Wiremu's oration

Tu Tangata, Issue 4, 1 February 1982, Page 41

Wiremu's oration

Wiremu Te Aho, a fifth form student of Hato Petera College in Auckland took top honours at the National Whaikorero Contest. Wiremu won the title from eight other speakers with his oration on the topic; Whatungarongaro he tangata, toitu te whenua.

Wiremu was born in the little village of Raukokore; Whanau-a-Maruhaere-muri; Whanau-a-Apanui. His childhood was nutured by his uncle and late aunt, John (Major) and the late Mrs Matt Waititi of Te Waiti Raukokore. He is also a nephew of Mrs Pae Ruha of Wellington. Junior honours Willie received his primary education at the Raukokore school and continued his secondary education at Hato Petera. An interest in oratory began to show in his fourth form year where he gained junior honours at college level. In 1981 Willie contested the senior

level at college and then regional level with honours, developing his topic in a fitting tribute to his grandparents Maaka Te Ehutu and Iritana Stirling, the late brother and sister-in-law of Dick Stirling.

Acknowledges support Willie acknowledges the support and advice given him by his koroua, Papa Tiki on the issues of historical importance to his homeland and people. The National Final was held at St Stephen’s College, Bombay. As well as taking first place and the Memorial Trophy, Willie received a $75 book voucher.

na maui tikitiki a taranga ko te ika a maui te whenua e takoto nei. na maui ano hoki ko hinenui te po te kuia o te matemate. mai rano i nga matua tipuna ko te whenua te piringa he mohio hoki no ratou he wa poto to te tangata ki tenei ao. e tama ma e hine ma ko tatou tenei o te ao hou he pehea o tatou whakaaro mo nga pitopito whenua i whakarerea iho ra e o tatou tipuna? ki taku mohio kua ahua ngaro haere taua here tuturu kite whenua korero penei ai au he mohio noku ko te huinga o tatou kei te tipu ake i roto i te ao pakeha i te ao hurihuri i kore rawa pea e rite to tatou nei kaingakau kite whenua i kokiritia ai a i matemate ai hoki ratou ma, engari, ko taku tenei ki tena, ki tena o koutou tera te wa. ka koingo te ngakau mo te wa kainga mo te whenua i waiho iho ai e nga tipuna

ki nga matua a i whai wahi paku ai tatou ki a ratou ma te whai turangawaewae ka pakari te noho a te iwi otira a te tangata. kite kore hoki he panga whenua ka manene haere noa iho ko te aroha o nga matua tipuna ki a papatuanuku orite tonu kite aroha kite tangata a e mohiotia ana hoki ko te mahi a te tangata he matemate na reira, ka puta tenei korero “whatungarogaro he tangata, toitu he whenua.” kite ki ”ae, no reira mai au” ka noho te tangata i runga i te whenua a, a tona wa ka hoki ano ia ki tona timatanga ko te whenua ia ka mau tonu ka mau tonu. na reira, ka waiho iho tenei whakaaro otira tenei o nga whakatauki ‘‘whatungarongaro he tangata, toitu he whenua.”