THE RATA TREE

Te Ao Hou, December 1967, Page 61

THE RATA TREE by J. P. Poiner-Webster from the author, $1.20 reviewed by N. P. K. Puriri This small booklet is the story of Patuone, his doings, and his transformation from a noble savage to an English gentleman. The writer has treated his subject well. He could even be accused of looking at him with far too friendly eyes. Patuone was a rangatira in his own right. The early part of his life was dedicated to the advancement of his tribe, and in later life he promoted goodwill between Maori and Pakeha. Descendants and kinsmen of Patuone live in many parts of the world, and this publication will be a boon to them. I understand that they are trying to arrange an annual ‘get together’ at Waitangi. The author can, because of his youthfulness, be excused for some inaccuracies in the whakapapa. I believe he was still at secondary school when he started his project. Much of the material for the book has been gleaned from other sources, but this in no way detracts from its originality.