[915]
TE REO O AOTEAROA
WITH
WHICH IS INCORPORATED TE TOA TAKITINI
Registered
at the GPO as a Newspaper
Number 90
Hastings
February, 1929
SUNDAY
Sunday for us
Maori is a day of rest from work.
For Maori sport is
work. Therefore, we do not work or play games on that day. Rather our work is
worship and all that relates to that.
The missionaries
taught our forebears about the sacredness of this day. There was to be no
chopping firewood or scraping potatoes on that day. Everything was to be
prepared on the Saturday and on the Sunday one desisted.
Maori look with
much regret at how Pakeha now keep Sunday. Some keep it as a sacred day, while
others disregard, it and work and play. Others observe a different day such as
Saturday.
For some Pakeha it
is good not to work on a Sunday, except for ‘pulling a donkey out of hole,’ It is alright to engage in all sorts
of sports. Perhaps it is how these people
were taught, and along with not having a fear of God they do not keep
Sunday as sacred.
So the Maori looks
at his Pakeha friend and asks himself, ‘Where is he?’ Is he with the missionaries in the Christian
world, or in the present day when Sunday is just another day and he treats it
lightly?
What day is the
Holy Day? Is it the Sabbath of the Jews
the seventh day in the Old Testament, or is it the Day of Resurrection,
the first day of the week, the Day of the Lord, as observed by the Christian
world?
Published
by the Rev P Hakiwai and P H Tomoana, and printed at Cliff Press, Queen Street,
Hastings, HB.
[916]
Te Reo o Aotearoa
Registered at the
GPO as a Newspaper.
With which is
incorporated Te Toa Takitini.
The price of the
Paper is 10/- a year.
Address letters to
‘Te Reo o Aotearoa,’ Box 300, Hastings.
Te Reo o Aotearoa 1st January, 1929
THE SABBATH DAY
It was the
practice of the peoples known as the Semites, the descendants of Ham, to
observe the seventh day as a day of rest from work. Some observed it without understanding.
Most did not believe the Bible. There are two reasons for observing the seventh
day according to the Old Testament. (1) God created the world in six days and
rested on the seventh. (2) A reminder that the Children of Israel escaped from
slavery in Egypt. The remarkable thing is that the Ringatu, Maori or Pakeha, do
not fulfil all the prescriptions for keeping the seventh day, the Sabbath,
holy: Leviticus 23.32; Exodus 20.10; Exodus 35.3; Exodus 16.23; Exodus 31.15.
In Hosea 2.11 it was prophesied that God would do away with that seventh day
Sabbath.
The
Apostle Paul says (Colossians 2.14-16) that the Sabbath has no place among
Christian Gentiles; in Galatians 4 he criticises those who hold to the seventh
day. The Apostle Paul frequently says that the law has been superceded. That
law is the Ten Commandments which Christ nailed to his cross.
In
the Sermon on the Mount, Christ carefully explained the laws. It is remarkable
that there was not a single word about the Sabbath Day. Christians in the time
of the Apostles observed the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week. Christian
Jews still observed the Sabbath Day and other customs. But Gentile Christians were
careful not to give space to Sabbath days and other of the many Jewish customs
(Colossians 2.14).
The
Day of the Lord. This is not the Sabbath. The seventh day was not transferred
to become the first. They are still different days. The Lord’s Day is observed,
rather, to recall his rising from the dead. It is not a day for resting from
work. It is a day for the soul to rejoice, to offer thanks and praise when we meet
together on that day to participate in the Holy Communion. Aul went to the
synagogues of the Jews on the Sabbath Day to preach and convert the Jews, but
nowhere does it say that Christians met on the Sabbath for worship. The first
day of the week
[917]
was when they met
for worship. The Lord came to his disciples on the first day of the week (1
Corinthians 16.2). The Apostle John called that day the Lord’s Day (Revelation
1.10).
Look
at the Apostle Paul, the main Apostle to the Gentiles. He was ‘a Hebrew born of
Hebrews’ (Philippians 3.5); ‘I belonged to the strictest sect of the religion
of the Jews, I lived as a Pharisee’ (Acts 26.5); ‘as for righteousness under
the law, I was blameless’ (Philippians 3.6); he strongly rejected clinging to
the Sabbath and was resolute in observing the Day of Resurrection of our Lord
Jesus Christ. He said, ‘If Christ has not been raised … your faith has been in
vain.’ (1 Corinthians 15.14).
A
SALUTATION TO THE WILLIAMS FAMILY
To
my fellow Ministers of Aotearoa.
My
friends, greetings to all of you together with our Bishop. Without doubt, my
friends, my heart overflows with gratitude for the love shown by the Williams
family. So I want to put our thanks into writing. There has been no comparable
generosity. Let us say, there are a hundred descendants of the Ministers, and
how many hundreds of pounds have they given? Therefore, children, this is a
great help to your fathers. Our hope is that some of you may get high status
positions, so that we can repay this great generosity.
