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Maori honour for Prince

PA ' Wanganui Prince Edward accepted honorary membership of the Ngati-Tiipoho and Ngati-Apa sub-tribes yesterday in a historic ceremony al Putiki marae, Wanganui. The event managed to take place without the news media’s attention, although Maori leaders subsequently made no secret of their delight in being able to honour the young Prince, who is settling in as house tutor at Wanganui Collegiate School. Rumours of a special event ' involving Prince Edward at Putiki had circulated for some weeks. Prince Edward, accompanied by the school's headmaster. Mr lan McKinnon.

yesterday, attended a service at St Paul’s Church at Putiki and read a lesson. He then arrived at the marae. A cloak was placed over his shoulders with the wish that he become an honorary member of the Ngati-Tiipoho and Ngati-Apa sub-tribes, which cover the central and lower reaches of the Wanganui River and the Whangaehu areas. Prince Edward expressed gratitude for the welcome which he said he accepted humbly. He was presented with a box containing greenstone cufflinks and. shirt studs set in gold. Produced by a Wanganui master carver, Kohe Webster, the box featured the cord of Hine Ngakau --

the name of a Taumarunui meeting house. The Putiki meeting house features the symbols of Hine Ngakau and her two brothers who are central figures in a legend linking the Taumarunui district with Putiki. The cord, part of the legend linking the two areas, is made from flax and plaited. Prince Edward spent much of his two-hour marae visit with Putiki's respected elder. Mr Hori Hipango. Mr Hipango. whose greatgrandfather had a private audience with Queen Victoria in England in 1855. emphasised the significance of yesterday's ceremony in joining the Royal Family with the Maori people.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19821011.2.57

Bibliographic details

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 6

Word Count
288

Maori honour for Prince Press, 11 October 1982, Page 6

Maori honour for Prince Press, 11 October 1982, Page 6