With the help of his whānau, Tane and Perri dig up the pit for the hangi.

However, it looks like Tane is more excited about this than the birthday boy himself.

As the party goes into full swing, Perri is even more conflicted – he feels like

he doesn’t deserve any of this. Tane reassures him that he does, and that he should try to enjoy it, but it’s clear by the look on his face that he finds the whole fanfare extremely uncomfortable.

Tane and the rest of the whānau bring out guitars, singing along merrily to a traditional tune, but they’re oblivious to the fact that Perri looks like he’s on the verge of tears. The last straw tips him over when Tane suggests that they get him a New Zealand passport, so he can visit their homeland.

Unable to take it any longer, Perri lashes out. He tells Tane that he’s not his “cultural project”, shoves the manaia necklace he was gifted back in his face, and walks away.

Perri finds a disheartened Tane back home and apologises for making a scene. He confides in his mentor about how his mum used to always talk about going to New Zealand together, and that he misses her a lot. Tane understands.

Meanwhile, Cash is still worried about Felicity, who’s been unreachable since she watched Rory be taken away. Eden, however, does her best to comfort him and lift his spirits with the help of their friends.

Cash asks Remi how it’s going since he and Bree got back together. Remi has a huge smile on his face: it’s been amazing having an exceptional woman by his side, someone he truly thinks is the one. Cash takes this in and watches Eden, the woman who’s supported him unconditionally through all of this, and the gears in his head start turning.

Later when they’re alone, Cash thanks his girlfriend for all of this. A cheery Eden responds that it’s nothing; she loves him, and just wants to see him happy. She asks him if there’s anything else she can do for him. Cash looks her dead in the eye: yes, there is – she can marry him. Eden is shocked.