Te Toa Takitini 1
[1]
Te Toa Takitini
(Which grew out of Te Kopara)
Te Kopara followed Te Pipiwharauroa.
Te Pipiwharauroa followed He Kupu Whakamarama
which began in 1898.
Registered at the GPO as a Newspaper.
Number 1, Hastings, August 31, 1921.
OUR PAPER.
This is to inform our Maori People that our paper has been transferred to Hastings to be printed. Archdeacon Williams’ printing press at Te Rau has been bought.
Herbert has given his press to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Waiapu, but because of the reluctance of the banks to lend money these days the Committee has been unable to find money to build a printing house or to buy land on which to set up the press here in Napier.
We have ended our interest in the Te Rau printing press. Our paper is being printed in Hastings. We are unable to say how long we will be able to continue printing our paper. That depends on you people.
He huruhuru te manu ka rere.
With feathers a bird flies. [cf Nga Pepeha 352, He Konae Aronui p.13]
If you feed our paper well then we will be able to go on printing it. The amount we need to continue printing is £150 a year. This money is for the Pakeha printer only and for the postage. We, the Editors and writers, do what we do out of love.
At the Hui Topu held at Manutuke the following motions were passed:
(a) That Te Kopara continue to be printed.
(b) That the management be placed in the hands of the Standing Committee.
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Waiapu discussed the request from the Hui at Manutuke and agreed to the request. However that agreement was conditional on the costs of the printing being met. If the Maori People were not diligent in giving monetary support to the paper the printing would cease. Therefore, chiefs, put all your effort into supporting our pet so that it will live long to carry stories to each of your marae.
[2]
My paper was founded by the Editor in Nelson in Te Waipounamu. It’s name there was He Kupu Whakamarama. The first copy came out in March 1898. In 1899 it was christened with a new name, Te Pipiwharauroa.
When the Editor left to be a minister in Taranaki, Te Pipiwharauroa was handed over to be printed by Te Raukahikatea. From that time Herbert Williams cared for the paper. Without Herbert’s printing press the paper would have died. Subsequently the paper was given the new name of Te Kopara. No Maori paper has flown for so long as Te Kopara. There have been many Maori papers – Te Waka Maori, Te Tiupiri, Te Huia, Matariki and some others. They have all disappeared. But the paper which covers so many matters and still survives is this one. This is the remnant, the gift of our forebears.
My prayer to the chiefs of each marae is that they seek out people who will take out paper. Do not leave it to just one person to get the paper and for everyone else to read it. Follow the Pakeha practice of each person taking their own copy.
OTHER ITEMS.
Waerenga-a-hika School.
Waerenga-a-hika School was threatened with closure because there were insufficient funds to support the school in these days when the cost of food and other necessary things is going up. But people with a commitment to the school persisted in their approach to the Government which has agreed to provide some hundreds of pounds a year to ensure that there is sufficient money for the school to continue. However that Government money is to be repaid when the leases of the Waerenga-a-hika lands go up. Maori are very happy at the good fortune of their school. This is a very good school now. People have been full of praise for the progress of the pupils of Waerenga-a-hika.
New Trust Funds.
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Waiapu has set up new Trust Funds to provide stipends for the Hawkes Bay clergy, following requests from the Maori that this be done. The new Funds are:
Te Hauke, £150; Pakipaki, £110 (more or less); Kohupatiki, £32; Waipatu, £36; Waimarama, £19.
[3]
THE CHURCH AND THE CHINESE.
We do not hear much of the work of the Chinese in relationship to the Church. There is a mission working amongst the Chinese people of Wellington. They have there own church. Their Church is part of the Church of England. They meet on Sunday evenings. Between 80 and 90 attend. They have a Sunday School with 30 of their children attending. During the past year nine people were baptised and four were confirmed. Their offerings at worship amounted to £376. (They beat the Maori!)
They purchased the land to erect their church in Wellington. They have paid off the debt on their church.
Their minister travels to Hawkes Bay, Masterton, Otaki and Christchurch. Their minister is returning to China this month. A new minister is coming, the Rev Edward Lee. This minister, a Chinese man, was educated at the leading schools in Hongkong. He has a degree. At Christmas 1919 he was made a Deacon. He was previously a teacher at one of the leading Hongkong schools.
HORI TUPAEA’S GIFT.
