Mita Mohi moving north to join Morrison in Rotorua

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 17

Mita Mohi moving north to join Morrison in Rotorua

“I’m hopeless at talking. I’d much prefer to be moving around and doing things rather than sitting back and saying what . should be done.” ' In those few words Mita Mohi aptly sums up his philosophy of life. But when he takes up his position as the senior i community officer for the ; Maori and Island Affairs \ Department, in the Bay of . Plentv he will have to fill • some of his time deploy- : ing his staff and in admin- ■ istration. Mohi anticipates that there will be no hassles. He expects to work in wed with Howard Morrison, whis is now the consuitant for youth development in Rotorua, and “a lot of the guys on the staff played rugby with me when I was young.” It is a safe bet that Mohi will not become deskbound. Although Mohi is looking forward to “going home” and settling with his wife and six children in Rotorua, he has more than a tinge of sadness as he contemplates his departure. He says that he will always have fond memo-

ries of the manner in which he was accepted by the Ngai Tahu (South Island Maoris), and the friendships he made with work-mates, team-mates, and acquaintances. It is not in Mohi’s nature to bad-mouth anyone. He has been down at the tracks saying goodbye to his old partners from the railways — “they are fine ‘ men, I made many mates there” — and describes as “fantastic” the assistance that he has had in his present position from “all the Maori people, the social welfare, police, and other government departments.” His deep interest in Maori culture was prompted by his father. As a lad, Mohi was given lessons in performing the w r ero (challenge) and his expertise is such that he officiated in that capacity at the New Zealand Games, assisted at the opening of the 1974 Commonwealth Games, and has challenged New Zealand and overseas dignitaries ranging from the late Norman Kirk to the Shah of Persia. It was as a Maori war-

den that Mohi first served the youth of Canterbury and a mutual respect and rapport developed. His seeking of a position with the Maori and Island Affairs Department was a logical next step. As Mohi recalls some of his experiences, one wonders how he has retained his happy disposition. After all, much of his job involves being lumbered with other people’s problems. But it is his strength of character and confidence which gives new hope to those who seek his help — they cannot help going away with a more optimistic outlook. Mohi has an undisguised concern for the welfare of the present generation of Maoris. He believes that the special Government work scheme has been of immense benefit in placing youngsters who would otherwise be unemployed. The introduction of a scheme to have a detached liaison officer employed as an intermediary between gangs, the department, and the police will, in Mohi’s opinion, cool a potentially heated situation. There is no easy solution to the problems posed by gangs in recent years, but Mohi is an advocate for the reintroduction of compulsory military training. “Much has been said about the closing of Maori hostels, but I do not see that as a bad thing. At least 80 per cent of those who were training in

Christchurch were from the North Island and it would be better if they could learn trades in their own environments. Most of their parents shared that view.” Mohi has a special affinity with the residents of the Chatham Islands, which were part of his “territory,” and he relished his biennial visits. He has been instrumental in restoring the Maori culture that he feels had been lost- in the islands and is to present the community with a taiaha (fighting staff) as a farewell gift. “I share the feelings of the islanders. As the kids grow up the parents see them leave for their schooling on the mainland — the majority never go back. That is really tough on the parents. “The isolation leaves the children without opportunities and it would be ideal if more could be trained in New Zealand to suit them for jobs related to the Chathams. Once they have the expertise required they could go back and make worthcOntributions. “Life in the Chathams is as it was in the old days and not contaminated by outside influences. There is no television, no electricity, but the islanders are a close-knit bunch and make their own fun. It is

a beautiful place and I would dearly love to retire there.” Mohi cannot remember when he last had a free week-end away from his job. The circumstances for which he is called to duty are diverse: threatened, sometimes actual, suicides are among the occurences which crop up unexpectedly. Sometimes hours of persuasive talk, in Maori or English are needed. There are the amusing features, too. He almost cretainly prevented a prominent footballer who had a second drunk-in-charge offence pending from being excluded from an overseas rugby union tour. Mohi arranged fo'r the wrongdoer to be given 100 hours of community work — instead of periodic detention — and he was allotted tasks ranging mowing lawns for old folk to putting the rugby players at the Maori hostels through their paces. All concerned profited from that exercise. If Mohi places much of the credit for his rapid

promotion within the Maori and Island Affairs Department on those with whom he has come into contact, the department’s district community officer for the South Island (Mr Bill Edwards) was eager that the other side of the story be told. “Mita is known to all sections of the -community — he has done terrific work in Maori associations, in his sports, in his dealings with schools, prisons, and businesses,” Mr Edwards says. “Farmers know of his prowess as a hunter, Maoris (the best judges) tell of his skill as a diver, the professional wrestlers look him up when they are in town. “Within the office or on the street he is the best thing on two legs in bringing the races together. Mita is quietly working in the background at all times, and will be a big loss to us. In just five years he has reached dizzy heights in Our department. “We cannot trust him to be in the office, such are the demands for his time. Kids want him to put down a hangi, a con-

deliver a challenge, the people seek his advice »o arrange burials — ev<m dig the grave — and settle estates, and he is called out to mediate in domestic disputes. “The Maori people of

the South Island have been able to rely on Mita tremendously and we re« spect the demand being made by his own peopl>up north that they want him home. He leaves with our best wishes and thanks,” Mr Edwards says.

By

JOHN COFFEY

Mita Mohi returns to Rotorua early next month. During his 20 years in Canterbury he has had a beneficial influence on the lives of many hundreds of people, through his employment with the Maori and Island Affairs Department, his interest in Maori culture, his mana as a sportsman, and as someone who always had a cheerful greeting and a friendly word. Surely one of the happiest fellows of them all, Mohi has worn many hats. He somehow managed to blend the contrasting requirements of a sympathetic counsellor with those of a rugged rugby league forward, night club bouncer, and professional wrestler. Mohi should have been accorded New Zealand rugby league selection many years before he was belatedly chosen for the 1972 World Cup tournament in France at the age of 33 years (the official penpictures listed him as 31); in the wrestling ring he was ever one of the “goodies” striving to triumph over evil; he is a dextrous tennis and squash player.

;.n enthusiastic aqualung diver, a keen pig hunter, and he has been known to smite some booming boundaries in Sunday cricket games. After his arrival in Christchurch Mohi was first employed as a drainlayer. It was not long before he joined the New Zealand Railways and he was stationed at Springfield, Christchurch, and Blenheim. Mohi’s 103 kg. 1.83 cm physique seemed to merge perfectly with the backdrop of a steam engine cab. But his greatest contribution has been made over the last five years, bv means of his conscientious work as a community' officer for the Maori ano Island Affairs Department, a task that has taken him throughout the South Island, to Stewart Island, and the Chathams. On December 11 he goes back to his home town of Rotorua on promotion as senior community officer for the Bay of Plenty area.