TŌKU TIPURANGA

Andy Clarke recently returned home from living in Australia.  Andy tells us that a whole day was dedicated to discussing his homecoming with his five children, and 15 mokopuna who remain in Perth and Sydney Australia.  While this was a hard decision, Andy yearned to return to his turangawaewae. Andy was born in Te Puke, and lived with his mother Tira Ngawaiata, his father Paddy Ngamanu Clarke, and two brothers at the end of Manoeka Road in their family homestead.  He attended Te Puke primary and high schools.  By the age of 17, his cousin Whare Clarke and Waiparani took him to Tokoroa to get a job in the Kinleith Forest Products Mill.  Like most things, you had to be 18years to work at the mill.  Andy added a year to his age in order to get his first job.  He continued to work there for two and a half years before leaving to return to Rotorua.  It was here he married his wife and later welcomed their first son born in 1968.  Andy took up a job with Waipa mill which was a part of New Zealand Forest Service (NZFS). He remained there for 12 years until he was eventually made redundant with the devolvement of the NZFS.  Following redundancy, he was employed by Carter Holt Harvey (PINEX) for ten years before moving to Australia. Andy now resides at the kaumaatua flats on the Road he was raised on – Manoeka.  He looks forward to supporting the paepae tapu, and doing whatever he can for the marae. Despite the separation from his tamariki and mokopuna Andy intends to spend Christmas with them, and looks forward to the birth of his first great grandchild due in January next year. Nga mihi ki a koe Andy.  Thank you for sharing your story with us.]]>