East Coast Tour

Te Ao Hou, April 1955, Page 59

East Coast Tour By TUHINGAIA BARCLAY (Pupil of Queen Victoria College) A party of Maori students from St. Stephen's School, and Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls, left Auckland on Monday, 23rd August, 1954, accompanied by their teachers on a tour of the Bay of Plenty and the East Coast. Expupils of both schools had made it known that they would like to see a representative party of present pupils, and because of their invitations the trip was arranged. There were some misgivings when the party left Auckland. Such a tour had never been undertaken before: would it be enjoyable, and above all, what would be the results? The main objects of the tour were to foster goodwill and to show what the young people in the Church schools are doing today. However, time was also found for basketball and football. Matches were played in Opotiki, Te Kaha, Waihau Bay and Tikitiki, and pupils of the two schools gave combined concerts at night. The plans and preparations for the tour involved much thought and hard work, not only for the school staffs, but more especially for those who had extended the invitations. Members of the touring party will never forget the kindness shown to them by the people they met—the people of Whakatohea, Whanau-a-Apanui, Whanau-a-Maru, Whanau-a-Paraki. Kauaetangohia and Ngati Porou. Everywhere they were greeted and made welcome. Enormous amounts of food were prepared by people who had probably worked for hours to treat their visitors like royalty. Every kindness was shown and everything that could be done for them was done—the young people saw Maori hospitality at its best. The beautifully finished meeting-houses with their intricate tukutuku panels and skilful carving made a great impression. At Omarumutu, where a new hall is under construction, Mr Pine Taiapa gave a lecture to the students on the meaning and significance of the different tukutuku designs. It is a pity that courses in a Maori art are not included in the syllabus of New Zealand secondary schools. Lack of teachers and books prevent this; but how can the young Maori of today appreciate an art of which they are ignorant? On each marae and in many other places the elders spoke to the young people and emphasized the need for them to draw the best from the old and blend it with the best of the new, that they might help the people of New Zealand, both Maori and Pakeha, to attain a culture that New Zealand can call its own. On the tour lessons were learnt, friendships formed, and promises made that will be kept. The parents were told what their children are doing today at school, and in their turn stated what they wished their children to do. There were incidents outside the organised programme which deeply impressed the students. On the first day of the tour the party stopped at Rotokawa to honour a deeply respected lady (the grandmother of one of the St. Stephen's boys) who had passed away. There it was the dignity and solemnity of the tangi that will be remembered. That evening they were welcomed traditionally on the marae of Te Rere pa. When they visited Omarumutu there was brilliant sunshine and the view from the head land overlooking the sea was breathtaking. Perhaps some of their ancestors had stood on that same spot and scanned the horizon for canoes, coming in friendship or bent on war. It was late afternoon when they reached the marae at Te Kaha after a memorable drive along the coast. All appreciated the beauty of the evening as they sat in front of that wonderful meeting-house. Beyond the marae the sea could be seen behind the hill, the water still sparkling under the last rays of the setting sun. Then there was the drive from Te Kaha to Waihau Bay on a rainy, windy afternoon. Far below the road, the foam-white water surged at the foot of the cliffs; but when Waihau Bay was reached, rain, wind and mud were forgotten. On the journey from Waihau Bay to Tiki-

Drawing by Urikore Wharehinga, Tikitiki Maori District High School, done at the age of fifteen. tiki the visitors drove past magnificent scenery and entered the Waiapu Territory. Next day they visited the church in Tikitiki and once again realised what the young people who know nothing of Maori art are missing. They saw Hikurangi shining in the morning sunlight on their first morning. They were entertained in the meeting house at Whangara, which is surmounted by the carved figure of the whale which is reputed to have carried Paikea on its back. It was dark when the party arrived in Wairoa, and although several hours late, the students were given a welcome as warm as they encountered anywhere on the tour. Before they left they were shown over the meeting house, which was quite differet from any they had already seen. Its war-like appearance was both terrifying and stimulating. After Wairoa the party split. The girls went to their sister-school in Napier, Hukarere College, and the boys went to Kohupatiki, where they were the guests of Bishop Panapa. They were prevented from visiting Te Aute College by an epidemic of influenza. So ended a tour which had been a success in every respect, and had benefited both schools in every way.