“This Place Is Tapu”

Northern Advocate, 17 November 1938, Page 6

“This Place Is Tapu ”

THE canoe which the Miaoris are building at Kerikeri is tapu. All Pakehas should remember this fact, especially females, to whom it is doubly tapu. Recently a protest was published on behalf of Princess Te Puea, against the desecration, by female trippers, of canoes being built for the Centennial in the forests near Lake Taupo. These people permitted themselves to be photographed sitting on the canoes.

There have been similar happenings at Kerikeri. Visiting tourists have been told that a war canoe may be seen on the slips, as it were, a mile or so from the township, and they have unthinkingly taken their wives and daughters and sweethearts along with them. Arriving at the scene of operations, they have found three great roughly-hewn shapes lying among the gofse. The ladies have invaded the tapu ground and lounged against the sacred timber. They have then gone on their heedless way, not knowing that they have broken the law of tapu.

It seems a pity that the Maoris, in leaving the Kerikeri canoe lying about in such an open and accessible spot, did not think to indicate its untouchable character. A notice: “This canoe is tapu; please do not touch.” would have the desired effect. In the meantime, it is suggested that those who have violated the tapu should make handsome donations to the funds which it is proposed to organise so as to assist the Maoris in their entirely commendable work.