Two Worlds

Te Ao Hou, March 1963, Page 20

Two Worlds My first impression was also the most striking and lasting. As a newcomer I found board with a European family and went daily to the school and attended Maori gatherings. I found myself living in two scarcely compatible worlds. Passing from one to the other was like passing through a heavy door that closed firmly behind, cutting me off entirely from the other world. Europeans were curious to know what was going on among the Maoris, while Maoris, though always courteous, were somewhat reticent, perhaps suspicious, because my private life was entirely unknown to them. Such a state of affairs is not surprising when we remember that not so many years ago Maoris were confined to the gardens for employment and accommodation, and contact be-

tween the two races was very limited. This is no longer true because Maoris are no longer confined to the gardens for accommodation, and consequently their choice of occupation has been extended considerably. Credit for this change must go to the housing scheme of the Maori Affairs Department. Over sixty Maori families live in good homes in residential areas of the borough, and the vicious circle has been broken. Contact on a wider and more informal basis is now possible; though a certain carry-over from the past persists, it gives every appearance of breaking down gradually. On the whole, Maoris have responded to their more fortunate circumstances very well and this is matched by an equally encouraging response from Pakehas. There have been some disappointments on both sides, but this really underlines the overall success of the scheme.