Kia
ora to the Trustees of the Williams Fund.
H
Keremeneta
Pipiriki,
8th January, 1929.
SALUTATIONS
AND JOY
We
are grateful and happy at heart that you, Sir Apirana Ngata, have been elevated
to these lofty positions. Be strong and resolute about bringing your Maori
people to the peaks on which the Pakeha live and grow.
You
have provided the Church with a head. Now, build a body for the Maori people,
feet that range and hands that cultivate.
This
is not an instruction but and expression of joy. Let your heartfelt love for
the Maori people shine brightly.
H
Keremeneta,
Pipiriki,
8th January, 1929.
[918]
MEN
AND WOMEN
Dr
Ephraim Mulford, Chair of the New Jersey Doctors’ Association in America, says:
‘The physical strength of womens exceeds that of men nowadays. This situation
has come about through wearing short clothes. If men still wish to be the
stronger they should wear short clothes. The women of America grow up healthier
than the men. This because during the summer they wear less clothing. Their
clothing is light and thin so the warmth of the sun reaches their bodies. Health
and well-being come from the rays of the sun. So the man who hides his body,
wrapping it in clothes, and ties up his throat with a neck tie – how is the
life-giving fresh air to get to his body?
The
woman has learned to allow her body space to breathe. Although she has much to
do [?te kainaha, nga mahi paremete] she finds space to rest at the
hairdressers or in nail shops. It is the same with men. He goes to the barbers
but does not relax lest he be cut. That is how it is, the woman is not ashamed
to show that she is stronger than a man. She will spend a long time swimming in
very cold water: she will play tennis from sunrise until sunset. And they live
longer than men.
THE
REPORT OF THE MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND,
HELD AT WAIOMIO, 15TH – 17TH DECEMBER, 1928.
Members who attended: Rev Canon Keretene
(Chairman), Rev W N Panapa (Secretary). Eru M Pou.
Those
standing in for members who could not attend were: Revs Te Hau, Harawir, Messrs
Hoori Tane, Henare Hoori. The two representatives of the district: Rongo
Paraone, Pari Tautari.
The
minutes and the accounts were presented and agreed. Letters were received.
The
Chairman’s Address. In his
address the chairman spoke of the lands and money given by the Elders that had
sustained the Church up to the present time. These things show us their
commitment and the nature of their faith; it was not just a matter of words.
What about us, their descendants?
[919]
Marriage.
This institution was not devised by man or by the law but was given by
God to man in the time of his innocency. Although, in the time of our forebears
and ancestors the chiefs did have a practice like this. But the mature expression
of it was left by them to us, those of the Faith. We, the Maori People, had then
no concept of the permanence and the sacredness of this rite. But our holiness
requires us as individuals and as a people requires us to honour this rite. The
law permits the breaking of the bond, but Christ and his Church say, ‘What God
has joined together let no-one put asunder.’
Maori
Girls. One thing common
among us is a reluctance to send our girls to get an education. We only think
about the boys. But remember, it is the girls who are the mothers of the
people.
Important
Dates for the Country. On
Christmas Day 1814, Mr Marsden landed at Oihi. On 2nd December,
1928, the first Maori Bishop of Aotearoa was consecrated. These are two
important dates for the country. The first marks the arrival of the Faith, the
other marks the agreement that Maori have reached maturity, and our faith has
reached maturity, and that the time has come when we can take our place on the
lofty peaks among the great peoples of the world.
The
Business.
Many
matters were discussed at this hui, things relating to the Faith, and others
affecting the people as a whole. One matter that was heatedly debated by the
Committee and the local people, related to the Maori Schools. In Pakeha schools
the examinations take place at the end of the school year. In Maori schools,
when the children return of the new year they are examined in February, March
or April. There are perceived to be many
problems with this arrangement. (1) The children have worked hard during the
year at their learning but when it come to the end of the year they are not
examined. (2) For two months they are at home, speaking Maori, with no
schooling. They return to school for the new year and only then are they
examined. How are the children to get some order into their learning?
The
thinking in these days is that we Maori ought to make every effort to get an
education. Therefore, this is something that needs addressing by our representatives
and the Government. Tiari Kupa and Te Riri Mahi brought this matter to the
meeting which passed the following motion:
‘This
meeting asks the Government to give consideration to the Maori schools and to
arrange for examinations to take place at the end of the education year,
[920]
that is, at the time when Pakeha schools
have their exams.’
A
Question.
What
is the situation with the land at Waikare which was given to the Church?
Answer: In the Deed, that land was given to Te Peka and not to the Church. This
would be a good matter to refer to the Commission of Enquiry into the lands of Te
Tokerau.
