He Tangata
Profiling our very own.
Harley Nathan
Don’t be fooled by Matua Harley’s 89 years of age! You will not find a walking frame parked next to his favourite chair, there are no handrails leading up to his front door and don’t even think about treating this octogenarian with cotton wool lined kid gloves... Born on the 5thof November 1928 on the Papakainga at Orakei to Te Ruihi Netana and Miriama Paenganui Aparehama, Matua Harley and his siblings lived in a whare just across from where the present day bathing sheds are located.
While he was still a baby his parents moved the whanau to Reweti where his grandmother, Te Hiria Nathan (Kawharu) was living. Matua Harley spent his growing years attending the local schools, helping on the whanau plot and being involved in the life and activities of Whiti – Te – Ra Marae. During this time there were still many trips to Orakei with his parents to visit whanau and this continued until he left Seddon Memorial Technical School and began an Engineering apprenticeship in the city.
It didn’t take the keen musician long to explore the city’s burgeoning music scene which featured many up and coming young Maori bands. Places like the Trades Hall and the Municipal Dance Hall in Victoria Street were the top spots of the day and fuelled his appetite to play in a band. Together with four other young Maori men the new band was formed and quickly began to draw a large following. The dance hall managers recognised the potential of the up-and-coming new band and soon they were the Thursday night regulars at the Municipal Dance Hall and had even won the coveted regular Saturday night slot at the Trades Hall. Professional wrestler turned hotelier, Lofty Blomfield would have his launch waiting at the wharf at the bottom of Albert Street to whisk the band off to Waiheke Island to play at his hotel on the Sunday afternoon where sandy-footed guests danced in swimming togs and quaffed copious amounts of kai and drink.
By day Matua Harley was the hard working engineering apprentice and by night the hard playing member of a popular band yet he still found time for his other passion, dancing. By the late 40’s he had met a young woman from Morrinsville who proved a willing partner at the regular dance competitions held at Te Puru o Tamaki, winning on more than one occasion.
Eventually his apprenticeship required him to be ship-based and while serving aboard a vessel transporting war brides to the USA Matua Harley made the realisation that life as an engineering apprentice may have great benefits in the long term, but his short term dreams and goals were changing. With the Waitamata and the Kaipara in his blood the lure was not to be on the sea, not even to be in the sea, but to be under it, as a deep sea diver. Leaving his apprenticeship with only a year to go Matua Harley embarked on a career that took him to many far flung corners of the world to work contracts as diverse as salvaging torpedoed and bombed boats to the varied tasks of a construction diver and running his own company.
It was while he was living on his boat moored at Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island that opportunities began to fall in to place that would ultimately take him to Nelson, the town at the top of the South Island that would eventually become his home.
These included an offer to look after the bar at Kawau Island for the Publican which lead to the chance meeting with a person who knew a person who needed a person who had the skills Matua Harley had... which lead to a job selling Heavy Industrial Machinery all over the North Island relieving staff who were taking leave... which lead to winning a 3 week all expenses paid holiday to anywhere in the country... which lead to a return visit to Nelson and the districts of Tasman and Marlborough... which lead to a job at Golden Bay... which lead to meeting a lovely lady who would become his partner in life and business... which lead to buying a gold claim on the Buller River and building a dredge... which lead to establishing a hugely popular and very busy Tea Room and Catering company in Nelson... which has lead to... a richly deserved retirement following a life of adventure and challenges faced full on.
Yet, even in retirement Matua Harley continues to live a rich and diverse lifestyle, regularly driving the 200 odd kilometres to Westport to visit his daughter is almost a small journey, he wants to drive to Auckland. He has taught himself to find his way around the electronic world and prefers to do all his business online. The back courtyard is flooded with colour from the well-tended flower garden yet also shares space with a well stocked and varied vegetable garden. He takes an avid interest in local politics. He attends Te Reo classes at the local Polytech.
As if that isn’t enough to keep him busy, Matua Harley has also started a new project, carving a tekoteko, a project he predicts should take at least a few years to complete.
For a man who celebrates his 90thbirthday in a few weeks...
Yes, I repeat, don’t be fooled by Matua Harley’s 89... make that 90 years!
(Just to boast: During my visit with Matua Harley and Whaea Jo I was served whitebait fritters that they, along with Whaea Jo’s sister, caught themselves on one of their driving trips to Westport... and they were delicious).
Written by Steve Pihema
