Mana
Age: 25
Education:
School cert, U.E.,B.A. Majoring in commerce.
Interests:
Surfing, Kapahaka, Travel, Mountain biking, Cultures.
Background:
His father died in an accident when he was fourteen. He became the father
figure of the family helping mum raise Kimi who was five and DJ who
was two. After his father died they sold up and moved to the city. He
stayed focused on his studies and helped mum keep the family together
.He majored in commerce at university passing with honours. He can speak
fluent Māori, English, and Japanese. After University he worked
for a Info tech company developing software for the Japanese markets
and then took an opportunity to work in Japan for three years with Toshiba.
He has always kept fit and healthy. He plans to buy a nice car and set
up a family business when he gets back from overseas.
Traits: He is confident and full of life. Serious, responsible, thoughtful,
loyal, and independent.
Kimi
(Kimiria)
Age: 17
Education: School
cert.
Interests: Music,
Partying, Fashion, Boogie boarding, Singing, Songwriting, Hanging out.
Background:
Kimi was often in trouble at primary school mainly because of her lack
of respect for authority. She is opinionated and confident. She has
trained in Zendo Kai since she was six and had reached brown belt when
she gave it up last year. She recently got a Māori tattoo between
her shoulder blades and has a pierced tongue. Kimi thinks for herself,
hates drugs, but has tried them. She will hold a grudge against anyone
who crosses her.
Traits: Rebellious, emotional, to the point, up front, caring, loyal,
and easily led.
D.J.
(Dan Junior)
Age: 11
Education: Last
year at intermediate
Interests: Skateboarding,
BMX riding, Music, Scratching, Collecting cards, Hanging out with his
friends.
Background: Was
born in the city so didn't experience the country life. His father died
when he was two. He looks up to his brother Mana. While Mana was away
D.J had some trouble at school. His main distraction being his passion
for BMX riding and skateboarding. He has a lively personality and is
happy with himself. He gets on well with others including adults.
Traits: Confident, easily led, street wise, immature, intelligent, mummies
boy.
Hiria
Age: 44
Education:
Interests: Gym,
Squash, Reading, History.
Background: She
was born in Murupara. She left school at fourteen to work in the shearing
sheds where she met Dan. They bought a winery together as a young couple
staying there for four years until Dan died when a tractor rolled on
him. After which she moved the family to the city where they stayed
with her brother for two years. She worked part time and saved enough
money for them to get a house of their own in the suburbs. Her brother
Takiri (Taki) paying half the deposit needed to get their mortgage.
During this time she was on the solo benefit and working under the table
doing several part time jobs. She has found it hard to cope with Mana
overseas but wanted him to experience life away from the family.
Traits: Motherly, caring, loving, superstitious.
Uncle Taki (Takiri )
Age: 50
Education: No formal
qualifications.
Interests: Watching
sport, golf, reading.
Left school at thirteen,
left home in the same year. Worked in the shearing sheds for most of
his teenage years. Moved to the city in his late teens. Worked as a
labourer on building sites. Gained enough experience to become an experienced
builder. Worked as foreman for a building contractor for five years.
His hard work he has put into his business has paid off in the financial
security he has. He is a cristian but doesn't go to church. He loves
his sister and treats her kids as his own.
Traits: Bigoted, humorous, loud, supportive, loyal to his family, opinionated.
Ngareka
Age: 17
Education: school
cert.
Interests: Hanging
out, mates, music,
Was born in the
city. Her mother raised her alone, she never met her father. She's independent
and looks out for herself. She has had trouble with authority for most
of her school years. She was expelled from her last school for smoking
dope, and then caught shoplifting. She hasn't got many real friends.
She has a pierced tongue, and eyebrow, has a tattoo of a barcode on
the back of her neck. She wears the latest clothes.
Traits: Abrupt, vengeful, liar, streetwise, intelligent, jealous, attention
seeker, loud, violent
Aunty Hine
Age 51
Education: School
cert, UE, Art degree,
Interests: Art,
culture, design, classical arts, history, feminism, Music, meditation,
wholesome living.
Was born in Dargaville.
She studied art and design in Sydney. She lived there for two years
opening an art gallery which became very successful. She bought her
business back to New Zealand and set up in Auckland. She is very entrepreneurial
which was something she shared with her brother Dan. She was devastated
when her brother died and blamed Hiria. She loves her nieces and nephews
but couldn't face them after the death of her brother because they always
reminded her of him. The death of her brother bought her closer to her
Māori roots. She is well known in the Māori art world.
Traits: Business like, understanding, meticulous, profound, well spoken,
loyal.