The
Committee was also asked to write to the Trust Board and to enquire about the
situation regarding the site of the Taumarere Church and the site of the
Minister’s house when the Minister lived there.
The
Motions Passed.
1.
That
this Standing Committee asks the Ministers to send to the Secretary the number
of people belonging to their churches before the meeting of the Committee next
March.
2.
That
the Committee asks all the Ministers to send in their Fund Money from the
present time so that they can be all available for when the Committee meets in
March.
3.
The
next meeting of the Standing Committee will be in Kaikohe in March on a date
when the Bishop is available.
4.
That
the Committee thanks the local people for inviting the Committee to this area
and for their hospitality to all who attended this hui.
W
N Panapa
THE
BISHOP OF AOTEAROA AT WAIAPU
On
12th January the Bishop of Aotearoa arrived in Waiapu. He held his
main service on 13th at Tikitiki Marae. All the hapu of Ngati Porou
gathered, from Tokomaru to Wharekahika. Because so many people were at the
marae it was decided to hold the service there. Herbert Williams, the
Archdeacon of Waiapu, accompanied the Bishop. The Tai Rawhiti Ministers were
present – Te Hauwaho, Pine Tamahori, and Poihipi Kohere, as well as those from Tokomaru.
The service was excellent and much appreciated, the people joining in the
worship wholeheartedly. I observed the people taking up the faith. Many
observers thought that the faith had died amongst Ngati Porou. On that day it
revealed its faith. They showed that
thousands of the tribe ‘had not bowed the knee to Baal.’ [Romans 11.4]
This
is perhaps one of the first-fruits of having a separate Bishop.
[921]
Indeed,
we have at last a coming together of Ngati Porou just for worship. This is the
tribe that campaigned strongly to have a Maori as the first Bishop for Maori.
On that day they gathered to express their joy that they had been given what
they wanted. At that hui we saw that some adults who for many years had taken
different paths were still loyal. The Bishop also thanked the children, the
‘Wiwi,’ for their contributions to the
stipend for the Bishop.
After
the service on the marae the people moved to the church for the Lord’s Supper.
Between two and three hundred people went to take Communion. That shows that
the faith of people is still alive. What especially delighted me was that most
of the young people from Hukarere and Te Aute attended and took communion. The
yung people are the seeds of the Church. This was an excellent demonstration of
the life of the Church. The young were also the majority of people on this
occasion.; theirs is the influence in the world. They are also the largest
group, they will have the vote and the power to run things. The ‘Wiwi’ are
those with power today. While it was the elders who were the firebrands on this
day, that was alright with the compliant ‘Wiwi.’ Those ‘Wiwi’ have the power of
the majority, the insights of the mind, and strength. Therefore the important
thing about that worship is, that is shows these young men and women that they
are to stand with the Church – they are the guardians of the well-being of all.
Be strong, you young people. This is your time. Do what is good so that life in
your time will be better than it was in the time of your parents and your
ancestors. The elders should not find fault with the young ones. All you elders,
these young people are being put down by your wishes and your directions. They
are put down; don’t make them take fright. Rather, greet them, welcome them, give
them pleasure by first listening to their ideas. There is a plant known as the
‘Sensitive plant.’ If it is touched by the human hand it withers, that is, it
starts to dry up. That herb is a ‘shy plant.’ It is the same with our young
people. They shouldn’t be subjected to voices that despise them or find fault lest
they shrivel up. It is not just the Church of the elders that is a living
Church. If the church is filled with elders and young people, this is a sign of
life. Therefore, if the young people come into the church, take them by the
hand.
At
the time for the collection the collectors went around. A leading man of
Ringatu was the person [? tangata nama] who brought the plate to where I
stood.
After
the service the food was served to one hundred and seven people. The tables
were very good, weighed down with food – the tables on the marae and
those in the dining hall.
[922]
After
the meal, Sir Apirana Ngata and his visitor, Te Taite Te Tomo, returned to
Wellington. The Archdeacon and his wife departed in their car.
After
the Pakeha service the Bishop went to Waiomatatini, and the people returned
home. So ended that remarkable hui.
THE
SOLDIERS’ FUND
The
Report and the Accounts of the Maori Trustee for the Financial Year ending 30th
May, 1928.
The
Soldiers’ Station
17.
The amount of lease money that is to be paid has been settled. This Office has
proceeded according to the rules laid down by those who have handed over their
lands for leasing in their area, or the payments requested in other
circumstances. The money not yet paid out has gone down and now stands at £379,
but those with shares are asking for money from their shares.
18.
Tarawhata is the Manager of that Station. The number of workers on the Station
has gone up this year.
19,
There have been no large building projects this year.
20.