The Standing Committee has thanked Hori Tupaea for his gift of £100 to the Church. The money has been put into the Trust Fund to support the stipend for the Te Hauke minister.
CLERGY MEETING.
On September 8th the clergy of the Diocese of Waiapu meet at Woodford House, Havelock. The Rev E Lush of Auckland will speak to them that evening. On the 10th he will give three lectures to the clergy. On Saturday 10th there will be a meeting to discuss the Union of the Churches, at the same venue.
A SCHOOL AT TE RAU.
The Committee has decided to turn Te Raukahikatea into a Church School. Two well-educated women, sisters, are coming from England and are at present at sea. They are the Misses Webb. They are very capable teachers of children.
[4]
A NEW WORLD.
These days are a time of new birth in all that is happening in the world. The school children have seen the difference in the maps of the world. Kingdoms that were firmly established for many years have been overthrown and new powers have arisen in these days. It is as Isaiah said, ‘Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain.’ [Isaiah 40.4] After these things happen then ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed.’ [Isaiah 40.5] People throughout the world have turned to carefully weighing up what they are doing to see if they are progressing or regressing. The Prime Minister of England has likened the world to a wounded man. That man is lying and groaning because of his terrible pain. That Prime Minister has said that there is only one medicine that can cure his sickness – the cross of Christ. The Prime Minister’s words echo the words of the hymn which our old men put into Maori in their days:
[Na wai i whaka matea ai – Maori Book of Common Prayer, Number 45]
‘Who put to death Jesus,
my great King?
He bowed his head
as payment for my sins.
The sun was darkened,
and did not shine on the world,
for God was dying
as a ransom for mankind.
Am I to be left here weeping hopelessly?
Where is a comparable love?
Take me, Jesus.
Create in me a new heart.’
Maori people, should we not carefully consider the state we are in these days? Are we growing in the right way? Are we proclaiming the glory of God? This is the sign by which we will know that we are growing in the right way. Proverbs says: ’Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’ [Proverbs 14.34] What great work is there for Maori to do? The works which will advance the people and bring glory to God! Playing games does not bring forth significant fruits. We wondered at the capability of our young men as fighters on the marae of Tu, and when the fortunate ones returned home alive a few were seen giving praise to God. Most of them and most of us, the elders, continued on in the old ways of beer-drinking, gambling, playing two-up, that is, in things which would not bring benefits to the people nor glory to God. People, it is time for us to wake up. Look carefully. In which direction is the bow of the canoe of the Maori People heading? Are we progressing or regressing? What are your thoughts?
[5]
A LETTER RECEIVED.
Waimarama.
July 22, 1921
To the Editor of Te Kopara (sic).
My friend, greetings to you who carry on this great and good work of ours. My friend, please give this to Te Kopara to carry to R T K. It is my response to his letter in Te Kopara 88 about our relative, Wiremu Ratana. It is not really my place to answer that letter. However having thought about such letters it is right for me to make a response because I am one of the people who support Wiremu Ratana and what he is doing. I strongly criticize my friend R T K. My friend, why did you wait until Ratana had gone away before expressing your thoughts. Ratana came in person and you saw him for yourself. That was the right time for you to share your thoughts about his activities, as it was, you waited until he had gone and then you spoke of him behind his back. It would have been better had you and others perhaps spoken to him face to face.
My hope is that you and I will perhaps be able to meet with Wiremu Ratana at the coming ‘Christmas’. There you will be able to hear my answers. My friend, it is my understanding that we should not let Te Kopara be the place where we criticize one another’s ideas – we should do it face to face.
Best wishes,
T Renata.
A SYMPATHETIC CONCERT PARTY.
When some of the Hastings people heard of the financial difficulties of some of the Maori parishes and of the difficulties they were having in finding money to support the work, in their love they set about holding Maori entertainments in the halls to raise money to send to the ailing places. The members of the Company were chosen from the people of Te Kohupatiki, Omahu and Te Waipatu. Their performances are excellent. The Diocesan Office has received a total of £70 from their work. The Concert Party is going to Napier towards the end of September.
