. Eat after. WHISPERS: Eat after. Uh-huh. Fiona no eating. Skinny. Today we have someone special ` my family member Auntie Malua-Tai Lei Filimaua. Auntie's been quick sick for a while ` heart problems and recently was diagnosed with cancer. Auntie Lei's personality ` very cheeky. Sometimes very quiet. Just a typical auntie who would like to always make everyone laugh. You all right? Just leave it over there. Take it back to the lounge? Just leave it in there for now. Yeah. Growing up, my parents were funeral directors, and we've always been around death. It could be cremation, cremation tomorrow. Not too sure. 'My mother was the first female Polynesian funeral director back in 1985. 'And my brother Nicholas, he's a funeral director. He has been for over 30 years now.' (CONGREGATION SINGS IN SAMOAN) The front there, on the right-hand side. Mum's over there on the left. 'Tonight our immediate family is having a small family gathering.' They don't wanna call it 'a family service'. They said it's just a gathering just to celebrate her life with a few family. (CONGREGATION SINGS IN SAMOAN) I'm not celebrant tonight. I'm actually funeral director/niece. I would never wanna be celebrant at my family funerals or any other kind of event. They're the worst critics. No, thanks. (GENTLE MUSIC) It's not just Nona's office that I like to be tidy, it's everywhere. Upstairs in lounge two, Vanessa's creating a new cup of tea area, or refreshment area, for the whanau. So there's no need to be running up and down stairs any more. It's all there at their fingertips. (PLAYFUL MUSIC) (SMACKS LIPS, SIGHS) I think I'll hide these. (CHUCKLES) KAIORA: Vanessa, she is my top admin. I think she's quite nervous. Francis has given her this task, so now she's, like, thinking of Francis ` 'Oh, is it gonna be, like, exactly how he would like it?' (CHUCKLES) Oh, here we go. I'm sure this could go here. It won't be long before Francis comes in, changes it. Vanessa is good, but nobody is 'Francis-good'. But don't you think there's too many jars here? Yeah, I do, actually, dear. But you do too, so, you know, I mean... So, what do you think? I need the master's touch. This is your room. Dear, you already knew anyway. I'm just wondering where shall we put these? That's what I mean. Yeah. You` Mm. I better not tell you but... No, no, no. Oh, well done, Ness. Honestly, you already knew, dear. I'd never change things if you put it the way you had it the wrong way. (CHUCKLES) 'Surprisingly, Vanessa is doing a beautiful job. She's got that eye for detail and coordination.' And how I know that is you can look at someone by their make-up. If their make-up's beautiful, then you'll know that they'll be good at decorating. I've just gotta find a new place for these ornaments that` I mean, right now we're all blending in. 'Fehi wears bright lipstick and bright makeup, um, (CLEARS THROAT) 'appropriate to, you know, the culture.' But it doesn't mean that she is good at decorating. You know what I mean? So, this` It looks a lot better now, eh? Yeah. Heck, yeah. Yeah. Cool. And I reckon a fridge here, eh? A little fridge. Yeah, and maybe` Vanessa's makeup is just light, you see? So everything that she is gonna do is gonna be like that. Hey, man. Oh, hey. Come to check out the car? BOTH: Yeah. - Josh. - Jen. Hi. She's in pretty good nick. Only done 110,000 K's. WOF and rego. You know, full service history. (OMINOUS MUSIC) What is this? This is a one-star safety-rated car. Yeah. Try and get in. (HORN TOOTS) My body's, like, folded in half. I don't understand what's going on. People don't often think about how a car will crash and how it will protect you. That's what a star safety rating tells you. Just can't imagine` If we crashed in a car like this, there's no way we would survive. (OMINOUS MUSIC) * Today Nona is funeral directing her auntie's final funeral service. We've only got 50 minutes in here. How come? Cos they only` Cos we have to include the 10 minutes to walk in and out, so that's the hour. Nona's great at a funeral. I mean, this is a family funeral. And her brother's in attendance, her mother's in attendance ` they're all funeral directors ` so she's not short of assistance. Although, Nona will want to be in charge. (GENTLE, EMOTIVE MUSIC) My auntie who is left who is Lei's sister is getting up to speak today. (SPEAKS IN SAMOAN) She is the only eulogy from