The livestock continue to be well cared for. There are five Romany rams and 376
ewes including the lambs that have been added this year. Twenty heifers have
been added to the herd. Three hundred sheep and thirty-four cows have been
added to the livestock on the Station. The number of sheep is good when one
takes into account that 2000 acres of the Station were burnt.
21.
The outcome of this fire was that many sheep were sold for a low price because
they would not have survived had they been left on the Station. The Soldiers’
Station is far from the markets and is not able to take advantage of times when
the prices are rising. But the Manager makes every effort to look for ways of getting
good prices.
22.
During the last days of February, there was a fire in the Cape Runaway area an
2000 acres of the Station were burned. It is not known what started this fire.
I have received reports from the Station Manager and my Inspector of Lands
about the damage done by that fire. The workers who were not injured during the
disaster have been working hard to sow grass in the burnt area. In order to
make the best of this happening, 155 bags of grass seed were obtained at a cost
of £800. This money was taken from this year’s profits. The hope is that the
Station will benefit from the rapid
[923]
spreading
of the grass seed. Two hundred sheep were burned in the fire, and many cattle
that were in the bush behind the Station.
23.
This year the appearance and the quantity of wool sent to the markets in Napier
in December and February improved. The prices we received were very good. We
found that we had six bales of washed hogget wool and very good prices were paid
for that.
24.
Three hundred and six acres were cleared and sown with grass this year.
25.
The new yards have been finished.
26.
This year we completed the acquisition of furnishings for the homestead.
27.
Not much fencing has been done this year but, at the end of the year, plans
were in hand to erect 190 chains of fencing.
28.
Because of the above fire, it has not been possible to contribute moree to the
growth of the fund. It is thought that the losses incurred, besides the sowing
and the deaths of the livestock, will be close to £1000. The profit from the
work of the farm was £630 more than last year, and £1000 was paid out because
of the fire this year. Therefore, the losses of the Station are not so great,
though you can see the profits and losses in the3 accounts below.
29.
It is not expected that there will be a great profit in the coming year. But
where improvements have been made, those areas are being worked on to continue
that improvement. It is right to increase the number of livestock on the
Station and after Spring this project will be completed. At the right time this
will be done. I forsee that these advancements will happen this year if there
are no disasters, and the expenses shown in the present accounts will diminish.
The
Accounts
The
accounts for each Station are attached to this report.
31.
The money allocated by the Maori Trustee for the year ended 31st
May, 1928 was:
Hereheretau £9,500 Soldiers’ £14,000
32.
These funds were to be used in the ways set out in the previous year’s report.
[924]
The
Farming Activities
33.
The Inspector of Lands visited and inspected these lands several times this
year.
34. The Insurances are maintained at the right
values.
Broader
Issues.
35.
It has been put to this Office that there would be benefits from following the
management programme as initially envisaged, since by keeping steadily on the
course of increasing the profits from these farms belonging to the Fund, and
ensuring that that will be done, in time to come the benefits will come to
these Funds.
H
H Kingi
Deputy
Maori Trustee
Wellington,
8th August, 1928.
BISHOPRIC
OF AOTEAROA
This
is our Bishop’s Diary for January and February:
January
1.
Ringatu
Church Hui at OPOUTAMA. Parish of
Nuhaka.
2.
WHAKAKI.
Service and business.
3.
& 4. At TURANGA and surrounding area.
5.
Arrive
at WHANGARA. Service at 7.30 p.m.
6.
Communion
Service, 7 a.m. UAWA, 11 a.m. Communion.
MANGATUNA, 3 p.m. TOKOMARU,
7 p.m. A United Service – Pakeha and Maori.
7, 8, 9 Parishes of TOKOMARU and
HIKURANGI
10. RUATORIA
11.
WAIOMATATINI at the home of Sir Apirana Ngata.
12 & 13 TIKITIKI.
Hui of the parishes of Ngati Porou.
14
Return to TURANGA.
15
Arrive at HERETAUNGA.
16, 17, 18 At HERETAUNGA.
19
TE WAIROA.
20. Hui for worship and Ngati Kahungunu
business. Meet Ngati Porou here.
21.
Return to HERETAUNGA.
22.
At HERETAUNGA.
23.
Travel to ROTORUA via TAUPO.
24.
Arrive at Ruatoki.
25, 26, 27. With MATATUA.
28.
WHAKATANE.
[925]
29.
Unveiling the memorial at Pouawha.
30, 31.
Return to ROTORUA.
February
1 – 6.
In the ROTORUA parishes.
7.
Return to HERETAUNGA
8 – 9.
HERETAUNGA
10. Sunday. Consecrate the brick church at TANGOIO.
12. Run the sale & butcher’s shop at KARAIWA
in aid of the Maori Church.
14. Travel to TAUPO.
15
– 17 The parish of TAUPO.
