RESEARCH ON MAORIS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28800, 22 January 1959, Page 9

RESEARCH ON MAORIS

Study Of Urewera Tribe "The Press" Special Service ROTORUA, January 21. A party of three from the School of Social Science at Victoria University of Wellington has entered the Urewera country to investigate the social and economic potential of the Tuhoe Maoris. The party is led by Dr. J. R. McCreary, a lecturer in psychology and sociology at the university. Working with him are two students. Miss Ina Te Uira and Miss Anne Delamere. The three are expected to be in the Urewera for about two and a half months. Victoria University has been conducting research in this area for the last three years. The Tuhoe people occupy most of the Urewera lands, from Ohiwa and Taneatua in the north to Rugtahuna and Waikaremoana in the south. The party now at work is based at Ruatahuna. Armed with a vast amount of material gained from earlier surveys, they will study native forests and undeveloped bush and farmland to find how these can be made more productive.

They will also compile life histories of Tuhoe Maoris living around Ruatahuna.

Similar parties will carry on the work next year. The information gained will later be co-ordin-ated in a report on the future of the Tuhoe people and the lands they occupy. The programme is being carried out with the co-operation of the Maori Affairs Department.