Readers Digest NZ Dec/Jan 2025

ELENA NAYASHKOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK Dancing the Tears Away Jarom Ngakuru, a Maori man living in Robinson, Texas, was devastated. His grandmother had died in their na- tive New Zealand and he couldn’t get home for the funeral. That’s when, he said on a TikTok video, his co-workers “brought home” to him. His brother- in-law taught the men the intricate choreography of the haka, a traditional Maori dance. They gathered in a large room and surprised Ngakuru with the dance: a quick squat, a vigorous thrust of the arms and a stomp of the feet accompanied by guttural shouts, fol- lowed by more complex moves, stomps and chants—the hallmarks of the haka. Halfway through, a stunned Ngakuru joined them. At the end, the men held their last position as Ngakuru wept in his brother-in-law’s embrace. Said a video commenter from New Zealand, “I don’t think they even understand how beautiful an act this is.” To Grandma’s House We Go In 2021, Sam Crowe was eating break- fast with high school friends at a diner when he proclaimed, “My grandma cooks better than this.” So starting the next week, and every Wednesday morning during the school year, Peggy Winckowski happily proved her grandson correct by cooking a feast for him and the other kids. In 2022, Sam was killed in a hit-and-run. Grandma Peggy was devastated. Wanting to be there for her, Crowe’s friends showed up for breakfast as usual the following Wednesday. And they’ve been show- ing up every Wednesday after that. “Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. I will feed them as long as they will come.” You’ve Got a Friend Among the more heart-wrenching sce- narios is a funeral that no one attends. Andy Jackson of Dundee, Scotland, is on a crusade to make sure no one dies unremembered. He attends funerals others don’t, even going so far as to say a few words about the deceased— often in the form of poetry—gleaned from whatever information he can find. Sometimes a photo of the deceased will do—any hints “a poet could use to celebrate the real person,” he told the BBC. He calls his endeavor the Lonely Funerals project and hopes it spreads. “If we want to live in a humane coun- try,” he says, “these are the little things we can do for people.” reader ’ s digest Glad To Hear It 14   december 2025/january 2026  |   readersdigest.co.nz GLAD TO HEAR IT 3 Stories to Make Your Day For your chance to win, simply tell us in 25 words or less why you trust Weber ® . To enter, visit the giveaway page at www.trustedbrands.co.nz A WEBER ® BABY Q ® PREMIUM (Q1200N) FLAME RED Valued at $479.00 RRP The Weber ® Baby Q ® Premium (Q1200N) portable gas barbecue creates incredible flavour wherever you are outdoors. It features 2 handy, removable side tables and is available in a range of colours. While it’s compact and lightweight, it’s mighty when it comes to portability and cooking versatility. *Full terms and conditions can be found online. Entries close 31st January 2026. 2025 B a r b e c u e s