18. ROTORUA.
19
– 22 Resting at MOKOIA.
23
– 24 TE PUKE Parish.
25
– 26 TAURANGA
27. MOTITI.
28. Return to Rotorua.
March
1.
On the road to TURANGA.
2.
TURANGA.
3.
Unveiling
of the Memorial to Sir James Carroll.
4.
NAPIER.
6
or 7. Unveiling of the WAIMARAMA
Memorial if it is ready.
8.
Travel by train to AUCKLAND.
9.
Joint Service, Maori and Pakeha, in
Auckland Cathedral to mark the beginning
of the work in the Diocese of Auckland. (If it can be arranged by the authorities
in Auckland.)
The
month of March will be spent in the Diocese of Auckland.
The
first part of April will be in the Diocese of Waikato.
The
last part of April will be in the Diocese of Wellington.
The
beginning of May will be spent in the Diocese of Nelson and the remainder of
the month in Christchurch and Otago.
As
a Church, do not forget to pray for your Bishop that he may have strength,
physical and spiritual, to carry the heavy burden laid upon him.
May
God’s blessing rest upon the Church and the Maori People all the ddays of the
year 1929.
Greetings
to you all. Kia ora.
From
your Father,
Frederick
Augustus Aotearoa.
[926]
ODDS
AND ENDS
Kingi
Tahiwi is currently accompanying an Australian Doctor, Dr Phillips, around
the Tamatea Council Area. He was invited here by the Ethnological Society [the group gathering the things of the past] to
collect specimens of Maori blood. |That body says that from the blood the
origins of the various Maori groups can be known. Science! What next?
We
are delighted and grateful for the news that Te Teira Te Paea is enabling his
grandchildren to attend the opening of the Church of England at Tangoio. This
is a noble gesture. Tei, long live the character of the elders.
Almost
£900 has been spent by the Department of Health on the Councils and their
nurses this year.
Herbert
Gregory, the Director of the educational establishment called the [Bernice P]
Bishop Museum, says that it has been established that the indigenous peoples of
the Pacific Islands travelled from South-east Asia. Bloods from Weat and East
have been mixed. They relate closely to Japanese, Chinese and North-American
Indian blood. No black blood is present.
The
Heretaunga Secondary Schools have said that they are considering making a
donation to the people to encourage discussion of matters of concern relating
to the land, and to provide help for the deaf and the blind.
There
had been talk of the Bishop of Aotearoa attending the Christmas at Ratana. It was
possible that an invitation would be issued. This thoughtful idea came from
Tuta (Ratana). However, no invitation arrived, and some from other canoes were
accepted. We thank Tuta. His time will come.
King
George is responding well to treatment for his illness. ‘God save the King.’
On
10th February, the church at Tangoio, Hawke’s Bay, will be opened.
Do come or think about lightening the burden.
During
the holidays our paper and the calendars may arrive late.
One
lovely thing about the Ringatu Hui at Opoutama was that the local people are
Mormon, and the visitors Ringatu and the Bishop of the Missionary Church.
On 3rd March, the memorial to
Sir James Carroll will be unveiled in Turanga.
It is said that
the people are reluctant to go to Ratana for the ‘Christmas’ as they did in the
past.
[927]
The important day
is now the birthday of Ratana, 25th January. On that day there are
all sorts of entertainments and celebrations of his birth. Why ar they doing
this?
At Opoutama, the
Ringatu said: ‘Welcome, Bishop, as bishop for the Ringatu Church.’
Edith L Murdock said:
‘The character of the woman is the character of the man, and the character of
the man is the character of the people.’
Government
officials came to [? tutoro] Rua Kenana Hepetita of Maunga Pohatu. Rua
found some shillings which seem to have been what the party wanted, and they
returned satisfied to Rotorua and Hamilton.
Miss Royden said, “Had
I been asked in the past, ‘What is it that women value?’ I would have answered,
‘Marriage, raising a family, and making a home.’ But now it is drinking beer, horse
racing and playing golf.”
BEWARE!
Influenza is
spreading rapidly in America. In recent weeks, twelve thousand two hundred
people have died in this epidemic.
It is said that
increasing numbers are getting Flu and Pneumonia. From 3rd November
to 29th December, 2957 people died.
The disease is
also rampant in Germany. The report says that all the hospitals are full of the
sick – full to overflowing.
It has started in
England but not as yet seriously.
The Health
Department is advising us to beware and to take care of our homes. Send reports
[of the illness] to the marae committee, the Councils, or the area’s doctors.
THE TE WAIROA HUI.
A message arrived
for all the young people of Te Tairawhiti from the Te Wairoa Branch of the
group called ‘The Wairoa branch of the Kahungunu Welfare League,’ which brought together the young people from the deep ponds, from
the Universities, from the decorated houses which have been erected in today’s
palisaded pa, to exchange ideas about the settling of lands in the days to come.
