Rotorua… LOYAL ADDRESS

Te Ao Hou, Summer 1954, Page 7

Rotorua… LOYAL ADDRESS TO HER MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY, ELIZABETH THE SECOND, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, NEW ZEALAND AND HER OTHER REALMS AND TERRITORIES, QUEEN, HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH. ARISE! ARISE! Arise! ye chiefs and warriors who lie in the darkness of Eternal Night! Come forth and hearken, ye who sleep the long last sleep! Stand forth and give welcome for the First-born of the Line draws near! WELCOME O stranger from beyond the horizon! the rare White Heron of single flight. You bring to us precious memories of your revered and illustrious father, our late beloved King. In you we see him again: the song bird singing at dawn, bringing joy and happiness into the hearts of all. Alas! he is gone. Farewell O Sire! Depart to the Great Beyond — to your ancestors! Tread the worn path that leads to the Courtyard of Eternal Life! Farewell! Farewell! Farewell! Lo — a new dawn breaks! O Gracious Majesty, Welcome! Welcome to this outflung post of your Empire! Welcome to Aotearoal Welcome to Te Waipounamu! Queen of a mighty Throne built on the affection of countless peoples, enter your Domain. O Warrior Son of Princes, linked to Her who is our Queen, Welcome! Our hearts are full of gladness. Come in the Glory of a great Victory recently won. Greetings, O Chief, who with our sons fought that we should ever remain free peoples. Welcome to this land. Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Through the bonds of universal freedom, of a code of law that is just and common to all, of a pride of Empire that all may share, of a common destiny through many pathways, come knit our peoples closer together that great may grow to greater, and beneficent peace govern all. O Royal Daughter of an illustrious line, we are proud that you should perpetuate the traditions of your Race and House. For it is meet that those who sit high should turn an equal face to the humble as to the mighty. Walk, therefore, among the Maori people, sure of their hearts fostering therein the love they bore for the Great Queen, Victoria, and those who have followed her. O Sovereign Lady, O Mother of our Prince, bring with you a woman's faith that strives for the enduring peace of God that passeth all understanding. The sufferings of a harassed world are soothed by a woman's hand. Come in the spirit of Great Britain bringing with you her appeal to all men to walk together in peace and goodwill. Welcome, then, you who embody the ever recurring hopes of mankind for a world in which health, happiness and prosperity shall prevail. Welcome and Farewell! Return in peace with the knowledge of our unswerving devotion, taking with you a renewal of the oath we swore to your father and mother on this very ground a generation ago: an oath born in the Treaty of Waitangi, made sacred by time and manifold trials. The loyalty of the Maori people will ever remain. And so, Farewell!

KI TE TOI O TE MANA, KI TE TIHI O TE WEHI, KI TE TIKITIKI O TE IRI, IRIHAPETI TE TUARUA, NA TE ATAWHAI O TE ATUA KUA WHAKAWHAI HEI KUINI MO INGARANGI, MO AOTEAROA, MO NGA MOUTERE ME ERA ATU WHENUA I RARO I TOU MARU, HEI UPOKO MO TE KOTAHITANGA O NGA IWI O TOU KUINITANGA, HEI KAITIAKI MO TE WHAKAPONO.