Maori Footballers Must Uphold Honour

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1947, Page 8

Maori Footballers Must Uphold Honour

“The reputation gained by the New Zealand Maori Battalion in the recent world war is the envy of all races throughout the world. ‘‘The young Maori of today must not lower that reputation. “One way in which he can maintain it is to play the game both on and off the football field.”

So said Mr Kingi Tahiwi, of Wellington, representative of the Maori race on the New Zealand Rugby Union and an official of the New Zealand Maori Advisory Board, in a speech at the conversazione held in Whangarei yesterday afternoon in honour of the Tai Hauauru and Tai Tokerau Maori Prince of Wales Cup teams. Mr Tahiwi stressed the need for the young Maoris to heed the lessons of the pakeha. He went back to 1840. when he said, the Ngapuhis gave them the Treaty ol Waitangi. Then followed religion for the Maoris and subsequently football.

“In their football alone, the Maoris have honoured the Treaty of Waitangi,” Mr Tahiwi said. BREAKING DOWN PREJUDICES “The game has been a means of breaking down the prejudices among the tribes and the New Zealand Maori Advisory Board has had this task as its chief function. “It has had wonderful assistance from the New Zealand union and has achieved something in the matter of binding the Maori people together. “Without the help of the NZRU, we would melt away,” he added.

Mr Tahiwi emphasised the great part played by the Ngapuhis in the early history of New Zealand and referred to the deeds of the Maori Battalion under their Northland leader, Colonel Henare. The visitors were welcomed by Mr L. Davis, Mr Henare and Mr P. Pene, and also by Mr J. Finlayson, member of the council of the NZRU and viccpatron of the NARU. In addition to Mr Tahiwi, replies were made by Messrs D. Prosser, of Forirua, manager of the Tai Hauauru team, Alex Takarangi, of Wanganui, coach, Ted Edwards, of Hawera. a selector, and an official of the Taranaki Rugby Union.