This is an important and timely voice, and we wonder at this treasure, and at the
repeated raising of these causes, because this is today’s theme - embodying the
ideas of the past to learn how to apply them in the days ahead. Now it has
come. Welcome, welcome, welcome!
[928]
From the
Government came the Minister for Maori Affairs, the Hon Sir A T Ngata, MP, and
his Secretary, Mr Raumoa Balneavis. Dr Pohau Ellison MD represented the
Department of Health. The Rt Rev Bishop Bennett of Aotearoa represented the
Maori Church. Judge H Carr and J N Harvey Esq, Registrar of the Te Tairawhiti
Land Board, were present from the Maori Land Court.
Others attending
were:
Captain Pitt,
Henare Ruru and Lady Carroll of Gisborne. Dick Leach and Dave Hinaki of
Whangara. Milner of Tatapouri.
Eru Moeke and
Waikari, the elders of Ngati Porou, and the younger people, Tamepo, Len Ngata,
Pete Mulligan – members of a group numbering nearly fifty, all of them farmers.
Apanui was from Whakatohea.
Ihakara, Bob
Tutaki, Rotia, Nikera, and Tomoana represented Heretaunga.
After dinner the
group of nearly sixty visitors arrived from Ngati Porou. Twenty came from
Turanga. The party of Te [missing]
It was at
Waihirere marae. The accommodation was two marquees. The large house was for
Ngati Porou – the site was lovely. Our thanks to the people of the marae and
the dining hall, the boys with the lights, and thanks for the handshakes.
The local people,
with one accord came from Te Mahia, Nuhaka, Whakaki, Wairoa and Mohaka.
There was no
divisiveness between the Churches; they were as one, and they greeted the
Bishop of Aotearoa. and quoted the words of Te Kooti and other good Maori
prophets. There was a good spirit and it was as if the Holy Spirit was guiding
that hui. There was praise for this aspect and agreement that this happy state
should advance.
It was right that
the Te Wairoa branch of Ngati Kahungunu was given the honour of this formal hui
[Ka mutu pea, e hoa ma!]
‘How marvellous,’ my friends!
These were the
matters raised at the hui:
First:
Congratulations
to the Bishop of Aotearoa. The hope was expressed that blessings and the faith
would increase as a result of this gift extending the authority of the Church to
the Maori People.
Second:
Congratulations
to Sir Apirana Ngata MP on his appointment as Maori Minister, and it is hoped
that this will result in blessings for his Maori People. It was thought that
the settlement of land issues would be a good thing.
Third:
Congratulations
to Te Raumoa for retaining his position as secretary to the Minister for Maori
Affairs.
[929]
He
has held this important position for seventeen years, and has been assiduous in
helping with and advising on matters brought to the Government.
Fourth:
Thanks
to Dr Pohau Erihana, the Director of the Maori section of the Department of Health.
Fifth:
Greetings
to Judge Carr and Registrar Harvey of the Maori Land Court and the Te
Tairawhiti Board. They were asked to deal expeditiously with matters soon to be
brought before them – to find a means of easily meeting the group’s requests to
settle their lands and to find sources of sufficient money to do this.
Sixth:
We
thank the young people of every area who have come together to support the
proposals for settling the land, and matters relating to work – a major concern
for the young people of Ngati Porou.
Seventh:
The
memorial for Sir James at Waihirere, Wairoa, that is, the erection of the
Takitimu carved house and its beautiful marae.
Eighth:
The unveiling of the memorial to Sir
James in Gisborne on 3rd March.
Ninth:
The
visit to Waikaremoana to see the country and the Power Station, ‘Haumapuhia.’
Tenth:
It was decided, in accordance with
an earlier proposal, to combine all the [Iwi Taitama] young people’s
groups of the Tairawhiti as a sign of their support for the guiding words of
Sir A T Ngata.
In the middle of
the night before Communion, the business of the Hui was moved to the Sunday
night to leave the day free for the service, to allow people free time to see
the area, and to set the Maori Minister free to deal separately with issues
raised by the local people.
On the Sunday
evening, the lands for which it was clear that applications should be made were
named. They were:
Kauhouroa (Wairoa)
Hereheretau (Nuhaka)
Opoutama (Mahia)
Horohoro (Taupo-Rotorua).
Seventy young
people had registered their requests for land. Strong young people, mature in
body and in thinking, would be carefully selected.
[930]
Fifty were from Te
Wairoa and Te Mahia and twenty from Ngati Porou. The register of names is still
open. The choice will be made by the Standing Committee.
