‘He Toa Takatini’ ‘Unity is Strength’

Te Ao Hou, March 1968, Page 47

‘He Toa Takatini’ ‘Unity is Strength’ by Alice Unawai John Smith of Rotorua and Canon Wi Huata of Hamilton—helped by James Thompson and ‘He Toa Takatini’ group at Honolulu.

A shot taken in Milwaukee, Oregon, of Alice Unawai, Nuhaka, and Frank Dennis, Gishorne. Joe Matele of Auckland—have launched a goodwill movement within a few years. After John Smith had succeeded in a lone promotion in Queensland in 1965, members of all denominations joined from all over the North Island. Since then, charity concerts have been given all over New Zealand, two Australian trips have eventuated, and in September 1967—a step further—a successful trip to the United States. Our party of 30 representative Maori performers from the seven tribal canoes went on a six-week goodwill tour of Oregon, giving from two to five concerts each day. Drawn from many walks of life, the members had one thing in common—a love for Maori culture. The performers paid half their fares and made nothing from the tour. Proceeds of the concerts went to United States charities. Concerts were given in full traditional Maori costume and included action songs, hakas, poi dances, stick games, hand games, translations and explanations. Many schools were included in our itinerary—Grade, Junior and Senior High Schools, and Universities, including Corvallis. Pacific and Oregon State School Universities. American clubs and organizations extended invitations too—Rotary, Kiwanis, Y.W, & Y.M.C.A. and Church groups. The American Jaycees were to be commended for their splendid organization of the tour. The main aim of the group is to promote friendship and goodwill with other countries and to illustrate and explain facets of traditional Maori Culture. The group emblem was designed by Canon Huata and features two golden fern fronds on a black background. Superimposed on these are two musical notes which also represent swinging pois. Below the ‘N.Z.) for New Zealand are the words ‘He Toa Takitini’ which may have two translations; ‘Unity is Strength’ or ‘Our warriors' strength is our Unity’. The significance of the fern fronds is the fact that when a fern dies, another will always take its place. This idea is expressed in the proverb, ‘Mate atu he toa … Ara mai ra he toa’—‘A warrior falls … another will rise’ ‘A chief dies … another takes his place’. The music notes represent the deep love of music that is very typical of the Maori people. The pois denote the rhythm of life. Traced in the strings of the swinging pois can be seen the initials ‘H.S.’ for Hoani Smith, the tour organizer. Also there are the initials ‘S.S.’ which stand for ‘Service before Self’ and also ‘Service and Speech’—we have two ears and but one tongue, that we may hear much and talk little. The U.S. tour culminated in a visit to such interesting places as Disneyland and Hollywood studios in Los Angeles, Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown in San Francisco. Marineland in San Diego and Waikiki beach in Honolulu. Firm friendships were established in Klamath Falls, Oregon (sister city to Rotorua), Some of these friends included Ron Smith, our Jaycee Organizer, Mayor R. Veech who treated us to an Air Display by the famous American Tim O'Hara, an American, and Bob Schuster with a hangi dinner prepared for the citizens of Klamath Falls, Oregon.

Thunderbirds—and Helen Hoffman who wrote the following poem about us …