League Conference at Gisborne

Te Ao Hou, 1970, Page 28

Tamati Dennis, main spokesman for the Rongo-whakaata people, welcomes delegates to Gisborne League Conference at Gisborne Because Gisborne was the main centre for the Cook Bi-Centennial Celebrations, many national organisations held their annual conferences there. Among them was the Maori Women's Welfare League. The Tairawhiti Regional Committee gave delegates a warm welcome at Poho-o-Rawiri, and hundreds of local people turned out at the official evening opening in the R.S.A. Hall, where the Waihirere Maori Club provided the complementary items to the many speeches, and delighted the guests with their singing. The Mayor, Mr H. Barker, commended the League on its contribution towards closer relationships between Maori and Pakeha. Mr H. Ngata, speaking as tangata whenua said, ‘Our people have few or- Delegates are welcomed outside Poho-o-Rawiri meeting house National Publicity Studios

Guest of honour, Mrs Iriaka Ratana, accompanied by the League's president Mrs Miria Karauria and followed by Gisborne's Mayor, Mr Barker, gives an answering call to the karanga of welcome. Te Atatu Branch members, delighted to have won the Te Puea trophy, from left, Mrs Tuini Hakaraia, Mrs Norma Thompson, Mrs Veronica Hauraki. Mrs Letty Brown and Mrs Mercia Waiti ganisations with a nation-wide basis. We are still very tribal, and we need something with a wider orientation.’ He commended the League for its good work at national level as well as its concern with day-to-day activities in the community. Other speakers were Mr P. Reweti, M.P. for Eastern Maori, Mrs E. Tombleson, M.P. for Gisborne, and Mrs W. Tirikatene-Sullivan, M.P. for Southern Maori, who urged the women to make a contribution to the nation by exercising their right to vote. The conference was opened by Mrs Iriaka Ratana, who was about to retire Patroness of the League, Queen Te Atairangikaahu, accompanied by her husband Mr Whatumoana Paki, speaks to delegates National Publicity Studios photographs

The two delegates from ‘Te Ao Hou’ Independent Branch after 20 years in Parliament as M.P. for Western Maori. She commended the League members for the changes they had brought about over the years. She agreed with earlier speakers who had urged a concentration on education for young Maoris, but felt that Maoris had to bring about a greater understanding of themselves as people. During the week, under the chairmanship of the president, Mrs Miria Karauria, the delegates discussed the many remits, dealing with health, welfare, crime and the All Black tour, and finally approved the new constitution, Mrs Karauria handing over this session to the immediate past president, Mrs Ruiha Sage, who had first introduced it. All were shocked when the news came of the death of the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr J. R. Hanan, and after standing in silence, tributes were paid to him, the Southland delegates remembering his encouragement of them in their work. Business concluded, delegates chose Mrs Hine Potaka and Mrs Meri Penfold as first, and second vice-presidents, and all prepared for the ball, which proved a great climax to a great week. The Secretary for Maori and Island Affairs. Mr J. M. McEwen, presents his trophy to Ikaroa, the district with the greatest increase in membership. The Penhryn Island trophy is given to Rangimaire delegates by Mrs M. Luxton of Rotorua