The Maori Minister
explained that those who had submitted their names should think carefully and
should be aware that they would be leaving home, but at last they would move
because stout-heartedness, strength, and ambition would lead them to the lofty
heights laid before those whose hearts are committed to farming. He asked the
‘Nati’ [Ngati Porou] farmers to talk with those young people who were thinking
of taking this path for themselves, to inform and encourage them, telling them
of the fruits they have seen as a result of stout-heartedness, a committed
heart, and an understanding of the work.
In response to the
words of thanks from the young people, Turi said: ‘In the future you must be strong.
Be well-informed, too. This is the way which will bring prosperity to you and
the people. The desires of many past years will be fulfilled this day. Hear the
words of strength, of stout-heartedness, of faith.’ ‘Gird yourelves with the
girdle of the time.’ ‘Go forward!’ ‘Don’t forget our treasure, the Bishop of
Aotearoa.’
The Ngati Porou
elder, Waikari, supported the advice given to the young people. He pointed out
the burdens and the difficulties of being young. By working hard and welcoming
the treasure, the future will be one of achievement.
The Ngati Porou
elder, Eru Moeke, said similar things. He told how he was a live-wire when he
was young. He was not one of the chiefs, but thought that by his commitment and
by holding to the faith, his work and his whole body would be blessed.
Tamepo, Renata
Ngata, Wirihana, Peta Marikena, Hirini Heeki, Milner, Kewshaw, the Nati ‘Young
Farmers,’ spoke of how good it was to be committed to work and to care for equipment,
which has become easier these days. They urged the young ones to be strong, to
be bold, to be brave!
Instructions were
given to set up an inspection committee to look into the state of and the value
and the best way to divide those sites.
After all this
there were motions thanking the chiefs of the Marae and the caterers, moved by
the Bishop of Aotearoa, seconded by Te Raumoa, and passed by applause. So this
good hui ended.
GO TO AOTEAROA
I write about Wi
Repa’s concern, expressed in Te Reo o Aotearoa, Number 89, last January,
relating to the name ‘Aotearoa,’ as to whether it referred to this island only
[931]
and pleading that
it be used of the other island as well.
I do not go along
with that proposal. In his explanations he says that Kupe gave names to places
along the East Coast. That Kupe is remembered to this day in the important
waiata of Tai Rawhiti [the East Coast] and
in laments for the chiefs.
At Akitio, near
Porangahau, are Matiu and Makaro where a rock stands in the sand. In the lament
are these words:
Matiu and Makaro were perturbed.
They are the descendants, my
friends,
Of Kupe and Ngake.
When he was in the
Wairarapa area Kupe saw the other island and it has been known as Mataketake up
to the present time. There also are Kupe’s two canoes, mountains tipped up.
It is said that
these two were one single island. Kupe cut them in two and the sea flowed between
them and was called ‘The Sea of Kupe.’ In that sea is the shoal at Raukawa. [Cook
Strait] There one finds the [Taiore a Kupe - ? The Plantings of Kupe] –
the spear grass, the nettle, hostility, ferocity, attacks on the land,
tempestuous seas, the killing of people so that not a remnant remained. Canoes
are overturned. But from the time of Whakarewa-i-te-Rangi people have survived.
The waiata
contains these words:
You alone opened the way to the
south.
It was Whakarewa-i-te-Rangi who
fetched you.
There were Poutini and Arahura,
The place where the adze flies.
It is also known
that one must shade the eyes when one embarks on Raukawa. In that waiata we
have:
Cross
over Tuwhena.
Let
the eyes be blind-folded when crossing Raukawa,
Let
them be hidden lest I see the rocks [The Brothers’ Islands – See Williams
p.136 ‘kopare’ & Grey – Moteatea p.147].
Once
they have slipped behind
I
may safely look forward,
And
‘little I’ may sit at the bay at Kararupe [Grey – ‘Whanganui’],
The
work of Kupe who traversed the land.
A great farewell
was given by those left behind to those who went on the Migration, whether from
distant Hawaiki or Hawaiki nearby. These are the words of farewell:
Go to Aotearoa!
Anchor soon above
Mareretonga, above Tumuwhakairia.
[932]
It was his
practice not to carry his quarrels with him. Rather, he wanted to spread all
that was good over Aotearoa.
There were many
stories about Kupe that have been lost. They are perhaps being cared for in ‘the
closely-woven kits of Rakatauri.’ [Grey – Moteatea p.153]
About Maui Potiki, also known as
Tikitiki-a-Taranga
Muriranga
Whenua
|
Taranga
|
Maui Potiki
Going out to the
fishing grounds and fishing there was a sacred business. A person who mocked it,
even though he were on land or on a rock, could be struck dead. It was the same
with a large seine net. Maui persisted in mocking his brothers and therefore he
was not taken out to sea. But in his eagerness he hid himself in the bow of the
canoe. When they reached the fishing ground he emerged. His brothers were angry and would not give him bait so he struck
his nose so that it bled; then he smeared the blood on his hook and with that
he caught The Fish of Maui [The North Island of New Zealand]. This is the story
of his fishing.