our family, and she's got a really beautiful voice too when she sings, so looking forward to that. (CONGREGATION SINGS IN SAMOAN) Samoan community is very strong for our family. We were raised in the culture. There was no way that we could speak English when our grandparents were here. I go to Mangere Cemetery a lot cos most of my relatives are buried there, um,... and I find it a really peaceful place to go and spend some time with our loved ones. (CONGREGATION SINGS IN SAMOAN) (SPEAKS SAMOAN) Yeah. With death, I feel like it's new beginnings. Our church does emphasise that this is only a temporary hold ` Earth ` and that death brings new life for our loved ones who have passed. (PRIEST SPEAKS SAMOAN) Auntie is going to be buried on top of her sister ` the sister that she loved and adored. Really crazy too when they had parties. So it's hilarious that they're going together. (GENTLE MUSIC) (ENCHANTING MUSIC) The new cup of tea area's all done. Vanessa's decorated it and got it beautiful, and the brand new fridge is in there all ready to go to serve up the cup of tea. Yay. (CLAPS, GIGGLES) Oh my God. It's bigger than the one downstairs. There you go. You can put the first water in. Why do you always wanna make upstairs better than downstairs? No, no, no, no. The new fridge upstairs, I think it's amazing. Mm. Wrong spot, but I love it. So, you just wanna make upstairs better than downstairs. No. No. I just wanna` Keep us modest and straight downstairs, right? Upstairs gets everything, and downstairs, we just get the ugly old stuff. Dear, I wanna ask you, do you like your office? I love my office. If only there was, like, new shoes and stuff there. Like, just, like` New shoes? You've got so many new shoes. We threw out so much rubbish. (SCOFFS) Nona's office is always messy. I really don't think she cares that anyone cleans it. So, do I get a small fridge downstairs? Small fridge? Mm. For...? My office. Well, I've started exercising. To point, I've lost around 15 kilos. So, yeah, I would love a little fridge in my office only because then it stops me from wanting to eat take-outs. If you can keep the office clean for three weeks,... Yeah? A month, say, a month. A month. Yeah. So I come in there ` no food, no scraps, I'll get you a fridge. OK. A little fridge. Nona won't be able to keep her office clean for a month. Well, you better try because we've got a bet on you. Yeah-yah. How much is the bet? How much do I win? No, no, no. The bet is between the staff that you` ...I can't keep it clean. For even three days. (LAUGHS) I don't even think she can keep her office clean for a week. (GENTLE MUSIC) (POIGNANT MUSIC) I te rangi nei e tiaki ana matou i a Reggie Phillips. Mr Phillips was 79 years of age, and he died of chronic lung issues and heart disease. We're having a little service for him at our Henderson branch in the chapel. And he has a lot of his mokopuna coming, his grandchildren coming, and they're quite emotional, which is so beautiful, and it also shows us how much they loved him and he loved them back too. Mr Phillips has 10 children, and his youngest daughter, Janine, has been the one taking care of him during his last moments. And so she's taken it upon herself to prepare and make funeral arrangements. (BIRDS CHIRP) (GRACEFUL PIANO MUSIC) (WOMAN CHANTS IN TE REO MAORI) Haere mai. You fullas come in. WOMAN: Haere mai. Haere mai ra. Tonight we're transferring Mr Phillips up to the local marae ` Te Piringatahi O Te Maungaarongo. (WOMAN CHANTS IN TE REO MAORI) Haere mai. Haere mai ra. In the Maori world, oratory ` especially on a marae ` is held in the most highest regard. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) The Maori language is very poetic and it's very metaphoric. And so there are some wonderful people ` kaikorero. (SPEAKS TE REO MAORI) After a kaikorero has spoken and a whaikorero has been given, traditionally, you should always have a waiata ready. # Nga Whakamoemiti ALL SING: # Whakawhetai # E ihu e # Mo ou # manaakitanga # Ki te iwi # e tau nei... Waiata tautoko or moteatea, they're held in the most high regard as well. We love to sing, as a Maori people. # ...ki te oranga # E te Ariki # Pai marire. # Mr Phillips ` or Reg, as he was known ` will lay on the marae for three days. And on the third day, we'll come back to the marae for his final funeral service and take him to the