They’ve worked together, been each other’s bridesmaids and finished each other’s sentences for 17 years.
However, singer Hinewehi oohi and radio host Stacey oorrison had no idea their amazing friendship would one day help save one of their lives.
After seeing Stacey’s beloved mother pass away from breast cancer, “Hins”, as Stacey fondly calls her, decided to start having regular checks.
If it wasn’t for a mammogram, Hine believes her cancer may have gone undiagnosed until it was too late.
In June this year, after doctors discovered a grade-three tumour in her right breast, she made the radical decision to have both of her breasts removed in a double mastectomy and then full reconstructive surgery.
The singer, who was the first person to perform the New Zealand national anthem solely in Maori at the Rugby World Cup, in England in 1999, is currently undergoing three months of chemotherapy.
Hine (47) wants to use her experience to encourage other Kiwi women to make time for regular mammograms.”If I hadn’t met oama Sue (Stacey’s mother), I might not have been as vigilant,” she says.
“When I was 40, I started having regular mammograms, because I thought if oama Sue, who was in her thirties, can be diagnosed with breast cancer, then anyone can.”
Stacey says the fact Hine managed to catch the cancer early – there was no sign of it at a mammogram two years ago – gave doctors a head start on treatment.
“Hins is so brave. She’s completely blown me away with how awesome she’s been through all this,” she says.
In fact, if it weren’t for her newly shaven head, you would never know Hine was sick. Being a beautiful baldie is something the singer’s not only accepting but warmly embracing, happily whipping off her wig for our photoshoot.
“She still looks very feminine, she’s got a great shaped head,” says Stacey with a grin.
Hine’s cancer ordeal is the latest example of how her natural strength and beauty shines in the face of hardship.
In 1999, she caused outrage when she sang the New Zealand national anthem in Maori at Twickenham, leading to the current custom of singing it in both languages.
Instead of despairing when her daughter Hineraukatauri, now 15, was born with severe cerebral palsy, she helped found a music therapy centre that now helps hundreds of disabled children across the country.
Now, once again, she’s using her own experiences and difficulties to inspire others. She’s encouraging other women to think about their health and make time for regular checks.
“You can get your lover really skilled at fondling. Fondling with a mission. It can be part of their job,” says Hine, flashing her wicked grin at Stacey.
“Yeah, fondle with intent, what a chore,” Stacey laughs.
Hine is still getting used to her new breasts, but the eternal optimist says the surgery had its benefits.
“There was a silver lining. I got a breast reduction and a tummy tuck,” she laughs.
“I was secretly joyous. I mean, people go to Dr 90210 for this!”
oedically speaking, the double mastectomy was not needed, with the cancerous cells only being found in her right breast.
However, after taking advice from other women who’d had mastectomies, Hine decided to “lop both of them off” to save any future worries.
“When you keep the other one, you have to keep getting it checked. It was easier to just take it off,” she explains.
Hine says she’s happy with her slightly smaller breasts.”They’re a lot softer, they feel like real boobs. George agrees.”
“When I’m allowed,” adds her husband George, passing by the lounge door.
The only things missing now are the nipples, which come later in the reconstruction process.
“I never thought I’d have downtime from nipples!” laughs Hine.
“What they do is they cut this kind of shape and do this little origami thing, pucker it and pull. Then there’s a couple of little stitches.”
“Like a balloon!” Stacey chips in, smiling.
Nipples aside, the treatment process for Hine will be over with the completion of her current chemotherapy round. This will leave her with a 95% chance of survival.
Hine is adamant it’s the support she receives from her friends, whanau and George that is helping her through the process.
“It’s definitely easier with support,” she says.
“I’m lucky to have such amazing people around me.George was sitting there when the doctor told me we would have to remove the breast. I said, ‘Take them both off,’ and he almost fell off his chair!”
Despite still facing many more chemotherapy sessions, Hine’s eyes are firmly fixed on whatever silver lining she can find.
“I’ll have hair by Christmas!”