Our first couple of days in the Gisborne area we stayed with my Aunty Amy who is my Nanna's sister and her daughter Aunty Maureen. Aunty Mo taught us lots about my grandmother's side of the family and our marae, where we would be staying at Christmas.
We also took a drive up the coast to where my grandfather was from. We drove past a cemetary that I recognised from visiting last time we were here so stopped and found lots of old Matete graves and a Herewini one, which is my brother's middle name. Then we found grandad's marae, there was nobody there but it was really peaceful with an eagle circling above it.
On the way back we stopped at Whangara to see the marae there, which was used in the film Whale Rider, with our ancestor Paikea on the top. It's really beautiful and looks out to sea. We had a walk on the beach, the bay is really picturesque and you can easily see how it would inspire a film!