Waitaha keeps culture alive down south

Tu Tangata, Issue 5, 1 April 1982, Page 22

Waitaha keeps culture alive down south

Ever heard of the Nga Pakihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha Maori Cultural Council? If you haven’t, it’s not SO surprising, because back in 1968, . J i»i_r . r the name which reters to the great stretch Ot swamp-grass countryside of Canterbury underwent a change, with the approval of the elders, and became simply, Waitaha (Canterbury). v J 1

And if that still doesn’t ring a bell, at least you are certain to have seen something of the results of the Council's work.

Remember February 26th and 27th, 1977 the Silver Jubilee visit of Her Majesty and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to New Zealand and the Royal Polynesian Festival?

The winning team was a composite team, organised and trained by Waitaha tutors, Te Kotahitanga-o-Waitaha.

Under the name of Te Wai Pounamu (South Island, Place of Greenstone), Waitaha-organised groups also made up the South Island representatives among performers at Gisborne, during the Queen’s visit in 1970.

Later came the opening of Queen Elizabeth II Park; and in 1974, a party trained by Waitaha people performed for the opening of the Commonwealth Games.

Train people

“A tremendous undertaking”, according to the present Secretary of the W.M.C.C., Mrs Ethel Walters, “with so many people to arrange transport for!”

“Council tutors went from Christchurch to the various areas of the South Island to train the groups in action songs and poi dances especially composed for the occasion. Later, all the groups came to Christchurch two or three times for rehearsal.”

The W.M.C.C. also arranged for a group under Johnno Crofts, who was on the first council in 1968 to remain on standby all the time at Harewood Airport, welcoming arrivals for the Games.

The following year saw the opening of the New Zealand Games and again, it was a Waitaha team performing, after only one month’s notice.

“The Maori is always ready!” claims Mrs Walters, “and they learn quickly. Songs and dances are not usually known beforehand each group composes its own, for the occasion”.

Own competitions

Performances have been given for the Shah and Shahbanou of Iran and for other civic events, in Christchurch. In July, the W.M.C.C. held its own annual cultural competitions; and more re-

cently, organised the South Island annual competitions, held this year in Christchurch Town Hall, in October. Maoritanga is the very fabric of life and history for our Maori people; Ethel Walters recalls an unusual example of how far they are prepared to go to preserve it, and make it known to others and enjoy themselves, into the bargain. “In the early days, 1965/66, under Kia Riwai (who formed the first cultural competition groups], we had church groups with too few men. They used to go prison-visiting often, so they got some Maori prisoners to help out. Those boys were keen enough to come and perform with the groups on stage with wardens waiting in the wings and then go back to prison!” The late Miss Kia Riwai spent a lot of time with seasonal workers in the northern South Island fruit and hoppickers in Nelson and Motueka. She decided it would be a good idea if they formed their own cultural clubs in their different areas, and all work in together.

Take over So she revived the competitions under the auspices of the Maori Affairs Department. Later on, after her death in 1967, the then District Officer of the Maori Affairs Department, Mr J. Lewin, called together representatives of Maori clubs in Canterbury to take over the competitions themselves, and to continue this “vital aspect of Maoritanga”. The following year, the first Maori Cultural Committee was formed, with Mr J. Waretini as its Chairman; Johno Crofts, Vice-Chairman; Terry Ryan, Secretary and including Mr Hori Brennan as Advisor and Mrs Walters from the W.E.A. Maori Club, on its Committee. Application was made to the elders for the shortening of the original name,

the Waitaha Maori Cultural Competitions Council went into action, and has been hard at work ever since! The aims of all Maori clubs tell the story of cultural and social consciousness. Typical, are the comments at the recent South Island Competitions, in introducing the juniors of Te Kotahitanga, with the Club’s aim “to achieve awareness of Maoritanga and promote social harmony”. Another group, Kereru, wants to “help other clubs in all activities”. All friends Accordingly, it wasn’t surprising to get the response from children backstage that “we don’t really care who wins!” It seems that “competition can be fierce during a performance, and then everyone is friends again!” Although the Council’s main aim has been to continue the promotion and organisation of the annual competitions, gradually it has also become the parent body for all Maori performances in Canterbury, and sometimes for the

South Island. It was to be expected that, as clubs in other centres became familiar with the Canterbury Council, Waitaha, they formed committees of their own, under the umbrella of Te Waipounamu (5.1.) Maori Cultural Council, which was formed in 1969. Many of Waitaha’s members are associated closely (e.g. as Trustees), with other Maori organisations Christchurch’s Rehua Marae, the Maori Committee, and the developing new nat-

ional Marae in Pages Road Nga Hau e Wha. Pakehas welcome For us Pakeha, if that was the limit of the work, it might be the end of the subject. Far from it! Pakeha participation is essential to the whole concept. Oh, one can watch a performance the impact of the entry; the oratory (whai korero); the welcome, with its frequent mention of haere mai (welcome ‘to the Pakeha, to all of you’); tamariki (children); and Maoritanga; see the waiata poi; and the action songs and hakas; and go away inspired by the gracefulness, harmony, colourful and enthusiasm. Teaching children Teaching the children is the loveliest way to help demonstrate Maoritanga.

And they certainly enter into it with gusto! It’s a delight to see with what relish the younger boys some of them 4 or 5 years old do a haka; or act as callers! Fair-skinned with blue eyes, Ethel Walters epitomises Pakeha involvement. A member of the council from the beginning, she was treasurer for eight years; and now, as secretary, has a “tremendous job” to do justice to. “As a matter of fact,” she claims modestly, “it

was thrust upon me, this job as secretary! I’m really better at organising but I’ve coped on some occasions by sitting down and detailing-off people to be responsible for different things! One of the things I certainly wouldn’t be doing I don’t even like cooking much is catering”. Combined effort So Mrs Walters, the hand behind the wheel, fell in with the well known hospitality of the Maori people, and arranged for the 300 visiting competitors on this occasion, to stay in groups in some cases 100 or more at three or four places around the city: Te Rangimarie Centre, the new marae in Philipstown, and others. “It’s a combined effort,” she says of the organisation, “all

sorts of people help. You see, the object of a marae is to HOST people, and everyone joins in. When the Pages Road Marae is finished, all the visitors can go there, the facilities will cater for everyone.” How do you arrange food for 300 visitors? No problems there, either. Groups coming in pay towards expenses, and the Council buys all the food, distributing it around where groups are going to stay.

Sometimes, people ask Ethel Walters why she took on such a large task; but she is in no doubt. “I’ve learnt a lot how to share, and to be tolerant; and these things are very important in the world today, if we are to understand each other more.” Loved culture Now a Life Member of the Waitaha Maori Cultural Council, she has always loved Maori culture, and ever since childhood has had friends who were Maori. Quoting Hori Brennan (W.M.C.C. representative on the Polynesian Committee), she says “It’s not often the same people serve for so many years; it makes this council one of, if not, the longestserving in New Zealand”.