Do You Want A Hapu?

Northern Advocate, 26 July 1938, Page 2

Do You Want A Hapu?

Kupe and Princess Raranga have been meeting young Northlanders for the past few weeks, discussing the hapu scheme with them, and finding ways and means for hapus io be made possible for everyone. And here are the details.— If you want a Hapu the first thing is to find a TOHUNGA, who is a grownup, who will (a) Find some place for the hapu to meet, perhaps at his or her own home. (b) Guide, advise and help members by being at hapu meetings to see that things run smoothly, and (c) Acchpt suggestions from members and prepare a programme for each meeting.

Once a Tohunga has boon found ;‘t will bo his or her duty to call the first hapu meeting of interested boys and girls. It would be as well for the Tohunga to arrange an opening game—a jolly one—for the first item on the pvogramme. After that members’ should be called upon to fleet their own lIAPU CHIEF—A boy or girl who will be their leader. With the help of the Tohunga the Chief will preside over the ‘‘business" side of the meeting, or, as growti-i’iss would say. "shall take me cna.ir.' The Chief should LPen arrange for the election of a sub-chief and a HAPU SCRIBE whose job it will bo to take notes of the meeting, keep simple “minutes," with the assistance of the Tohunga, and. unless a scrapbook scribe is also elected, make a cuttings book of all items about the hapu, or by hapu members, printed in the “Young Northlander.’’ Next thing is the selection of a name

for the hapu, or the arranging of a competition for name suggestions, from which the name would be

selected by vole at the following meeting. A further game could then be

played. .The Chief could next call for suggestions for hapu colours—perhaps a ribbon or rosette, pinned on to the coat or dress of club members by a a Kupe Club badge. Another game, a sing-song and supper should bring a very enjoyable first-meeting to a close. Hapus may meet as often as a Tohunga thinks wise—weekly, fortnightly or monthly. The Tohunga may creclde the age for active membership of a hapu. if desired younger noys and girls may be made junior members, who need not attend the regular hapu meetings, but who may attend on special occasions such, for instance, as a hapu birthday celebration or when Kupe and Princess Raranga pay a hapu a visit with the baby picture show.

Hapus, in n district where club members are very scattered, may be divided, a few members meeting at different houses, each under a separate sub-Tohunga. Some brothers and sisters, for instance, might prevail on Father or Mother to be Tohunga for their part-Hapu meetings, These divided, napns might combine, say. once cverv three months for an “alltogether" meeting under their selected Tohunga. Corresponding: members may also belong to a hapu. They are members living too far away from a hapu meeting place to attend regularly but who try to help the work of the hapu so far as they can, and who would be allowed to attend special meetings. There is the scheme. TTortiuanders. Through our page Hapus may be linked together, helped and advised. With personal visits Kupe and Princess will play their part. There are happy times ahead —plan now and form your Hapu soon.