Home and Away's Parata family perform a haka in emotional tribute to Mikaere
Home and Away spoilers follow for UK viewers.
Home and Away's Parata family perform a haka on the beach next week, as a moving tribute to Mikaere.
Ari (Rob Kipa-Williams), Tane (Ethan Browne) and Nikau (Kawakawa Fox-Reo) pay their respects to Mikaere after being blocked from being present for the scattering of his ashes in New Zealand.
As we've already revealed, the Parata family make plans to leave the country for a while in order to give Mikaere the send-off he deserves.
Sadly, only Gemma is able to go, as policeman Colby Thorne (Tim Franklin) puts a block on Ari, Tane and Nikau's passports in order to stop them from travelling.
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Colby makes this decision as he believes that Ari, Tane and Nikau are keeping secrets over the recent robbery at the Diner, which is still unresolved.
The family's setback is particularly hard on Nikau, who's devastated to be absent for the scattering of his father's ashes.
Nikau locks himself away in his bedroom and refuses to talk to anyone, prompting his love interest Bella Nixon (Courtney Miller) to step in and offer to be his confidante.
Later, the family comes up with a plan to honour Mikaere in a different way. Ari, Tane and Nikau head to the beach to perform the haka in Mikaere's memory.
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The haka is a ceremonial dance in Māori culture, which can be performed in a variety of different contexts – including rugby games, birthdays, weddings or funerals.
In real life, New Zealand film-maker Tainui Stephens wrote this haka especially for Home and Away. Cultural advisor Kani Collier came to the set to teach the actors how to perform it.
Rob Kipa-Williams, who plays Ari, recently told New Zealand website Stuff: "Because I was unable to return to New Zealand for the passing of my aunty a few weeks ago, this episode is super, super special and I really dedicate it to her.
"As my family carried her from the meeting house to the hearse, my cousin was carrying the phone and my family broke out into haka and I was able to join them on the other side of the Tasman, to send her on her way, and I guess in this episode we really do get to see this happening as well.
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"My hope is that Australia receives it well and with respect and they get a healthy understanding for why it might be performed, not just at a rugby game, but to express our love for someone.
"It actually makes me emotional thinking about it to be honest. It's an honour and I feel very grateful to be able to tell a story of an act of love for the death of a loved one from a Māori perspective on an Australian television show, and I think it's an Australian first."
Home and Away airs these scenes on Monday, August 10 at 1.15pm and 6pm on Channel 5.
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