Amalia Osborne
Kiwi TV star Aidee Walker can hardly remember life before her daughter Te Awaroa came along seven years ago. She may be an accomplished actress and director, yet there’s no doubt that motherhood is the 44-year-old’s most meaningful role. And as she and Awa, as she’s lovingly known, join Woman’s Day on a special mother-daughter photoshoot. It’s clear to see just how close this adorable duo are.
“I love being a mum,” says Aidee, welcoming us into the home she shares with fiancé Talor Wikohika and their charismatic seven-year-old.
“It’s a really interesting dynamic when you have just one because our kid really is like our best mate. It’s not like the parents on one side and the kids on the other. She’s just one of us and we’re a little team. “And Awa is so cool. She’s hilarious, she’s entertaining and she’s kind. She’s going to be way funnier, cooler and nicer than we’ll ever be.”
The whānau has a lot to celebrate after recently moving into a new home. Four years after a devastating flood destroyed their West Auckland property. Eight temporary house moves and years of uncertainty took a toll on the couple. Finally having a place to call their own feels like a huge relief.
A house full of heart
The Celebrity Treasure Island star admits her perspective on what “home” means has shifted, though. While she’ll never take the privilege of a roof over their heads for granted, she’s come to realise that home isn’t just a physical space – it’s wherever she, Talor and Awa are together.
“It’s been tough,” she admits, “but we’ve come out stronger as a family, we really have. We’re so grateful that we were able to buy a new house because there are a lot of people who haven’t been so lucky.”
As freelancers, Aidee, 44, and Talor, 40, who works in film production, have become pros at balancing the unpredictable nature of work and home. Stepping up to support each other when the other is away working. If the couple – who speak a mixture of English and te reo Māori with Awa – are away for work at the same time, they have “amazing and wonderful” grandparents to call on.
“My parents and Talor’s mum are a massive part of our life, and we’re so lucky to have them,” enthuses Aidee, whose parents Marlene and Bruce live in Hamilton. “And Talor’s mum Sue is in Taupo¯, but she’ll come and stay or Awa will go stay with my parents for a week. Awa has beautiful relationships with her grandparents – it’s so special.”
Doing life differently
Today, Aidee is talking to us about her latest directing project, Don’t, a three-part documentary on TVNZ+. In which comedian Bubbah Olo explores the big issues facing young people today – namely getting married, having kids and buying houses.
In a chat with Woman’s Day last month, Bubbah, who’s better known as Tina From Turners, admitted the show had made her face up to some big questions and partly inspired her decision to leave Aotearoa for a simple life in Samoa.
While Aidee has no plans to move abroad, she admits the series got her thinking too. She came away with the firm belief that there is no correct order to tick off the to-dos of adulthood.
“It’s such a lie this belief that we have to get married, buy a house and then have a baby!” she tells.
“People should do things however they want.”
In fact, even though she and Talor are officially engaged, the idea of marriage seems less important to her than it once did and a wedding isn’t on the cards any time soon. She jokes that due to her and Talor’s occupations, there would be no chance of a simple do.
Doing it her way
“It would need to be a full- on show,” she laughs.
“There would be costume changes and lighting – the full works. So I think it’s easier if we just don’t bother. I’d rather spend my money on travelling.”
She was also shocked by statistics from an expert on the show that showed only 30% of tangata whenua own their own homes in Aotearoa.
“That felt very personal,” says Aidee, whose partner and daughter are Māori. “It made me quite determined that we need to set ourselves up now so we can ensure Awa has all the opportunities when she’s older.”
Aidee admits it still makes her laugh that she was on Celebrity Treasure Island. She never thought of herself either as a celebrity or a reality TV star. Yet it was the chance to win money for her chosen charity, Relief Aid, that made her say yes.
“To be able to channel money into such an amazing organisation was too good to turn down,” she reflects.
Big heart, little steps
Aidee is deeply affected by what is going on in the world at the moment and says she copes with the sadness by facing it head on. She recently took part in a fundraising run for Relief Aid and has more events planned.
“I want to be able to look back on this time and go, ‘I did not look away.’ Yes, I was literally brought to my knees with tears many a time over the past few years, to be honest. But there are things we can all do in our own small ways that can help.”
Happily, it seems she’s not only passed her creativity and humour on to her daughter, but also a deep compassion for others.
“The other day, she said to me her three wishes were for a dog, a sister and for things to get better in Palestine. I said to Talor, ‘It looks like we’ll be getting a dog then!’”
