Notes from Branches and Sections

Forest and Bird, Issue 192, 1 May 1974, Page 29

Notes from Branches and Sections

AUCKLAND BRANCH Though the weather was windy and showery, 200 members assembled at Okahu Bay on the afternoon of 1 December for a beach walk followed by a hangi at the Orakei marae. This was our final jubilee function. Professor V. J. Chapman, who led the walk, was sorry the tide was not lower for him to show us the “seaweed garden” along the foreshore from Okahu Bay to Mission Bay. Nevertheless he was able to point out several special features of the area to us. The foreshore rocks being of two types — hard (lava flows and greywacke) and soft (mudstone and sandstone) —had growing happily on the upper tidal limits specimens of yellow beach daisy, sour thistle, and the seaweed Neptune’s necklace. It was interesting to notice that the rock oysters, which are plentiful around there, have a demarcation line, as they cannot tolerate exposure for too long. Mr Clarke, a retired engineer, knew the history of the concrete section of the roadway on which we were walking just before the Tamaki Yacht Club. This had been the old sewerage tanks, designed by Mr W. E. Bush, a city engineer, about 1912. He had foreseen that there would be a road around the waterfront and had designed them to form part of this roadway. Just past the yacht club a young tern was sitting on the rocks. It did not seem disturbed by our gaze, and we were able to get a very good close-up view of it. Later we saw the parents returning to feed it. It was too windy for many birds, but black-backed and red-billed gulls were wheeling in the wind. Open-air Art Show At historical Mission Bay several members viewed an open-air art show before joining the main party at Bastion Point. Beneath the obelisk is the grave of Michael Joseph Savage, the first Labour prime

minister of New Zealand, who died in 1940. This is one of the finest lookouts on the harbour, popular as a picnic area, and worth striving to keep as an open area for a fast-growing city. Behind Bastion Point and also in a commanding situation lies the Orakei marae, at the gate of which we gathered to be met by Miss Ani Pihema. This marae is unique in Maoridom, as its growth has been associated with pakeha involvement. Miss Pihema explained to us the significance of a marae to the Maori and Polynesian races, how it was a place where they might act as hosts, where in front of the meeting house differences of opinion might be argued before the elders, and where families might gather to enjoy themselves. The ground was sacred to them, as they had known happy and sad times there. Respect for the family unit and those who had previously gathered on the marae was very dear to them. Moving Moment This entrance to me was a very moving moment as we slowly approached the meeting house. The 30 to 40 children among us were suddenly very quiet, and one could certainly feel the reverence for the spirits of the ancestors of the Ngata Whatua as we approached Te Puru-o-Tamaki Tauna —elder Mr Tom Downs, who greeted us as friends coming for a domestic gathering. Professor Chapman in his reply acknowledged the greetings and thanked him for the privilege of accepting us as their guests. We then divided into two groups, one going to the craft centre, the other to the meeting house with Miss Pihema to be informed of the concept of this new type of marae. When the Ngata Whatua Orakei Maoris, who had lived on the Auckland isthmus for hundreds of years, had their Okahu Bay marae taken for a public reserve, their ability to act as hosts was

weakened. With only a small number of people they had difficulty re-establishing themselves on nearby land on Bastion Point, let alone providing adequate reception and community facilities for the influx of Maoris and islanders who have migrated to the city in recent years. The need for an adequate marae where associated groups can act fully in their host capacity has been considered top priority by most Maori people, and with the pakeha involvement for educational, social, and cultural facilities, this marae is a very new concent and makes for a greater integration and understanding of all races in New Zealand. The weaving and other handcraft work done there are keenly sought after by overseas companies, and the carvings for the new meeting house are well under way. A group of talented young club members lustily entertained us with action songs, hakas, and poi songs, and it was obvious that these children, Maori and pakeha, are proud of the heritage they have inherited. During this time Charles Tumahai was busy in the background with a hangi which had been laid down 2 hours earlier. The steaming pits were opened’ and kumara, carrots, potatoes, and pork were quickly taken to the service areas to be served with salads to an eager queue. The tender, juicy meat and steaming, tasty potatoes and vegetables were delicious. We were hungry, there was food enough for all, the dogs enjoyed the scraps and added to the relaxed and homely atmosphere, and 200 members had done justice to a well-cooked and keenly awaited hangi. But we hope that this will not be our only visit to this most interesting area. During Conservation Week 1974 we expect, in conjunction with the architect and the Orakei Marae Development Council, to plant the first native trees for landscaping the area. Gradually over the years we will reclothe some of the 44 acres with native bush to equal that seen by earlier people hundreds of years ago. We began our jubilee celebrations with an outdoor breakfast at Piha in March; we concluded it with a family hangi, surely a wonderful way to end a significant year of our history, with integration of the pakeha and Maori. We hope that some of the youngsters present at this gathering will remember these functions on the occasion of the seventy-fifth jubilee in 1998 and visit the areas to enjoy the trees planted to mark the occasion. —Marjorie Chudley

NAPIER SECTION Over 30 members of the Napier Section recently visited the gannets at Cape Kidnappers. Some of the party walked along the beach and others took advantage of the beach buggy. Large numbers of gannets were seen. Most of the young. were not fully feathered, and some who had left their nests too soon and had tried to fly were dying on the beach. The sea was unusually high and rough, and on the return journey several members had to scamble quickly round the last crop of rocks, some getting wet in the process, but all agreed it had been an enjoyable day. Betty Lamburn ROTORUA SECTION A party of 26 members of the Rotorua Section spent a weekend in November at the Society’s lodge on Mount Ruapehu. On Saturday morning we awoke to see an overcast sky. but there were odd breaks in the clouds which enabled sparkling views to be seen of snowy crags above. After breakfast we walked along one of the tracks through the beech forest, where Dr Wilcox spoke about the local flora, his remarks being suitably backed by the song of a tomtit. In the open areas he pointed out the various plants associated with bog communities. Much of the area was brightened by patches of Ourisia vulcanica. The most common birds in the beech were chaffinches and grey warblers. Other birds seen or heard were tomtits, two riflemen, a hedge sparrow, and some vereyes. In the open areas we saw a redpoll and a pipit and heard some grey warblers. After leaving the beech we went to Silica Springs, where everyone was fascinated by the colour of the stream bed. That evening the Wilcoxes entertained us with slides of North American birds. Sunday was very wet, but enthusiasm was high. We set off s for the Taranaki Falls, which looked spectacular in their wild setting. Two members are sure they saw swallows over the Chateau oxidation pond as we returned. Our thanks go to the organiser for such an enjoyable weekend.

—R. Jackson