THE PRE-EUROPEAN MAORI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 4

THE PRE-EUROPEAN MAORI

MAGGIE PAPAKURA’S BOOK

"The Old-Time Maori." By Makeriti (Maggie Papakura). Edited by T. K. Penniman. Illustrated. London: Gollancz, £1

The most notable feature of “The Old-Time Maori” is that it is written by a Maori woman. Women have always been allowed to take a prominent part in the Maori social structure, but this is the first occasion on which one has written a book on a subject which even the men of the race are reluctant to discuss—the social structure of her own people. Makeriti was well known in New Zealand some years ago as “Maggie Papakura,” one of the best known guides at Rotorua. Subsequently she went to England to live, although up to the time of her death she was an ardent champion of her own race. This book, into which she put so much painstaking work, is invaluable in that it provides, an intimate picture of the domestic life of the old-time Maori, an aspect which is too much neglected by many students. The volume is divided into chapters on social organisation, marriage, children, food, fire, houses, and weapons. The full routine of the daily existence is carefully explained, together with the influences which dictated every step. In fact, even though much of the more secret information, such as the karakia. (incantations) etc., has been collected by Eldsdon Best and others, it is surprising to discover that a woman should disclose so much treasured lore in a book for public Makereti’s death, before the final lines were written, was most unfortunate. and had she been spared to read the proofs a number of errors, chiefly in spelling, could have been rectified Also, acknowledgments could probably have been made to authors from whom she quotes. Nevertheless, “The Old-time Maori” is extremely interesting, and can well be'recommended to all readers of New Zealand literature, especially to those who desire information concerning the fundamentals of Maori life. Incidentally it is revealed how the author received her surname, “ Papakura.” A party of tourists, when told that her name was “ Maggie,” insisted that she should possess another name, and Makereti only too willing to oblige, gave the name of the Papakura Geyser, beside which she happened to be standing. E. A. A.