NEW MAORI KING

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1933, Page 7

NEW MAORI KING

VISIT TO TAUPO TRIBE. HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS. Taupo, November 30. An event of considerable importance to the Maori people will take place at the southern end of Lake Taupo on December 6, when Te Rata Koroki, who recently succeeded to the Maori kingship, is expected to make an official visit to Waihi, the historic headquarters of the Tuwharetoa tribe and their chiefly line, the Te Heuheu family. Invitations to visit their territories were recently extended to the new king by various sections of the Maori race, and among these was one offered on behalf of the Tuwharetoa people through thbir present chief, Hoani Te Heuheu. No such official visit outside the territory of the Waikato tribes most closely identified with the “King” movement has been made since the proclamation of the first King, Potatau Te Wherowhero, at Rangiaowhia, in June, 1858. In Maori circles the forthcoming visit will be regarded as a significant step in the establishment of closer relations between the various tribes. That Te Rata Koroki’s first official visit outside Waikato territory should be made to the Tuwharetoa country is peculiarly fitting, in view of the circumstances attending the foundation of the Maori kingship. The setting-up of a head chief or “king” to unite the different tribes had been discussed for several years prior to 1858, but for various reasons the chiefs approaching were . unwilling to accept nomination. Among those who thus declined was Te Heuheu Iwikau, the great Tuwharetoa leader, brother of the first Te Heuheu.

In 1857 a meeting of Maori chiefs and delegations from many parts of New Zealand was held at Poukawa, on the lake shores near, Waihi. There, under the guidance and with the approval of the Tuwharetoa leader. The kingly title was bestowed upon Potatau, who was formally proclaimed in the following year.

The visit to Waihi will be widely approved among the Maori people, in view of the historic associations of the locality and the Tuwharetoa chiefly family with the choosing of the first king. As it has been picturesquely phrased, “Poukawa is still here, Poukawa is still calling.” It is probable that this initial visit will be followed by others, and it is possible that Ohinemutu and Maketu, centres of the Arawa people, may next be visited.

The automatic light system is used extensively for the control of traffic in Melbourne, but unlike the one automatic signal in Christchurch, turns to the right are permitted and occasion no trouble, said Mr. D. V. Wilson, secretary to Duckworth, Turner and Co. Ltd., who gave some impressions of his recent trip to Australia to the Christchurch Business Men's Club. The method, said Mr. Wilson, was as follows: A vehicle desiring to turn to the right, on receiving the signal to proceed, pulled in to the left of the road, made a half-turn to the right, and remained on the intersection, leaving room for other vehicles in the same line of traffic to pass. When the signals changed the vehicle Completed its turn, joining in with the traffic on the other street.