Ta Matou Haerenga ki Ruatoki

Te Ao Hou, November 1973, Page 55

Ta Matou Haerenga ki Ruatoki I tetahi Paraire ka wehe matou i Taupo ki Ruatoki noho ai ra. Ka haere matou ki ko ra kia ako i nga tikanga o te iwi Maori. E rua haora e haere atu ana i Taupo ka tae matou ki Rotorua. Ka tu te pahi ki te marae o Mataatua, ka kai matou i a matou tina, ara i waiata ai. Ka mutu nga waiata ka haere ano te pahi. I te wha karaka i te ahiahi ka tae matou ki te marae o Waikirikiri ki Ruatoki. I haere matou ki runga i te marae, ka karanga mai nga kuia. Ka powhiritia matou e te kaumatua. Katahi ka tu a Mr Hill ki te whakahoki. Ka mutu tana whaikorero ka waiata matou. He waiata tangi tenei. I muri o te waiata ka hariru matou i nga tangata whenua. I te po, i muri o te kai, ka haere matou ki roto i te whare nui ki te karakia ki te waiata, ki te mihi hoki. Ka tangi te pere, ka tu tetahi a nga tangata ki te karakia. Ka koropikotia nga mahunga o nga tangata. Ka mutu te karakia ka whaikorero mai te kaumatua. Katahi ka tu nga tangata whenua ki te waiata. Tino pai a ratou waiata. Ka tu a Mr Hill ki te whakahoki. Ka mutu, ka waiata matou. Ko ‘Taku Patu’ te ingoa o te waiata. I te tekau karaka, ka timata matou ki te haere moe ai. He tino ngenge ahau, engari i te pakupaku o taku wahi moe kaore taku moe e ora. I te ao ake, i muri o te parakuihi ka whakamarama etahi o nga kaumatua ki a

matou i nga pakiwaitara o Ruatoki — te take mo te ingoa o Ruatoki, nga turehu e noho ana kei roto i nga puke, te taniwha o te awa, te aha te aha. I tera ra ka haere etahi o matou ma runga hoiho, ka haere etahi ma raro kia kite i nga mea o tenei wahi. I te po na ka whakahaerea tetahi kanikani. Tokomaha nga tangata i haere mai ki tenei kanikani. He tino pai te pēne ahakoa he kaha rawa te tangi. I te kaha o te kanikani akuanei ka matemoe ahau. I te tekau ma rua karaka i te po ka mutu te kanikani. Ka haere tika matou ki te moe. I te tekau ma tahi karaka i te ata ka whakareri matou ki te wehe. Ka poroporoaki nga tangata whenua i roto i te whare nui ki a matou. Tino pouri matou ki te wehe. I muri o te whaikorero ka haere matou ki waho ki te pahi. Katahi ka haere atu matou. Kore rawa ahau e wareware i te hui nei. Christopher Mathews, Form V, Tauponui-a-tia College. During mid-July, along with 39 other College students from 5th form Maori classes, I was able to spend three days on the Ruatoki Marae. As an exchange student, I feel so privileged to have had this opportunity to experience life on a marae and consider it as being one of my greatest experiences in your country. For the past six months I have been able to study the Maori language. I feel that for us students to have been able to associate for a length of time, in an area where Maori is predominantly spoken, is an ideal way to further the study of the Maori language. I received exceptional honours, through the traditional privileges associated with the ceremonies exercised during my stay. I noticed especially the high standard of hospitality expressed to me along with other visitors present at the Rautoki Marae. I took deep interest in the Maori attitude toward their community way of life, e.g., the respect shown to the elders, the fascinating closeness exercised, the general atmosphere, expressing a calm, relaxing and casual feeling; all these things made me realize the value of Maori community life. I felt that their way of community living on the marae was excellent in the way that there is always someone to turn to for help, how the problem of meals took care of themselves through joint effort and how the people made entertainment very highly spirited. I was very impressed with the natural Maori musical talent. I have especially learned to appreciate this through attending Maori Club classes at which are taught the Maori way of life and culture, action songs, craft and so forth. It was unique being able to experience items studied in class, such as preparation for a hangi, greeting the Maori people in their native tongue and seeing for oneself what had once been knowledge only through books. I came as an exchange student to help promote international goodwill and understanding. Already I have learned a lot about the New Zealand way of life and especially so through the eagerness of the people to teach me all they know about New Zealand. Sue Durham, South African Exchange Student, Tauponui-a-tia College. This poem was written by a Samoan pupil at Hillary College The morning's blistering breeze Battering against me, piercing within rigid pores, My warm and damp mouth moist with saliva. Dribbling awkwardly into the cold winter weather. Explosions of spasmic shivery Dicatate my every action Blundering Back hitched up, hands in pockets I continue to school Drugged illusions before me Makes me stagger and shake

A smoke protruding from within the tomb of warmth and security Smoke trailing past my nostrils Excretion of smoke and steam Combine to escape from me. How cruel and cold this Morning air — thought I. But still, the rebellious act Clings to the atmosphere Until all at once The trikling rays of sunlight Sprung Lightened and triumphed It strikes me Influential warmth once again is in action Surging through my Now supple pores To my comfort and delight. Harry Westerlund. Another group of poems by Annlock Kite of Te Kuiti Will Money Buy Happiness A small boy hungry And dirty Will money buy his food? Will money buy him happiness? An old senile man Trembles with pain He has cancer Will money bring him comfort? Will money buy him happiness? Young teenagers Suffering the effects Of home breakups Will money buy them drugs? Will money buy them happiness? A baby cries in the darkness Her parents are wealthy Who will protect her Will money buy her protection? Will money buy her happiness? A rich widow Lonely in her palace Addicted to power Will money buy her friends? Will money buy her happiness? The Power Builder Love is the web A spider spins The victims of the Spider are stored As his wealth Until he is the victim Love is a nest A bird builds With a family to feed The need to survive Is very strong And he is trapped Love is a house A man builds But with taxes and bills With fear in mind He runs to escape But it follows him Why is money the power Of hate and unhappiness The once happiness and love Is destroyed by The power builder. Miracle of Life A cry awakens the dawn Reaching, touching Feeling and knowing Then nothing: Elsewhere another Cry awakens the dawn Then are cast out to sea As unshed tears Lost and unwanted Alone and unloved If you want to know The truth Stop! Look at yourself Ashamed and low Where do all the unwanted Babies go

To their homes and parents! No their mother does Not want them Their home is in An orphanage They are love And they grow on love When there is no love They die They are creation of life The beautiful miracle Of love. Little Susie Susie is a little girl Going to see the Animals in the zoo She sees a big grizzly And she is afraid Frightened of the bear Afraid of everyone Of everything She knows only fear To reach Susie Would to be patient To care and show You love her To help to understand Her want, to help to Make her feel safe And secure But Susie is only one Of the intellectually Handicapped children So pray for her.