Maori welcome for Minister in Sweden

Press, 27 June 1983, Page 8

Maori welcome for Minister in Sweden

NZPA staff correspondent Stockholm A traditional Maori karanga welcomed the Minister of Tourism, Mr Talbot, to Stockholm yesterday. Th£ karanga was ‘ performed by Erena Rangimarie Rere Omaki (now Erena Rhose), a member of Ngati Kahungunu, living in Sweden. For Mrs Rhose, the arrival of Mr Talbot was particularly significant, for Mr Talbot emerged from his car wearing the korowai of tiie Ngati Kahungunu people. The korowai is more than 200 years old, and Mrs Rhose is a direct descentent of the korowai’s original owner, Kahungunu. Mr Talbot moved into the foyer of the Sheraton Hotel in response to the call of the karanga and received a hongi greeting from Mrs

Rhose. Mr Talbot then removed the korowai from his shoulders and draped it around Mrs Rhose. According to Ngati Kahungunui elders, the korowai is re-establishing a historic link with its arrival in Sweden. The Swedish botanist, Daniel Solander, sailed with Captain James Cook during his first voyage of exploration to New Zealand in 176970. On one occasion Cook and Solander were invited to meet members of the Ngati Kahungunu tribe. During this historic meeting with Solander, the korowai was worn by a Ngati Kahungunu. Mr Talbot will fly today to Pitea, a small town in northern Sweden, the birthplace of Solander, where celebrations are being held to commemorate the 250th

anniversary of Solander’s birth. On his arrival in Pitea, Mr Talbot will again be greeted by Mrs Rhose, together with members of the New Zealand-Sweden Society. The karanga that Mr Talbot receives in Pitea will be important. Guided by the spirit of kahungunu, and representing all New Zealanders, Mrs Rhose will be cementing ties between the people of New Zealand and the people of Sweden; ties that were formed more than 200 years ago by Solander. Mr Talbot has assumed personal responsibility for the safety of the korowai while it is out of New Zealand. Permission was sought from Ngati Kahungunu, and the Maori Affairs and Internal Affairs departments before the korowai could begin its historic journey.