[6]
A CLERGY MOVE
The minister of Tokomaru, the Rev E Mohi Eruini, has arrived in his new parish of Whakatane. Ruatoki and whakatane have been amalgamated because of the scarcity of ministers. On Mohi Eruini’s last Sunday in Tokomaru there was not a spare seat in the church and some of the congregation stood outside. At the evening service there was a comparable large crowd of people. The people of Tokomaru had great respect for their minister and his wife for their commitment to their church and to other work relating to those hapu of ours. The hapu of Tokomaru were very sad at losing their minister. Over many days their chiefs made speeches of farewell to them. On the Sunday night Eruini led his last servie for the Pakeha. The church was filled with Pakeha. Afterwards the Pakeha met in the Mission House and the Churchwarden, Mr Oates, presented a monetary gift to their Maori minister.
There were many tributes to the capability of this man, Mohi Eruini. He has not been to the colleges. He has taught himself. He was doing Government work in Rotorua when he heard the call to work for souls. He left his work and went to Te Rau College. In 1913 he was made a Deacon and in 1915 he was raised to the office of Priest. While working in his parish he learned English. At this time he responded to the request to him that he become an interpreter. He entered the examination for interpreters. He passed the second class (2nd grade interpreter). But he did not want to be second grade. Another year he entered the examinations. Then with good fortune he got the pass grade. These are evidence of the man’s spirit.
The hope is that the work of the Church will grow in the areas of Whakatane and Ruatoki.
THE SYNOD.
The Synod on Monday, 12th September, begins at at 2.30 p.m. The preacher at the mid-day service on the Sunday is the Rev G B Stephenson, BA, MSc.
[7]
AN HONOUR.
Dr Te Rangihiroa (Dr Buck) has been informed that he has gained the Otago University Prize for the book he has written about the traditional hand-crafts of the Maori and measurements relating to Maori – measurements of the head, the legs, the hands, and other measurements significant to doctors (Maori and Polynesian technology and anthropometry).
That prize is in memory of Te Mete (S Percy Smith). The prize is awarded to the person who writes informatively about a broad range of subjects relating to the body, but such writings have to be on a new subject not previously investigated by anyone. Congratulation, Te Rangihiroa, on this honour that you have achieved. Continue you work Your Maori People share in your honour. Some Pakeha despise Maori intensely. But the abilities of the issue of the Maori People to pluck the fruit of the Pakeha tree of knowledge bring us respect. The Pakeha has not acknowledged our attachment to past times. They have ignored the gifts of our forebears and their nobility. So the way in which the Pakeha will come to hold us in awe is if we show diligence in seeking serious learning. Therefore we praise our doctor for his seeking to advance new learning in these days.
A BIBLE SHOP.
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Auckland has arranged to open a Shop which will sell Maori Bibles and Prayer Books in Auckland which will make it easy to purchase the Maori books when one visits Auckland.
HEARING OF THE CASE OF THE MURDER AT ONGAROTO.
Hakaraia Te Kahu has stood trial twice on the charge of murdering Patrick Richard Elliot on Easter Sunday. The jury could not agree. The Crown lawyer has called for a third trial. It is being heard in the Supreme Court in Hamilton.
For Chest Conditions and Coughs take Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure, 1/6, 1/9 a bottle.
[8]
THE MELANESIAN MISSION.
The Mission to the indigenous peoples of the Melanesian Islands was begun by Bishop Selwyn. The Management Committee which raises funds to forward that Mission is based in New Zealand. That Committee has issued a statement about the difficulty of maintaining that Mission in these days of continuing high prices for food and when money is difficult to find. The Mission owns a ship called The Southern Cross. Much money goes on purchasing coal and on repairing the faulty parts of that ship. When the flu pandemic stuck the islands £1,000 was spent on caring for the indigenous people. The Committee is asking the people of New Zealand to contribute £5,000 between now and 15th September. This money will go to purchasing food for the teachers and their children and the missions that are suffering from lack of food. How will we Maori respond to this call to help our island relations? It is a call from God. Christ says, ‘Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple – truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’ [Matthew 10.42 NRSV]
THE DAYS OF THE MONTH.
Recent generations of us are forgetting the wisdom of our forbears in the ancient stories. The people who knew those stories have died. There are not many of the wise teachings of our ancestors surviving. Perhaps some of their stories are still known by the seers. When they die all their teachings die too. The publishers of our papers want to print the wise stories of former times. If there are some people who know such stories, we would very much like you to send them to us for us to print so that they will not be lost to your descendants after you.
Here is what Te Matorohanga had to say about the days of the month. We also print the names of the days as used in the Islands of the Pacific for comparison.
[9]
THE DAYS OF THE MONTH
According to Maori.
The names given in Tahiti and Rarotonga were published in 1819.
