New Zealand Woman’s Weekly

Teuila’s touching tribute ‘WITH LOVE TO MY MUM’

It has been a year since her mother Auali’itia Su’a Levaopolo Martha Schwalger-Blakely died. Actress and writer Teuila Blakely reflects on the pain of the loss and the enduring power of love.

Mama, Last year, about 2am on January 13, my phone rang. I always put my phone on silent at night, so I was surprised that this time I’d forgotten. Being my birthday, I wanted to get enough rest for my party that day. It was totally odd.

Seeing it was my parents’ landline, I immediately felt uneasy. My mum had been ill for

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