VISIT TO TARANAKI

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXVII, Issue 4402, 8 June 1933, Page 5

VISIT TO TARANAKI

TAUPOPOKI AND HIS PEOPLE.

NOTABLE ARAWA CHIEF. The Tainui-Maniapoto Rugby football match played at New Plymouth on Saturday marks an epoch in the Maori history of the tribes, for though 21 years ago a Taranaki Maori team visited Rotorua and was defeated by the Arawas by three points, this marks the first occasion on which the Arawas have paid an official visit to the West Coast. Consequently it was regarded by the Maoris of both tribes as a great event.

The visitors came down in full strength, a party of over 80 making the trip in three buses and several cars. They were headed by the great chief and picturesque figure Mita Taupopoki, the leading chief of the Arawa tribe, and, as one of his followers put it, the last of the great old chiefs. Another visitor was the chief of the tribe, Te Naera, who is also chief of the sub-tribe Ngato Whakane.

The Taranaki Maoris, who had been looking forward to the visit of the chief and his tribe for some time, set themselves out to royally entertain them during their short visit. On Saturday morning New Plymouth was visited by about 600 Maoris, who had assembled from all parts of North Taranaki to greet the visitors and incidentally to witness the game. Despite his 87 years, Mita Taupopoki, though slightly stooped, appears to be very fit. He took a keen interest in the progress of the game, showing appreciation of the winning efforts of his team and urging them forward in the approved Maori style, when it appeared to be necessary. His striking appearance commanded attention. He has a splendid record, and proudly wears three medals that had been presented to him in connection with the Maori wars. He was presented with two during the reign of Queen Victoria. The third medal was presented to him by Sir Fiennes Colville on September 14, 1911, when Mita Taupopoki visited England with a halca and poi troop from his tribe, being present also at the coronation of George V. That medal was presented for distinguished service tendered at Maketu during the Hau Hau wars. On his return from the trip he was made a chief of the sub-tribe Tohurangi and a chief of the Arawa tribe, receiving a chief’s pension

He was presented to King George V when the sovereign was visiting New Zealand as the Duke of York, and has also been presented in New Zealand to the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York and several Governors-General. Mita Taupopoki said that at present the Maoris were not degenerating, but were falling back on European ways. They were losing many of their customs which, thought Mita, was for their own benefit. It was by this using of European methods that he had travelled to New Plymouth. The Maoris were gradually leaving the pas and were going on to the land. This was the best course for them to take.

The only Maori custom which Mita thought would never die out was that of holding tangis. The use of European methods, he said, was not degeneration so far as the Maori was concerned. A fulVblooded Maori, Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister of Native Affairs, was teaching the Maori people to follow European ways.