The line went down
and was taken by the fish. He fixed his line to the thwarts, that is the
gunwhale, of the canoe and into the bilge. It began to sink. The brothers
called out, ‘Let it go or we will die.’ He called out, ‘Haul up your youngest
brother’s fish.’ For the fourth time they called out to let it go, but he said,
‘Wait for the four winds!’ Then the fish came to the surface alongside the
canoe. Because they were so delighted and happy the brothers climbed onto the
fish, shouting and hopping. Their youngest brother told them to be kind to
their ancestor. But they would not listen and kept on dancing and, as a result,
we have valleys and hills and the land is all out of kilter. So we have part of
a waiata which says:
The huge land came to the surface,
it rose up.
What is that bird? The bird is a mutton-bird.
What is that bird? It is a
white-faced storm-petrel.
They land on the sacred sand.
? The charm for stanching blood, the
twitching of the muscles. ?
It is better to
correct words that are obscure than to correct those words that are set in
stone in the Holy Bible which have been put into it by the Spirit of Truth at
the time when the sun shone on the land and the world of our ancestors.
Be diligent about seeking
out the important words; they give you life. Don’t waste it.
From your remaining
elder,
Ihaia Hutana.
[933]
WISE WORDS
R[eweti] T
K[ohere]
Let me take from Shakespeare’s
store of learning a first wise word for us. The idea came to some men who were
simple, that is, uneducated, to prepare a play to entertain and honour their
Lord, the Duke of Athens. However, word came to the Duke that the play was no good. This was his response:
I will hear that play:
For never anything can be amiss
When simpleness and duty tender it.
It occurred to me
to get some pupu [winkles] as a gift for some people; winkles are a
favourite food of mine. I gathered all the food I could at that time; winkles
are easy to get. I had a long journey and the road was bad. When the winkles
fell out I clambered under the horse to gather them up. I arrived at night with
my winkles. Afterwards I heard that my winkles were despised – and me as well. It
was said, ‘With all the food there is to eat in the long land, all he can bring
to eat is winkles.’ I and my winkles died of shame! What those people wanted me
to bring them was crayfish or fish. The Pakeha say, ‘Beggars can’t be choosers.’
Maori say,
He kai kei tua o Toka-rarangi, ma
wai e tiki atu?
Why wait for food beyond Toka-rarangi? [cf. Nga Pepeha 1211]
Had the Duke of
Athens received my winkles, he would have said:
Let me eat those winkles:
For never anything can be amiss
When simpleness and duty tender it.
The payment for my
winkles and for having carried them the length of the land was not a word of
appreciation; as the Pakeha say, ‘Not even a Thank you.’ Again, Shakespeare
says:
Thanks, to men
Of
noble minds, is honourable meed.
For the Pakeha,
saying Thank You is a sign of nobility. It is the ignorant who don’t say Thank
You.
Shakespeare speaks
often of ingratitude. This is one of the great sins of the world.
A
speech by King Lear exemplifies this for me. Lear gave his kingdom to two of his
daughters. When they took over the kingdom they ill-treated this elderly man. He went into the wilderness where he was
battered by storms. And there he said:
Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted
fiend,
More hideous when thou show’st thee
in a child,
Than the sea-monster.
Filial ingratitude!
It is not as this mouth should tear this
hand,
For lifting food to’t?
As
King Lear was being beaten by the wind and the storm; with the lightning flashing
and the thunder rumbling, he stood, looked to the heavens, and spoke these
dreadful words, appropriate for the stormy night.
Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks!
Rage! Blow!
You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout
Till you have drench’d our steeples,
drown’d the cocks!
You sulphurous and thought executing
fires,
Vaunt-couriers of oak-cleaning
thunderbolts,
Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking
thunder,
Strike flat the thick rotundity o’
the world!
Crack nature’s moulds, all germens
spill at once.
That make ingrateful man!
As benefits forgot:
Though thou the waters wrap.
Thy sting is not so sharp.
Heigh, ho! sing, heigh, ho! Etc.
Page
1, Supplement.
NGA
MOTEATEA
Read
these waiata and the explanations, and if anything is wrong with the words or
the explanations please, as soon as possible, inform:
Sir Apirana Ngata, MP,
Waiomatatini, East Coast.
These
waiata will be printed in a book but the committee wants the words and
explanations to be right. Editor.
Supplement
to ‘Te Reo o Aotearoa.’
Part
II.
Waiata
149 to 161
These
waiata with their English translations and explanatory notes can be found in
Nga Moteatea, Part II, A T Ngata &
Pei Te Hurinui Jones.
