Nga tuhituhi

Tu Tangata, Issue 18, 1 June 1984, Page 40

Nga tuhituhi

Dear Sir, Having read your magazine Tu Tangata for the very first time, issue 16, March 1984, until now myself and other maori families in Adelaide have never been able to keep up with the happenings and social events of the maori at home. In your sporting section on maori sportsmen and women, I was wondering if you would like to write a small article on young maori boys and girls who have made names for themselves overseas. Out of our rugby union juniors we have four young maori boys who have just been selected to represent South Australia in the under-12 All States Competition that will be hosted in Sydney in June 1984. Darren Astle, 11 years, (Pukekohe); Jason Rehutia, 11 years (Tauranga), Tame Tapara, 10 years (Putaruru) and Steven Tawera, 10 years (Turangi). These boys have been selected out of an eight-team club competition. Tame Tapara and Steven Tawera only having played rugby for two seasons. The playing of rugby in S.A. is a minor sport in a territory which is vastly orientated towards Australian Rules Football. In basketball we have one District Representative in the Glewels Tigers, Stacey Mohi, 10 years (Murupara). Stacey Mohi was selected to go to Melbourne to play in a State Basketball Competition. Her team reached the grand final and was beaten. In netball we have Tracey Tawera,

12 years, who last year represented our District (Southern United Netball ACC). Tracey has all-round talent, playing in W.A., W.D. and centre. In athletics Tracey represented her school in 100 m (2nd), 200 m (2nd) and 4 x 100 m in which she came a very close 2nd again. Tracey has been invited to try out for the Ul2 South Australian State Team and if successful will travel to Brisbane to play in the Australian State Titles in September. Yours Sincerely Mr Kereopa (Sonny) Tawera Kia ora e hoa Piripi He mihi atu tenei ki na mea tuhituhi e tenei pukapuka maori. Kia kaha, kia mau ki to tatau reo. Dear Sir, I wish to forward my views concerning Te Hata (Oily) Ohlson’s reply to the article written in Tu Tangata regarding his status as a Tuhoe. I myself am a Tuhoe, born and bred in Tuhoe land. First of all I am proud to see a man of Tuhoe teaching what he knows about maoritanga on T.V. in front of thousands of TV viewers, mostly kids. Like Oily, I myself teach my own (two) kids to speak maori. Secondly I would like to follow up his TV programme after school which contains our own heritage “Kupu” which deals in the correct way of pronouncing maori names and historical backgrounds. I

think it only fair that Oily should be given more support than criticism, as his programme after school is the only thing on TV dealing with the aspects of maoritanga. I think we should be encouraging him not putting him down.

No reira, kua mutu nga korero e konei ki a koe hoki Oily. Kia kaha, kia mau, kia manawanui. No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, kia ora tatau.

Te Hapuku M. Rikiriki

Dear Sir,

Not being one of this county’s greatest rugby supporters I would firstly like the opportunity to present my views on the questions, posed by Oily, in your last edition regarding the need for separate Maori organisations, and in particular, a Maori All Black side.

I’m afraid I sometimes get a little tired of being told we, both maori and pakeha, are all the same, all New Zealanders. I have a rather official looking document, of which I am rather fond, which is headed, NEW ZEALAND. CERTIFICATE OF ENTRY IN THE REGISTER OF BIRTHS OF MAORIS. It goes on to state that my mother is a half-caste maori (not I might add, a half-caste pakeha) and that my father is a maori of full blood. Nowhere is there any mention of any New Zealanders. Therefore, the point I attempt to make, is that racism is not born on the rugby fields of this country, its roots are established at a very early age, in the corridors of our bureaucracy, and documents such as these endorse my belief that New Zealanders do not exist.

In spite of this however, ours is basically a caring nation, where thousands of separate organisations form an essential feature of our society and way of life, from separate political parties, to social service and support groups, not to mention a whole host of cultural organisations.

It seems to me that any race of people required to undergo rapid transition and integration over a 140 year period, from a people and culture hundreds of years old to a fast moving, sophisticated, progressive and complex society, must enevitably suffer tremendous social upheaval. And I believe it is for this reason that separate maori organisations have been instituted in this country and have been adapted and modified, according to the needs of the people.

It is good to know there are those amongst us such as Oily, who has successfully run the gauntlet, and now feels comfortable and confident in all aspects of today’s society. Unfortunately, many of our people are not quite so fortunate, and we simply have to look at our alarming and disproportionate statistics in the areas of education, crime and drug and alcohol

related crime, to appreciate the transition has not been without its share of social casualties, and that a desperate struggle to conform still exists within our people.

I find it somewhat ironical that on one hand Oily should draw attention to the number of maori people involved in crime, patronising the pubs and in prison, and at the same time cannot perceive the need for any institution (be it sporting or otherwise] that generates a desire within our people to strive, aspire and achieve.

I view the establishment of a Maori All Black side as a positive and commendable effort, by a New Zealand sporting body, to enhance the stance of maori sportsmen and effectively, maori people as a whole. Oily would call this racism, and if we are to concede this, then in the true sense of the word we must seriously consider the question of pakeha content within Maori All Black teams. Furthermore, on a broader scale, we must also question the existence of all other cultural organisations within this country.

The second and perhaps slightly more controversial point I wish to raise concerns television’s maori news broadcast, “Te Karere”.

Until recently I subscribed to the general consensus that this programme should not support English sub-titles in spite of being a member of the “disinherited generations” who view the programme religiously, and are persistently none the wiser for the experience. However, a recent experience has altered my thinking on the matter.

Upon its inception, I reacted with modestly radical views, in support of the Waitangi march. Some time later these feelings were greatly subdued, when presented with the opportunity to hear in english, the simple, yet profoundly wise opinions of Dame Whina Cooper.

At a time when so many of our young people are in troubled waters, this experience brought home to me just how important it is, that our young people be given every opportunity and encouragement to listen and understand what it is, you the kaumatua and maori leaders, are saying.

Our young people are roaming the streets, filling penal institutions, and their suicide rates are increasing. Magazines such as Tu Tangata, and programmes such as “Koha” provide an opportunity for the young to identify with and relate to and communicate about things maori. Such opportunities through television are extremely limited and for this reason I feel strongly now that “Te Karere” too should reach also the young maori people.

Yours faithfully Mrs Mere Kapinga