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Piripi Walker introduces an interview with Ngāi Tahu kuia, Raukura Erana Gillies, known to many as Tāua Fan. It was recorded when Raukura was over ninety years of age, by her mokopuna the late Irihāpeti Ramsden (Ngāi Tahu, Rangitāne), who was a nursing educator and writer.
This recording was made in 1986 at the home of her father Taare Tikao, at Rāpaki, Whakaraupō (Lyttelton Harbour).
Taare was of the Ngāti Irakehu / Ngāti Hinekura / Ngāi Tuahūriri / Ngāti Moki and Ngāi Tutehuawera hapu of Ngāi Tahu.
Piripi Walker says Raukura was one of the few native Ngāi Tahu speakers of te reo Māori left, at the time of the interview.
Raukura talks about her name, her upbringing / childhood (kimokai) and mentions stories of Hinematioro, a Māori ancestress of Ngāti Porou who lived at Whangara.
She also speaks of her marriage to Bob Gillies of Ngāti Kahungungu.
She loved speaking te reo Māori and describes the Kāi Tahu Māori name for pencil: pene rakau/ pene waiwaho and an ink pen was pene mamako. She says she used to pronounce her husband's iwi 'Kahukuku'.
She talks of planning a big trip to Rotorua to see the Prince of Wales [1920], but it had to be cancelled as she had to help nurse during an epidemic at the time.
She later delivered many babies around Rāpaki and Whakaraupo, including Irihapeti's mother.
On one occasion Raukura travelled to the North Island to Parewanui and was surprised to find one of her close friends Te Uira Te Heu Heu there, who told her she was reluctantly engaged to be married to Kingi Mahuta's son from the Waikato. She tells of her visit and their adventures around Rangitikei.