NGA TUHITUHI

Tu Tangata, Issue 34, 1 February 1987, Page 34

NGA TUHITUHI

To the Editor In your recent publication Aug/Sep 86 under the section “Kupu Whakamihi” page 18, Patrick Nicholas, whom your reporter interviewed made the following statement, re the late Sir A.T. Ngata: “Around the 1930 s there was this fellow from around the East Cape by name of Apirana Ngata, a man who tried to solve the economic problems that faced the Maori people by, of all things, milking cows. As one would have expected and as history has shown, his attempts were destined to fail.” The statement assumes that the only economic solution by Ngata was milking cows, when in fact, this was only one of the facets he encouraged. History will definitely show that dairying provided adequately for the needs of Maori people during his time. The success of this venture is seen in the retention of our Ngati Porou lands in our lands, and the fact that, many young men and women were able to have a good education because of “milking cows”.

Good education meant good jobs, and therefore a role in national economics. History will also show that a static society and a static economy must fail. This means, that society has to be mindful of the changes within it and around it, otherwise it is doomed to fail. Accordingly what Ngata provided, was twofold:

1. A system for the retention of Maori lands in Maori ownership.

2. A system of land utilisation, appropriate for land retention, whilst at the same time, an economic direction, appropriate at the time. A study of the economies of various nations and societies throughout the world shows that changes occur and are still occurring, as the basic philosophy of “. . .supply and demand. . .” changes.

At one time, tribalism was a complete entity in itself, but today, Maori people are bringing together their assets in order to compete economically with other companies both within and without N.Z.

Land has provided many Maori with an asset to take out loans to meet the new demands in the commercial sector.

This fellow Ngata also encouraged pastoral farming and to this day Incorporations are still in existence up and down the land. However, certain changes in the structure of these bodies have been made to meet changes and no doubt further changes will occur as time moves on.

We in Ngati Porou at least, are appreciative of this “fellow from around the East Cape” for his direction, guidance and his land retentionist philosophy.

We were mindful also that changes and adaptations were necessary from time to time, especially when he said: “E tipu e rea mo nga ra o tou ao. . .” Kia ora Apirana T. Mahuika

Tena koe Phillip

I am writing to you in reference to an article in August’s Tu Tangata magazine. I was given the task of contacting Hiria Rakete by Patrick Nicholas, something which I failed to do. Patrick Nicholas was concerned that his criticism of Ngata may be interpreted in the wrong light. Some people reading it may think it was a personal attack on Ngata. Patrick Nicholas’s viewpoint is that Ngata was by far the greatest Maori leader of all time, past, present and future, and that he has done more for the Maori than any other man ever has and ever will. But he was not perfect and he could have obtained much better results had he directed his energies more effectively.

This was the message I was to convey to Hiria Rakete to rephrase the statement. It was not a matter of being wrongly quoted but being open for wrong interpretation.

The first time I tried to contact her she was out. The second time she was on vacation and had left to start work with Radio New Zealand. After this I never tried again. I must take full responsibility if anyone interpreted his comments incorrectly. na KARETI Dear Sir, I would be grateful if you would consider publishing the following article on my husband Barry Smith, in your magazine.

Barry Smith Barry is a son of former Maori All Black Peter Smith. Peter and his brother, the great J.B. Smith (both born in Kaikohe) achieved sporting fame and became household names for their exploits on the rugby fields and tennis courts of New Zealand (and indeed overseas). Barry has won the Maori Tennis Championship Singles 11 times between 1968 and 1980. During this time he also won the N.Z. University Singles title once and was ranked amongst the top ten senior men in Auckland on several occasions. Barry has won the N.Z. Maori Men’s Doubles title five times with brother Peter and the mixed doubles title once with sister Linda. Another sister Debra, also plays tennis and is an air hostess with Air N.Z.

Since 1974 Barry, an Auckland University BA graduate, has lived and taught in primary schools in Adelaide,

South Australia. He is passing on his knowledge of the game to others in his position as club coach of Modbury Tennis Club in Adelaide. Barry returns to N.Z. as often as he can and particularly enjoys the beauty and tranquility of his parent’s home in Rangi Point, Hokianga. His mother Anne has been the driving force in establishing plans for a marae in the district.

Barry is now 37 years of age and can’t wait until he is 40 so that he can participate in the veteran’s section of the New Zealand Maori Tennis Championships! Yours sincerely HELEN M. SMITH P.S. We are regular readers of your magazine and look forward so much to each issue.

