THE ORAKEI PA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 15

THE ORAKEI PA

Sir, —The plans go forward for the celebrations of the Centenary, and so far as one can see there is no provision being made for the preservation of the Orakei site as a memorial to those friendly chiefs who bade Governor Hobson bring his people here to dwell in peace qn the shores of the Waitcmata. It is true the Orakei people are only a remnant and that they have not much of this world's goods,, but they have planted their roots deep in the soil and have buried their dead there and eo count the land as sacred. Each year these people have organised services and ceremonies to commemorate the landing of Governor Hobson on their shores, and they have been the only people thus to celebrate the anniversary these many years. The few who are now left seem to have become discouraged by neglect, and no wonder. There is some difficulty about the ownership of the land. The Crown has evidently claimed title to the few acres comprising the Orakei settlement. Be this as it may, what is there against placing these few acres in trust for the Maori people to be theirs as long as they care to dwell .upon them? What is there against draining that land and using the labour of the Maori to make it fit for habitation? Proper drainage and sanitation will have to be undertaken in any case for the benefit of the surrounding community, if not for the Maoris. The Orakei Pa could be made a self-supporting project, it could bo lined to foster the arts of the Maori people, serve as an appropriate memorial, not only to the first Governor of New Zealand, but to the ancient friendly chiefs. By transforming the Orakei Pa, which is at present a disgrace to the citizens of Auckland, into a Memorial Park, planting it with native ferns, trees and flowers and establishing a model pa there as a special tourist attraction* would be the most fitting, valuable ftnd lasting contribution we could make to the Centenary celebrations, to say nothing of righting a very old wrong. This project would be self-supporting, because admission could be charged for entrance to the park, and every visitor who came to the city would make a visit there. The Maori arts would be cultivated and fostered, especially dancing, singing, carving and weaving. A certain amount of unemployed Maori labour could be used and many of the Maori people would be enabled to make a decent living off a small tract of land, by maintaining concert parties, and by selling the handwork of their craftsmen. For the past three years i have tried to interest municipal and Government officials in this project. I am given to understand that the intention of the "powers that be" is to ruthlessly tear those poor people away from the spots that they hold sacred. Some of the Maoris have told me that they would rather die than leave Orakei, and I am sure they mean it desperately. With the assistance of the Museum authorities and of the New Zealand Horticultural Society and the citizens of Auckland, a very wonderful asset to the city could be achieved by the formation of a model pa and a park of native flora. Jf nothing is done for the Orakei people, it will be an everlasting disgrace to the City of Auckland and to the Government. Edna Graham Macrt.