New Zealand Listener - November 5, 2016

NOVEMBER 5 2016 http://www.listener.co.nz 33

Moana Te Oriwa Papa

(right) with her twin

sister, Charlene: “We are

glued-at-the-hip twins.

with the kids and my lovely husband,

Paul. I also have a brother-in-law and

sister-in-law who stay here at home. They

are able to help me. I have a good support

network.

What about your twin, Charlene?

She is devastated, because we are more

than twins – we are glued-at-the-hip

twins. We’re the kind that if one is going

through something, the other one can feel

it and phones. If one has a sore leg, the

other feels it. We are really, really close. I

cry, because I came into this world with

her and I am leaving without her. It’s hard

because it is bittersweet.

You are leaving behind the people you

care for most. So, we try to create awe-

some memories. Even yesterday, me,

Mum and Char went to Mangere Bridge

to a cafe and had a lovely lunch. We went