RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND

Te Ao Hou, Royal Tour 1953, Page 14

RECEPTION IN AUCKLAND It had become known that the grand reception of the Maori chiefs by the Duke of Edinburgh was to take place at Government House in Auckland. This gave the tribes in many parts of New Zealand about a month to organise parties to travel to Auckland. Here many chiefs, some from as far south as Whanganui, gathered in May for the Duke's arrival. The Auckland newspaper of the time, the Southern Cross, gives an interesting description of Prince Alfred's meeting with the assembled tribes. The Maoris were allowed the honour of escorting the Royal gig to land, when the Galatea appeared in Auckland harbour on May 10: When suggesting this proceeding, the chiefs said, ‘Why should you pakehas go out to meet the Prince? We all know you are glad he has come. He is a pakeha and so are you pakehas. It is for us Maoris to go out in our canoes, according to Maori custom, and welcome the pakeha Prince to our shores.’ Two large canoes, fully manned, put off to the Galatea from the Wynyard Pier. The first was the wakataua known as Toki-a-Tapiri, which was manned by 60 of the Ngati-whatua and Rarawa, under their chiefs, Reihana and Taiawhio. The second was the canoe Ngapuhoro, which contained 50 of the Ngati-paoa under Hetaraka Takapuna, and Hoera Te Wharepunga. A third canoe also put off, named Te Tuatara, which was manned by 70 of the Ngati-paoa under their chief Te Ngohipaki. The heads of the Natives were decorated with feathers, and as they paddled out towards the Galatea their appearance was picturesque in the extreme. The Ngati-Paoa canoes bore the British Ensign at the bows and stern, and the figure-heads were effectively decorated with feathers. The stern-posts were highly carved and embellished. On May 14, chiefs from Whanganui, Waikato, Tauranga, East Coast, Mercury Bay, Hauraki, Tokerau and Upper Thames assembled on the lawn in front of Government House. The flag presented to the Whanganui Maoris in 1864 as a reward for their heroism on the island of Moutoa was borne by Meiha Keepa, and occupied a prominent position at the extreme left of the assembly. Loyal addresses were delivered and priceless heirlooms from all over the North Island were presented to the Duke. The Duke left New Zealand after a few weeks in Auckland. His visit was regarded by many as a ray of light in the darkness of the times.