MAORI ROYALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 245, 17 October 1933, Page 6

MAORI ROYALTY.

TRIBAL FEELING. SOME HEAD NECESSARY. (From Our Rotorua Correspondent.) With the death of Te Eata Mahuta tho reason for, and tho continuation of, the Maori '"kingship" has como in for quite a lot of discussion. Although tho natives now seem more- united in their wishes with regard to the- appointment of a head for their people, there was a time when they were fiercely opposed by tribal divisions to the recognition of any one leader. It is, therefore, interesting to obtain an outline of' the present-day opinion in this district. A member of the Ngati Porou, discussing this question, said that the Maori "King" movement had its beginning in 1858, when Potatau Te Wherowhero was elected "king" to lead the natives in their resistance to tho acquisition of their land by the pakeha. The movement in the beginning was predominantly among the Waikato tribes, but it was later supported by a large proportion of the North Island natives.

The land acquisition question, although still recurring in a modified form, lias long- ceased to influence the natives in preserving their line of "kings," and it was explained that the chief reason for the movement now was the desire to have, some recognised figurehead about which the traditional ceremonial of the Maori could revolve.

Following the death of Mahuta, representatives of the nine canoes and of all the tribes in New Zealand formally promised fealty and support to his successor. At first sight it might appear difficult to explain the acceptance of an overlordslup on fho part of the. chief of one particular tribe by the representatives of the remainder. In the earlier days inter-tribal rivalries and jealousies would have made such a position impossible, but it had now been supported and even enthusiastically acclaimed by the Maori people almost as a wdiole.

The reason, it was explained, was the necessity for some leading figure, qualified by descent and family, who could be accepted as the acknowledged head and ruler of the- people. The new "king," of course, was very much a limited monarch, with no actual jurisdiction beyond that of influence over his "subjects." But he was, at the same time, the reincarnation of the old tribal idea that placed the chief in the position of guardian and representative, of the sovereign rights of the tribe; tho centre of the ceremonial dear to the Maori heart, and the figurehead who stood as the visible leader of his people. The position, it was explained, was in many ways analogous to that of the Empire, which had its monarchy as the focal point of its kindred interests. Each of the competent Dominions, as each of the competent tribes, was recognised. as an individual entity possessing jurisdiction over its- own affairs, but acknowledging the leadership of a common head. Tt was felt that the establishment of a Maori "king" gave the various sections of the Maori people a common leadership which would tend to draw them together for their common good.