PARTY POLITICS

Te Ao Hou, June 1959, Page 24

PARTY POLITICS Party politics have held a wide interest for the Maori people in Auckland. This is natural because the people here wrk in industry and are therefore members of trade unions. The residence too of the Maori member of Parliament for the Northern Electorate is in the city. The urban Maori is more dependent upon the wage packet received from his employment than the rural dweller. Thus he is more open and sensitive to the usual party political propaganda concerning the close connection between economic conditions and politics. The two political parties, Labour and National, have their branches among the Maori people. Divisions of the community into political groups follow clear outlines. Certain tribal and religious groups support one or other of the political parties. The kind of employment and family connections seem to be factors in choosing a political party. “Q” is from a southern tribe, whose traditional support of the National Party is known. “Q” is an officer of the National Party in the city. He has an academic background and is a teacher in a city school. “Q” has not taken any leading part in the affairs of the Maori community in Auckland. His

Two leading Maori figures in Auckland: Mr George Latimer, left, member of the tribal executive, is also active in sports administration. Mr Wakarara P. Karaka, now manager of the Maori Community Centre has been a considerable influence for years. Born in Tokomaru Bay, he joined the Department of Maori Affairs before the war, and after serving in the Middle East, became welfare officer in Auckland. Two women with leadership roles in Auckland are Mrs Tumanako Reweti and Miss Ani Pihema, both members of the community centre trust board. Mrs Reweti is a regular voluntary worker at the centre and the president of the city branch of the Maori Women's Welfare League. Miss Pihema, of Ngati Whatua, ex-school teacher, is now a welfare officer with the Department of Maori Affairs.

Other leaders frequently met at the centre from left to right: Mr Andrew Paapu, Ngapuhi, chairman of the Owairaka tribal committee, and a public servant; Mrs Bella Taura, the ‘mother’ of the university Maori Club—more formally known as the president of the Whare Wananga branch of the M.W.W.L.; and Mrs Maraea Te Kawa, also very prominent in the league. All these people have a variety of other functions—Mr Paapu as secretary of a study group which meets at the Department of Anthropology (Auckland University) every fortnight; Mrs Te Tawa on bodies such as the recent money drive for Ruia Morrison. education is a source of status and his leadership in party politics is made effective by his skill in both Maori and European things. He is a good Maori linguist and is also a master of English. The leader of the Labour Party in Auckland is “J”. He had a good education, a brief period in the public service, attained fame as a Rugby footballer and was one of the leaders in the establishment of the Community Centre. He had a responsible position in a trade union in Auckland. The fact that he has been chairman of the tribal executive committee shows his competence as an administrator.