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-  Kasia De Vydt-Jillings

With Matariki upon us, celebrated broadcaster Miriama Kamo's thoughts always turn to her beloved late father Raynol.

“He was so funny and silly, and loved making people laugh,” remembers Miriama, 51. “If he could make you laugh, he was happy. But he was also wise and clever.”

Matariki is traditionally a time of reflection, to remember those who have passed on and to look forward and plan for the year ahead.

“Dad died during lockdown,” she recalls. “We didn't get to have a tangi for him, so it's always Dad I think of.”

Raynol passed away in August 2021 during a Level 4 lockdown, aged 89.

In his last years, Miriama was actively involved in caring for her father, who had dementia. He lived with her, husband Mike, 58, and their children Sam, now 25, and Te Rerehua-Hinehaka, 13. He wanted to be in Auckland to be closer to his 15 moko [grandchildren].

“I feel him around a lot. I was just telling Te Rerehua I feel like he's around,” smiles Miriama.

Taking a breath, she shares, unexpectedly, that writing the book Matariki Around The World, with close friend, Māori astronomy scholar Dr Rangi Matamua in 2022, was deeply healing.

“Rangi was really key in me being able to process that grief,” she says. “When we wrote the book he told me, ‘I'm not going to write an acknowledgement, I want you to use that space for your dad. Taramainuku will be releasing him into the heavens, so use this space and time to acknowledge him.’”

In the Māori world, Taramainuku collects the spirits of those who have passed during the year and carries them on his waka until they are released as stars when the Matariki constellation rises again.

“Rangi didn’t just make space, he helped put a framework around my grief for my father.”