Pat Hohepa in U.S.A.

Te Ao Hou, June 1963, Page 45

Pat Hohepa in U.S.A. We recently heard news of Mr Patrick Wahanga Hohepa, who is at present studying in the United States under a Ngarimu Post-graduate Scholarship. Mr Hohepa, who comes from Waima in the north, and is a Lecturer in Maori at Auckland University, has been studying for a doctorate in linguistics at the University of Indiana for nearly a year now. Another New Zealander in the United States, Mr Sydney James Morris, learnt from an item in ‘Te Ao Hou’ that Mr Hohepa and his family were living quite close to him, and one weekend recently Mr and Mrs Morris drove over to meet them. Pat, his wife Sally, three-year-old Margie and fifteen-month-old John are residing in one of the many married students' apartments on the University campus, and are enjoying life there very much. Pat told Mr and Mrs Morris that he finds it very stimulating indeed to be with such a large group of advanced scholars in his field. ‘Many of them are distinguished students from many different countries,’ he said. ‘So competition is intense, and the exchange of ideas flourishes.’ He is working hard to complete his doctorate in the minimum time, and after this he will return to his position at Auckland University. Recently he has been occupied with a study of translation machines and on his return he hopes to introduce ideas on this very new field. He is also planning a field trip to a Navajo Indian reservation in Arizona this June and July, and will also visit a cousin of his who is married to an American and lives in Salt Lake City. Mr and Mrs Morris, who sent us this news of Mr Hohepa, will also be well known to many of our readers. Mr Morris was born and bred in Ngaruawahia, close to Turangawaewae Pa. He taught at the primary school there for a time, and for many years acted as Deputy Returning Officer for Western Maori in Ngaruawahia. Miss Kitty Leach, from Rotorua, is one of this year's winners of a Ngarimu V.C. University Scholarship. Kitty, the daughter of Mrs Pani Leach and the late Mr George Leach, is studying for an arts degree at Auckland University and hopes also to take diplomas in social science and education. After this she plans a career in welfare work. Kitty has had an outstanding academic career so far, and last year was joint head prefect at the Rotorua Girls' High School. Her outside interests have included ballet dancing, singing and speech, and she is also very interested in Maori culture, action songs and poi. On the next page we publish a translation of Kitty of a poem in Maori which appeared in ‘Te Ao Hou’ in June last year.