We know that the leading experts in Tahiti wrote down the names of the days of the month while they were still alive.
Paraire Tomoana wrote a book about the days of the month with the title, ‘The Love of Rangi-nui for Papatuanuku,’ in 1921. Some of the names differ from those of Te Matorohanga below.
Te Matorohanga / P. H. Tomoana /From Tahiti, From Rarotonga
I Whiro I Whiro I Ohirohiti
2 Tirea 2 Tirea 2 Hoata
3 Hoata 3 Hoata 3 Hami-ami-mua
4 Oue 4 Ouenuku 4 Hami-ami-roto
5 Okoro 5 Okoro . 5 Hami-ami-mure
6 Tamatea-tutahi 6 *Tamatea Ngana 6 Ore-ore-mua
7 Tamatea-turua 7 Huna 7 Ore-ore-muri
8 Tamatea-tutoru 8 Ari 8 Tamatea
9 Tamatea-tuwha 9 Maure 9 Ohuna
10 Huna 10 Mawharu 10 Oari
11 Ari 11 Ohua 11 Omaharu
12 Mawharu 12 Ohua 12 Hotu
13 Atua 13 Atua 13 Omaitu
14 Ohua 14 Turu 14 Ohotu
15 Oturu 15 Rakaunui 15 Omarae (full moon)
16 Rakau-nui 16 Rakau Matohi 16 Oturu-tea
17 Rakau-matohi 17 Takirau 17, Raau-mua
18 Takirau 18 Oike 18 Raau-roto
19 Oike 19 Korekore Whiwhia 19 Raau-muri
20 Korekore-tutahi 20 Korekore Rawea 20 Oreore-mua
21 Korekore-turua 21 Korekore Hahani 21 Oreore-roto
22 Korekore-tutoru 22 Korekore-Piri ki Tangaroa 22 Oreore-muri
23 Tangaroa-a-mua 23 Tangaroa-a-mua 23 Taaroa-mua
24 Tangaroa-a-roto 24 Tangaroa-a-roto 24 Taaroa-roto ea
25 Tangaroa-kiokio 25 Tangaroa kiokio 25 Taaroa-muri
26 Kiokio 26 Otane 26 Otane
27 Otane 27 Orongonui 27 Oroomie
28 Orongonui 28 Mauri 28 Oroomaori
29
Mauri (or he maurea) 29 Omutu 29 Omutu
30 Mutu-whenua 30 Mutuwhenua 30 Oterieo
*6 Tamatea Ngana
Tamatea Kani
Tamatea Whakapa
Tamatea Aio
[10]
NEWS OF THE WORLD.
The King’s Letter.
At the conclusion of the meeting of the Prime Ministers of our Empire in England and France they sent a letter of greeting to our King.
This is the King’s response to that greeting.
‘I am delighted at the words of greetings from the Conference members telling of their loyalty to me and my Throne. I am very happy that you point to the Crown as that which binds together all parts of our Empire.
I observed this when I visited the distant parts of the world where our flag is flown.
This loyalty was renewed when the Prince of Wales visited the Dominions and Colonies of the Empire over the past three years. The warmth of the welcome he received will never be forgotten.
But the clearest sign of the unity of our Empire was the single-mindedness during the four and a half years of the war.
I followed carefully the discussions at your meeting. I wondered at your discussions and at the contributions of Prime Ministers of peoples from far distant parts of our Empire, and also at your agreement on difficult matters which will improve the lives of the nations and will ensure peace in all parts of the world.
I hope you come up with easy proposals which will facilitate the next meeting of Prime Ministers and that wise people will find new ways to expedite the arrival of people from distant places at the venue chosen for the Conference.
I am aware of the physical burden placed upon you by the huge amount of work but remember that it is through the amount of work that new ways will be found for the advancement of the peoples in well-being.
I thank you, I and the Queen, for the support you give us. May God bless those whose homes are far from England and may he guide and bless them until they reach their families and their homes.
We treasure our love for my peoples, whether at home or far across the great oceans of the world.
George R I
[11]
BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE [Ephesians 4.2]
‘Those of you here – let it be fetched, be brought together. Close off this deep pool.’ By Te Hapuku. Hastings, Hawkes Bay.
