Canadian Prime Minister Welcomed at Waiwhetu

Te Ao Hou, 1971, Page 30

Canadian Prime Minister Welcomed at Waiwhetu Mr Trudeau meets Ihaia Puketapu, kaumatua of the Waiwhetu marae

Mr Trudeau greets Mrs Huia Hobman He referred to the Maori people as being like an indigenous tree which withered a little with the coming of the white man, ‘but the tap root remained, and in the 20th century, the tree has begun to grow again and the fruit is starting to taste sweet’. He said that this tap root of the Maori people was ‘his love of his people and his pride in his race’. During his reply, Mr Trudeau said that he had come to our country to learn about New Zealanders, ‘but I did not know that I would have an oportunity of learning about the people who were in New Zealand first, and their way of life’. He had heard a lot about New Zealand and had long wanted to come and see for himself. Formalities over, Mr Trudeau met Maori elders, Members of Parliament, the Cook Islands Premier, Mr Albert Henry, and then many of the crowd gathered to welcome him. He talked to young and old, impressing all with his friendliness and courtesy, and the deference with which he greeted the elders. After watching more ietms by the group, he accepted the invitation to join the ranks, was quickly dressed in borrowed costume, and learnt his first action song, ‘Me He Manu Rere’. Everyone watching, including Mr Trudeau's Canadian party, enjoyed the fun and informality. Wearing borrowed costume, Mr Trudeau learns his first action song from Mrs Dovey Katene-Horvath, Mawai Hakona's tutor