Kia ora Piripi

Kei te titiro au ki to korero mo Hori Nepia kei roto i te pukapuka a Tu Tangata, kei te wharangi tuatahi. Ko te upoko o te korero ko “Poroporoaki mo George Nepia”. Kei te he pea to “mo”. E tika ana kia uru atu te “ki a” kia tika ai te korero. Rite tonu to korero ki to te reo Pakeha “Farewell for George Nepia”. Ki to te Maori whakaaro, “Farewell to George Nepia” ara “He poroporoaki ki a George Nepia”.

Kati, ko tetahi take ano kei te wharangi rua tekau ma rua kua whakaatuna ko au hei kai takawaenga mo Ngati Porou. Hika na wai i ki! Ehara i te mea kei te whakahe, engari pai ke me whakaatu mai ki ahau i te tuatahi. Tena koe me 6 kaituhituhi. Kei te mihi tonu atu ki a koutou mo nga mokamoka korero kua panuitia, ka pai.

Heoi ano, na Wayne Ngata

Whakautu. Kia ora Wayne. Na to whakatika kua marama ai. Na Miria Simpson i tuhituhi nga korero mo ng a kai takawaenga mo nga iwi o te motu. Kua tukuna ki a ia nga ingoa e te iwi o ia marae.

Dear Sir,

With respect to all that has been written about KAHUNGUNU and all his descendants etc. but more so the article contained in your latest edition concerning the return of all taonga’s etc. to the Museum in Napier may I respectfully suggest for your consideration for inclusion in any of your future editions something that may be of interest to other descendants of Kahungunu. Firstly one of the most handsome and striking wharenui ever to bear his name stands at Nuhaka (home of the Rakaipaaka). This house or the carvings contained within them were personally

carved and supervised by the 2 most accomplished Maori carvers the Taiapa brothers (Pine and John). The tukutuku work within the walls of this majestic edifice was personally supervised by Sir Apirana Ngata himself. These men alone make the building a hallowed one.

KAHUNGUNU Rongomai wahine Kahukuranui Tuteihonga 1 Hinemanuhiri 2 RAKAIPAAKA. The above whakapapa table shows you why or how close Rakaipaaka is to Kahungunu (grandson). As you can see I am Hastings domiciled but have my roots still firmly based at Nuhaka and Moumoukai. Please accept this submission not as a reprimand or criticism but as an article that may in someway enhance the mana and charisma of our illustrious tipuna.

Kia Ora Koe, Yours faithfully, T. M. (James) Whaanga Shots of the house are in the audio visual display prepared for the museum exhibition. ED.

Dear Sir,

Your review of Nga Tukemata: Nga Taonga o Ngati Kahungunu omits some important points which should be recorded. Enclosed are two photographs of the exhibition which I hope you can publish.

Nga Tukemata was planned over several years with the assistance of kaumatua and kuia from throughout the Ngati Kahungunu tribal area. This is an appropriate place to thank the following people for their commitment to Nga Tukemata: Mrs Lena Manuel, Mr Tom Ormond, Mr John Tangiora, Mr Mana Cracknell, Mr Mataurangi Tomoana,

ists have also contributed to Nga Tukemata. Paintings by Toi Te Rito Maihi and Sandy Adsett and a tukutuku panel from Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa are included. It is hoped that further contemporary art works will be added in the future.

Many of the labels in the exhibition are written in Maori; some are translated into English, others are not. All the museum staff worked very hard to create an exhibition of the highest quality and I believe this has been achieved. We must also thank Jack Fry, Conservator, National Museum, who gave valuable assistance. It should also be noted that Mr Peter Goodbehere provided slides for the audio visual programme which was produced by Walton Walker.

The guiding principle in putting this exhibition together has been to have Ngati Kahungunu make the decisions about how their taonga should be exhibited. Nga Tukemata is a beginning.

David Butts MUSEUM CURATOR

Mr Hetia Hiha, Mrs Hanna Cotter, Canon Wi Te Tau Huata, Mr Eru Smith, Mr Piri SciaScia, Mrs B. Gemmel, Mr Tom Gemmel. These people formed the exhibition working party. Many others gave willingly of their time and advice. The working party asked Mr Sandy Adsett, widely acclaimed Ngati Kahungunu artist, to design the exhibition. Sandy’s design has opened the door to a new era of design for exhibitions of taonga Maori. This exhibition evokes an atmosphere that is truly a celebration of Ngati Kahungunu mana.

It is also appropriate that we thank the following institutions for loaning Ngati Kahungunu taonga for this exhibition - Auckland Institute & Museum, The National Museum of New Zealand, Canterbury Museum and Otago Museum.

Ngati Kere of Porangahau also loaned very important taonga for the exhibition. Among these loans were carvings from Te Poho o Kahungunu erected in 1876. The pare loaned by Otago Museum was also from this house. Contemporary Ngati Kahungunu art-