I have chosen these few words, people, because of the way things are at this time – the bad things, the good, the burdens, the buzzing about, the delays. These are deep words but only the Elder himself knew the real meaning of his words. Nor can the Interpreter say that he met the one who uttered them. One falls short, the body is weary, one’s thoughts yawn, at the springing up of the blood of the days of one’s youth; a walking stick to the walking stick, a heart to the heart, an eye to the eye; the days decline, one’s thoughts are fewer, one’s spirit comes to rest, the eye focuses on the heart and the body, the sorrowing heart sobs. Ah! His love goes out to his children, his family, the tribe he is leaving behind, leaving them to the new world, to the new people from [?Tirake]. This Elder with his insightful spirit was able to guide us for the coming days.
There are three important teachings in these words. First is ‘Let it be fetched.’ The second is ‘Let it be brought close together.’ The third is ‘The deep pool.’ The base on which these three things stand is love. From that time until today the world has been turning for fifty years since these words were uttered. Perhaps the Tohunga had very few dreams to pass on to us during that time. Perhaps Kiharoa had a dream! Or perhaps Potangaroa! Then again it may have been Te Kooti! We seek in vain for new teachings, we cannot know the depths of the learning of the Elders, of the Ancestors, if we do not go back to find the first footsteps that they took as they trod the face of the earth and the ripples of the sea. But since we know that we have lost knowledge or spiritual insight and that good fruits emerged for [the Elders], what is wrong with going back to walk in those footsteps?
If something is lost it is not right to stop looking for it. The hidden thing must be sought for. We must live in hope that the thing has been done. The thing that has been unthinkingly cast away the heart may make enquiries about of the door or the interior of the house:- Why is it so?
[12]
Let us look at the story of Tuhaepo. This man came here on board one of the canoes. His prized possession was a head-plume known as a kura [ a red feather adornment]. When they arrived on the coast of Aotearoa he saw the Pohutukawa glowing red and he thought it was a kura like his. Then he made the mistake of throwing his away thinking that these things were all kura. When they arrived on land he plucked some for himself. Before long it had withered in the sun. Then the man returned to search for his kura. He did not find it; it had been found by another man, Mahina. When he asked him for it Mahina replied:
Nawai te kura pae a Mahina kia hoatu ano.
Presently the red feather ornament of Mahina will be given up. [cf Nga Pepeha 1733, 1062, 524 etc].
This is a proverbial saying to this day. This was a treasure wasted through the greed of a single man. He alone was confounded. Such was the kura of Tuhaepo.
But your ancestor Tuhotoariki had a fine thought. He said:
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi; he toa takitini taku toa.
My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many. [cf Nga Pepeha 93]
He was thinking of the tribe. Excellent!
Your ancestor Te Pakaru-o-te-rangi, an elder who cared for people, gave us this proverb:
Huia mai tatou kia kotahi. Nau ko te rourou, naku ko te rourou ka ora te manuhiri.
Let us gather as one. By your food basket and mine the guests will be satisfied. [cf Nga Pepeha 1981]
It is right that the paper be given this name. Therefore it is right that we contribute our food baskets. We cannot survive on the contributions of a single person. Rather Te Toa Takitini – Our Strength is that of Many Warriors.
Your ancestor Taha-rakau gave us this proverb:
He ao te rangi ka uhia; he huruhuru te manu ka rere.
As clouds deck the heaven, so feathers enable the bird to fly. {cf Nga Pepeha 352}
These three proverbs each enter into the saying of Te Hapuku. First is ‘Let it be fetched.’ The second is ‘Let it be brought close together.’ The third is ‘The deep pool.’ Love bound them together. So it was right that these clear words should be sung and also that they should be fulfilled today in this our newspaper which, it is hoped, will be a guiding voice and a way of educating people about those projects which will enhance the well-being of people, bringing life to body, heart and soul - to individuals, to groups, and to the people as a whole. Now the important thing is, since this paper of ours is making a fresh beginning, that the hopes of our fuglemen are fulfilled and the paddlers thrust together. Sing fiercely, sing terrifyingly since the sun shines on our Maoritanga.
The rough flax-leaf cape of Taha-rakau was queried and he answered:
E roa raro, e tata runga.
Below is far, above is near. [cf Nga Pepeha 244]
Now he is wearing a sheepskin, therefore be strong.
P[araire] H[enare] T[omoana]
◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊
Letters, orders for Te Toa Takitini, and subscriptions should be sent to:
Rev F A Bennett, Hasting.
Further explanations will be given in September.
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