Page 126 - Mistified Update June 2020_Neat

He held my hand for a moment and I felt like we
were dear, dear old friends. He then reached out and
drew me into a hongi. The moment our noses touched,
my Dad, Kahurangi, flashed in front of me smiling.

“Call me Uncle Pineaha, I am uncle to everyone
who is destined to meet up with me.”
Then he explained the legend, “The departing
spirits travel up the west coast of 90 mile beach to a
point just below Cape Maria Van Diemen; then head
inland and up to a very, very ancient Pohutukawa tree
that takes spirit down through her roots and releases
the spirit into the sea to continue a northern journey to
Manawatawi (The Great King Island) 20 miles north of
the cape. From there, the spirit ascends some 35,000
feet helped by the Kaitiaki, the current guardian, until
they depart.

After making sure I was all right he said that it was
okay for me to sleep here; he would return to the
carpark to sleep in his van. I was relieved to know this
kindly uncle was watching over me.

Unfortunately, my mind and emotions kept racing
the entire night and by the time sunrise came I could
bare it no longer.
I stood on the edge of the cliff crying to the sky for
answers. I had trouble standing; the winds were fierce

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