Episode 7340

Extended Summary

Ari and Tane make the finishing touches for the hangi, with steam coming out of the pit, as Gemma and Nikau watch. Nikau is looking forward to it since he’s been living on vegetables. Things are still slightly tense between Ari and Tane and Gemma tells them to have at least one more day of peace. Nikau is pleased he’s not in the firing line but then Gemma calls him inside. She has a lot of food prepared and tells him to fit it into the already fairly full fridge. She is panicking somewhat about the hangi so Nikau promises to sort it and also agrees to be DJ. After she’s gone, he looks from the food to the fridge and concludes that it’s not going to work.

Tori has just got up with Grace. Justin also emerges and Tori discusses Grace teething. Justin implies that Jasmine might have done something but Tori dismisses the suggestion. Leah comes through, on her way to work, and Justin says he’ll call in to see her later, heading to the shower. Tori expresses frustration at Justin’s attitude to Jasmine. Leah says Jasmine did lose it at Willow but Tori says she might be the same if everyone was watching her. She says Justin’s making things harder and asks Leah to talk to him. At the Diner, Irene serves Jasmine some coffee and notes she didn’t know Jasmine had a night shift. Jasmine curtly replies that Irene didn’t need to and leaves. Leah asks if she’s been like that at home and Irene admits she’s been touchy. Marilyn comes in to pick up a cake for the hangi. Irene and Leah can’t go because they’re working but tell her it’s down to her that the Paratas are back on their feet.

Ari and Gemma are heading towards the surf club. Ari is glad to get away from Tane but admits it hasn’t been too bad. Gemma sees John and notes they need another fresh start. She gives John a hug then says Ari needs to ask him something, mouthing to invite him as she walks away. Ari tells John about the hangi, describing it as a kind of barbecue or housewarming, but says John’s probably busy. John quickly agrees, even though there’s no-one else there, and Ari says the invite’s there. After a few more awkward words, Ari heads inside. Up in Salt, Mackenzie gives Gemma a box of booze. She offers to bring some pizza but Gemma says they’re drowning in food. Ari appears and Mackenzie helps him take the boxes downstairs. Gemma stops by Ben’s table and invites him, saying he made them feel welcome. Ben says he’s working but Gemma says it’ll go on until late.

Ari and Tane remove the hot rocks from the pit in front of a crowd including Marilyn before joining Gemma and Nikau near the laid out food. Gemma prompts Ari to give a speech in Maori, before he notes in English that Mikaere should be welcoming them and he wishes he was there, then gives a welcome speech. Gemma chants a blessing in Maori before they all dig in. Gemma chats to Marilyn, who sees John loitering near the gate and goes after him. Mackenzie arrives and Tane moves towards her but Ari gets there first. Marilyn finds John looking in the window and sees he has a cheese platter. He says it was reduced and explains he was invited but still isn’t sure whether to go in. Marilyn takes him round the back. Tane gets Mackenzie a drink which she accepts.

Justin finds Ben at the Diner. Ben says it’s dead at work because of everyone being at the Paratas’ housewarming. He admits he was invited but it feels strange going without Maggie, even though she’s out of town and they’re not even together. Justin comments on it being the first time in twenty years that Ben’s been to a party as a single man and says he’s not dead. In the Paratas’ kitchen, Gemma and Nikau comment on the abundance of food and Nikau asks about what music she wants, noting her lack of taste. Their banter is interrupted by Ben arriving with a bottle. Gemma takes him out the back which Nikau looks unhappy about.

Jasmine is going for a run on the beach and encounters Tori and Grace. Tori has been looking for her and says it was a misunderstanding before. Jasmine says it’s clear Justin doesn’t want her around; she’d do anything for Tori and Grace but can’t be where she’s not wanted. Tori says Jasmine needs to be part of Grace’s life. Meanwhile, Tane finds Mackenzie going through the fridge and gets her a drink. Mackenzie says she’s never been to a hangi before; Tane corrects her that you have hangi. She says her family didn’t party or talk together and also accuses Tane of flirting with his brother’s date.

Sitting near the beach, Jasmine says Justin doesn’t trust her with Grace even though she looked after her as if she was her own. Tori agrees and says they’re going to fix it. Justin is shocked when the three of them turn up at the house together and summons Tori into the bedroom for a talk. He says he feels sorry for Jasmine but they have to protect Grace. Tori says Jasmine has helped with Grace more than almost anyone; she’s not expecting Justin to be friends with Jasmine but needs them both. They exit the bedroom and Justin heads off to the Diner. Jasmine thinks it was a bust but Tori thinks things will be different from now on.

Marilyn and Mackenzie chat about the party. John comes over and offers them a drink but gets his words muddled up, even though he says he’s only had one drink himself. Marilyn takes him to get a soda water. Ari approaches Mackenzie with a drink but sees she already has one, noticing a look pass between her and Tane. Gemma stops Ben bringing trays out. She asks about Maggie and Ben admits that technically they’re not together now. Nikau offers to get Gemma a drink but Ben says he will and Nikau is left to ask around. At the Diner, Justin tells Leah that Tori’s made her mind up about Jasmine. He admits she hasn’t done anything to Tori or Grace. Leah reminds him what happened with Willow and Colby but Justin accepts that’s none of their business. Irene chimes in that Jasmine is just trying to help and Justin decides to back off.

Ari approaches Tane round the front of the house and tells him to stay away from Mackenzie. Tane refuses to back down and they look set to come to blows but are interrupted by John and Marilyn coming past. John says he’s going to go home and lie down but then collapses. Marilyn, Ari and Tane all rush to his side. At the Morgan house, Tori has got Grace down. Jasmine prepares to leave, saying Tori can call her any time she needs someone to look after Grace. Tori then gets a text from the hospital asking her to come in for an emergency. Jasmine quickly agrees to stay on, saying they’ll be there when Tori gets back.

Everyone has now come round the front of the house as Charlie loads John into an ambulance. Ari goes to get the car to take Marilyn to the hospital and Ben tries to reassure her as the ambulance pulls away.