Spoilers for UK viewers of Home and Away are below.
Next week, Home and Away will revisit Ari Parata’s tragic demise on UK television as Nikau considers his late uncle’s passing.
Nikau’s mind wanders to earlier tragedies and people who won’t be present on the big day as the Parata family gets ready for a wedding to remember.
The couple plans to marry in a few weeks after Tane Parata recently proposed to his fiancée Felicity Newman.
Nikau hopes to assume these responsibilities himself in the shows airing on Channel 5 the following week. He wonders who Tane will select as his best man.
When Tane affirms that he always meant to choose Nikau for the significant role, Nikau is overjoyed.
Tane is relaxed about the wedding, while Nikau jumps into action and becomes overly concerned with his newly acquired obligations.
Tane makes an effort to get Nikau to calm down, telling him that the only things on his mind should be the stag party and the speech.
Nikau worries that there is a concerning lack of organisation surrounding Tane and Felicity’s wedding despite this. To ensure that everything is in line, he makes the decision to take charge of the ceremony planning himself.
Later, Nikau reveals why he values the best man role so highly.
Nikau acknowledges that if Ari were still alive, he would serve as best man. Nikau is motivated to uphold Ari’s high standards in order to honour his late uncle.
Tane continues to be concerned that Nikau is placing too much pressure on himself and advises him to relax. Nikau assures Tane that all of his efforts are motivated by love and that she shouldn’t worry.
Early in 2016, Ari’s last episodes of Home and Away were shown. Shortly after receiving a fatal cancer diagnosis, Ari passed away. He declined therapy because he wanted to pass away peacefully.
Later, Ari’s actor Rob Kipa-Williams shared the following on Instagram: “We appreciate the love, support, and voluminous words from the fans. Thank you to everyone who helped make the wheels turn, including the cast, crew, camera, directors, production, writing, makeup, art department, and everyone else in between.
“This venerable Ozzie TV programme took chances. I will always be proud of the sequences that were filmed since we worked as a true team to co-create Mori cultural tales. I’m hoping that this creates more opportunity for diversity.
“I appreciate everything you did, Ariki Wiremu Parata; you gave me a lot to learn. I will miss you.”
