The Father (Part 1)

Episode 7 - The Father (Based on a True Story) 

One of my jobs over the years was teaching kapa haka at the local prison. During my travels, I had come across a social worker helping Māori inmates cope with the harsh realities of prison life. He told me about an inmate, a relative of his, who was in the "Hannibal the cannibal" category - extremely dangerous, to the point of having to wear a face grill in public. However, this inmate was an old man, a koroua, who seemed unassuming and rarely spoke. But appearances can be deceiving. The entire prison, both inmates and guards, were terrified of him, and everyone knew to keep their distance. There was something about this old man that frightened everyone so much that no one dared to even look at him. The social worker was convinced that he could help this inmate, but he was about to learn two important lessons: first, that some people cannot be helped, and second, the real reason why everyone feared him. 

 

T.A. Whero