Episode 7366

Extended Summary

Mackenzie runs into Colby and Bella on the beach. After a few pleasantries, Colby heads off to surf. Mackenzie and Bella realise neither of them have heard from Ari or Nikau. Bella says they should be in New Zealand by now. Mackenzie suggests they’re being swamped by family and Bella accepts she should stop freaking out.

Back at the Parata house, Tane finds the fridge empty. Ari says he’ll do a run to the shops. Tane hasn’t heard back from the lawyers. Ari knocks on Nikau’s door. Nikau answers but refuses to come out, turning down offers of breakfast or to get something from the shops. Ari tells Tane to try and get him to come out.

At the farm house, Maggie tells Ben there are cheap flights available now and prices will go up in a few days. She worries about tying up loose ends and saying goodbye to the girls in that time. Ben manages to calm her. Soon after, they fill Ziggy in at the Diner, telling her they’ve got a cheap flight out of Cairns and leave Summer Bay tomorrow afternoon. Ziggy, quietly panicking, says she’ll give them any help they need to move to the other side of the planet before hurrying out.

At Salt, Colby asks Bella what she’s doing for the day. Ari comes in and tells Mackenzie that they got stopped at the airport and only Gemma was allowed on the flight. Bella comes over despite Colby telling her not to and asks about Nikau. Ari says he’s gutted. Despite Colby trying to tell her not to see him, Bella rebuffs him, saying he’s her friend. Mackenzie asks Colby why he’s gunning for the Paratas. Colby doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that there’s been a robbery and a carjacking since they came to town. Mackenzie just makes a disgusted noise and Colby decides he’s lost his appetite.

Later, Ari is telling Mackenzie that even if they get the embago lifted it’s too late; the whanau are gathering from all over the country and it needs to be done now for both Gemma and Mikaere. He worries that people will start believing Colby that they were involved in the robbery, before deciding he has better things to think about. Mackenzie suggests they go for a walk.

Tane goes into Nikau’s room, suggesting they go for a swim or kick a ball around. Nikau declines and says Tane can leave his room now. Tane lets Bella in and tells her where Nikau is. She knocks on the door and he yells to leave him alone. Bella identifies herself and refuses to leave, saying if he doesn’t want her in his room, she’ll talk to him through the door.

Ben and Maggie leave the Diner and Alf tells them Ziggy went upstairs. Maggie goes after her, suggesting Ben call Coco. Ben tells Alf they’re going to Italy after all and it was John that helped them. He adds that they’re leaving tomorrow. Up in the flat, Maggie checks on Ziggy who says she’s just processing. She says she both does and doesn’t want them to go. Maggie recalls that why she wanted Ziggy and Coco to come and it was Ziggy who convinced her it was her dream. Ziggy wonders what to do if she and Dean have a fight and she wants to complain, or she wants a home-cooked meal. Maggie suggests not fighting, phoning or going to the Diner.

Bella tries to get Nikau to talk to her. Tane gets a text saying the direct debit has failed and the rent is overdue. He checks Bella is okay on the floor and calls out to Nikau that he has to go out but Bella’s staying. Bella says she’s sorry for what Colby’s done and she knows it was important to say goodbye to her mum. Nikau, who is now sat on the opposite side of the door, tells her to keep going. Bella says it’s hard being stuck there without Gemma but his mother believes in him. Nikau opens the door and says it’s not fair. Bella gives him a hug.

Ari explains to Mackenzie that Mikaere’s ashes will be taken to sacred places before being laid to rest. Mackenzie suggests having a memorial for Mikaere in Summer Bay, suggesting she can close Salt and invite some people over. Ari thanks her but doesn’t think it’d be enough. Later, Ari runs into a surprised Alf by the bait shop, explaining they ended up not going and wondering if Nikau can come back to work. Alf is happy for the help and Ari says Nikau will ring him. Tane approaches and Alf leaves them to it. Tane explains Bella’s with Nikau but they’re $500 short for the rent. Ari says it will be hard without Gemma’s wage and this is why he didn’t want to live with Tane. Colby appears and asks if there’s something to tell him. Colby and Tane eyeball each other until Ari leads Tane away, saying they have to find a way to move forwards.

Ben, Maggie and Ziggy arrive back at the farm house, recalling the first time they came there. Maggie thinks Ziggy screamed at a snake. Ziggy insists she yelled and Coco screamed. She takes a photo of them to remember the moment. They wonder about cleaning things up and Ben tells Ziggy to clean her room. Later, Maggie asks Ben’s opinion on what to pack. Ziggy comes in and Ben and Maggie wonder if she and Dean want to move in there, since it’d mean she’d be looked after and they’d only charge cheap rent. Ziggy asks to think about it.

Nikau talks to Bella about seeing Gemma go. Bella calls it airport departure syndrome, saying she’s seen it in the movies. Ari and Tane come home and suggests there’s a way to be there for Mikaere. Bella heads home where Colby comments on her being at the Paratas’ and says they’re under investigation. Bella asks what it’s based on. Colby doesn’t want her involving herself but Bella refuses to discuss it, saying she can’t trust him when he’s being a control freak.

Ari, Tane and Nikau head down the beach. Ari says they’re there to remember Mikaere. They start chanting in Maori before performing a haka, standing alone on the beach.