MAORI YOUTHS’ HOSTEL

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28253, 15 April 1957, Page 10

MAORI YOUTHS’ HOSTEL

Official Opening Ceremony

The official opening of the Rehua Maori Apprentices’ Hostel in Springfield road on Saturday completed a week in Christchurch which was notable for Maori conferences and social events. Many speakers at the opening of the hostel had spent three days at the Maori Women’s Welfare League conference held in the city last week.

The opening of the hostel, which was attended by Maori and European leaders, was held before more than 200 persons. A hangi was opened at 4 p.m. and the guests mingled with residents of the hostel to eat a Maori meal of wild pig, mutton, poultry, and various vegetables.

Mrs I. M. Ratana, member of Parliament for Western Maori, told the guests that the Europeans in New Zealand had cared for young and old in the building of homes. The Maori now realised he could not live as he had in earlier decades.

“Young ones must leave the homes and make their own. No longer does an entire family with all the grandfathers, grandmothers and grandchildren have to be crammed together. There was still some who have not done this, but they must be educated. “Thete are many obstacles that confront the Maori people. We read of the trouble Maori boys get into when they come from the country and live with the wrong type of families in the cities. This hostel, with the spiritual background it will have will help us overcome these obstacles,” said Mrs Ratana. Culture And Language

The Deputy Mayor, Mr G. Manning, urged the Maori people to retain their culture and language. As he was a Welshman he felt he could fairly ask this. “We have kept our native tongue alive, and retained the cultures of our country,” said Mr Manning. “I ask you to take the best of European life and combine that with the best of jfour own culture and let us mould something unique in the world. Let New Zealanders have a blending of these two races. And a building with the religious influences this one must have is the first step along those lines.” Other speakers were the Rev. N. K. Kukutai, of the Methodist Maori Mission, the Rev. B. M. Chrystall, and the Minister of Finance (Mr J. T. Watts), who presented a cheque to the hostel committee on behalf of the Maori Affairs Department. Led by Mr E. T. Tirikatene, member for Southern Maori, a party welcomed visitors in traditional Maori fashion. The Rev. W. T. Blight, chairman of the North Canterbury Methodist Synod, dedicated the hostel.

The official opening was performed by Mr T. T. Ropiha, Secretary of Maori Affairs.