Helensville Cemetery. * (POIGNANT MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRP) Today I'm back at the marae for the final funeral service for Reg Phillips. A lot of people have gathered at the marae, and so we've needed to bring in some extra chairs into the wharenui. ALL SING: # Whakaaria mai # tou ripeka ki au. Reg had 32 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. # Titiro atu ai. # During the service, I learnt that Reg was a bit of a TV star, and he was known for his big smile, and he was always cracking jokes. (MAN CHANTS IN TE REO MAORI) We're taking Reg out of the marae for the last time, and we're taking him into the hearse. (SLOW PIANO MUSIC) At the hearse, Reg's youngest daughter, Janine, breaks down as she sees her dad laying in the back of the hearse. (WEEPS) We never know when grief is going to hit us, but for Janine, that was her moment there, seeing her dad in the back of the hearse. And understandably, as he's driving off now to his final resting place. (INSPIRING ELECTRONIC MUSIC) Reg's final resting place is at the Helensville Cemetery, and it is a beautiful cemetery right on top of the maunga, on top of the hill. (GUITAR PLAYS) And we're gonna turn around that way. Yeah. Towards Auntie Judy here. Haere mai. Nice and slow. PEOPLE SING: # Tama a te Atua # Tenei tonu matou # Arohaina mai. # Amine. # Kia ora mai tatou whanau. Tena koutou e haere mai nei ki te awhi tenei kaupapa tino aroha. Today Reg is going back to Papatuanuku, and he'll be joined with his wife, who's already buried there. The grave already has a concrete border around it. And what that means for us is at the time they made the concrete border, they wouldn't have thought of the next casket having to go on top. And we're gonna come down. You hold up. You come down. No, no, no. You come down. This side here. Stay there. Hold there. Hold there. Keep coming down. Keep coming down and tuck under the berm there. Don't` They'll fall off. Kei te pai. Now you're gonna come down together. Come down. 'The gravediggers have cleverly dug the hole, and then under the berm where the monument is, 'they've gone in just a little bit to enable us to place the casket's head in first 'and then the casket will fit all the way down into the grave.' (GUITAR PLAYS) PEOPLE SING: # Whakaaria mai # Tou ripeka ki au. # Janine has done a beautiful job organising everything for her dad. She can be very proud, and I'm sure her dad would be proud of what she's achieved and what the outcome of this tangihanga has been. I think she can move forward in her life knowing that she put on a beautiful send-off for her papa. (GENTLE MUSIC) (MISCHIEVOUS MUSIC) Nona's office hasn't been tidy for one month, in my opinion. (GRUNTS) But Nona's body has got smaller. I know where that's going ` in my room. And so I wanted to reward her for all her weight loss. Oh, dear... Yes? Look what I've found. What did you find? Oh. The rubbish behind your desk. You threw it there! No. You did it. You just crunched it up! Yes, you did! (GASPS) You put that there. It was on there, you liar. Gee. You're so naughty. I think in Nona's eyes, in her view, she has kept the office tidy. Well, the deal was that, you know, you kept your office clean. And I did. (GROANS) You know it. But Nona's tidiness is not actually... my or our tidiness. If I see any Vs in that fridge, Fiona,... Yeah, no. It's for her water. ...I'll be dealing to it. I don't know why. There's a whole water cooler over in the corner there. (EXHALES) It just feels like I don't need to say anything. Oh, I'm saying it all for you, eh? Yes. (CHUCKLES) Oh, she's lifting it. Oh my goodness. Oh wow. Oh my gosh. (CHUCKLE) Hey, what happened to your ankle? She picked that fridge up like it was a blimmin' Big Mac, and she drove it into her office. It was amazing. It's amazing what you` You know, how fast you move. Oh yeah. How fast you wanna clean your office for your fridge. Oh yes. Oh yes. Finally, he's actually taken my thoughts and my ideas and actually done something. And, you know, of course it's his own touch, but I love it. She can't even fit in her office, let alone a fridge. What the heck? Take my chairs out now. Vanessa's probably not happy, but I think Fiona's gonna share the fridge with her, so they can both put their waters and their carrots in the fridge. Captions by Kristin Williams. Edited by Tracey Dawson.