Retara (Russell) Family Reunion Hui Held in Temuka

Tu Tangata, Issue 10, 1 March 1983, Page 5

Retara (Russell) Family Reunion Hui Held in Temuka

Over the last few days of 1982 about 200 members of the Retara family met at Temuka Rugby Football Clubrooms and grounds, which were designated a marae for the first family reunion (hui) of the descendents of John Lyons Russell a British whaler and his Ngaitahu Maori wife, Te Hore Koriana (nee Edmonds), who lived at Otakou Pa on the Otago Peninsula. Organised by Eru and Kitty Retara of Temuka, the hui attracted relations from as far away as Australia. Kaumatua, Mr Riki Ellison Q.M.C. of Taumutu, a direct decendant of Rangatira Taiaroa of Otakou Pa, and an invited quest was given the honour of master of ceremonies for the four days of the hui. Wednesday was spent filling out family whakapapa (family tree) on placards provided on a display noticeboard and group discussions on various topics:- Ngaitahu/Ngatimamoe tribal archive, land rights, Maori culture and television, Maori language marae etiquette, land incorporations, land trusts, Maori trustee, Maori land court, Mawhera Incorporation, Commission of Inquiry into Maori Reserved Land, Maori Bills and Acts of Parliament etc.

and the viewing of family photo albums, booklets and the written history of different Retara families. Lectures by family members George Te Au and Douglas Huria related their titi (mutton-bird) island experiences. Hemi Retara of Orahura on the Routini coast was requested to speak on Pounamu and the Arahura river, the only privately owned river in the world. Thursday saw the reading of the whakapapa completed, its blessing, a call for its preservation and photostating so that copies can be supplied to those who wished to purchase such. Titi island ‘Take’ relating to Taukihepa Island was raised and resolved by the appointment of six repsentative members of the extended Retara family to attend the Bluff Titi Island Committee meetings and to assert Retara family rights as to an agreed ‘titi manu’ area on Taukihepa Island. Friday was an open day for friends to attend and meet the family. However the family managed to conclude its business during the day by approving for the next family hui to be held in Te Ika a Maui, possibly on the Takapau Plain in two years time. A small

monetary levy per year on each working person to be paid before the end of each financial year to help in fund raising towards travelling cost for the next hui was approved by the family. Subcommittee representatives covering certain areas to collect levies and attend meetings were appointed. Mrs Khyla Camp of Port Chalmars was appointed to research Te Hora Koriana Retara whakapapa. Hemi Retara offered to research whaler John Lyons Russell whakapapa. A Maori song was composed and adopted as the Retara family song. A call was strongly made for individual or collectively Retara family iwi to undertake the writing of Maori history of their area, titi island songs etc. instead of giving information to other book writers. Traditional Maori fare throughout the hui comprised titi, pipi, tuna etc. Acrom Video Enterprises of Melbourne, Australia, of which Tangi Retara is a director, videoed proceedings of the hui, which will be copywritten and any proceeds from screenings will go into the travelling fund. Screenings of the video tape were viewed by the family on Wednesday evening and Thursday. A copy of the video tape will be lodged in the Ngaitahu archives at the Canterbury University. Farewell speeches and prayers for a safe return home concluded what was termed by the family as a most enjoyable and successful hui.