Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland), the Hon. E. B. Corbett and Mr. H. Dudfield, M.P., and the Leader of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. W. Nash), accompanied by the Hon. C. F. Skinner, the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene and Mr T. Omana, M.P. By this time there were between 2000 and 3000 people on the marae. The welcome hakas were performed by schoolchildren from the Ruatoria and Tikitiki Schools, and followed with a spirited haka led by Pine Taiapa, and composed by the late Sir Apirana Ngata in honour of Lord Bledisloe for the great hui at Waitangi in 1934. Of particular interest, this fine haka, besides recalling one of the great moments in the life of Sir Apirana, was intended as a handsome compliment to the Prime Minister, who was the chief guest of the hui. The welcome speeches for the Ngati-Porou were recited by Hamana Mahuika, Arnold Reedy and Pahau Milner (deputising for Hone Ngata, who was in ill health). Turi Carroll spoke for Ngati-Kuhungunu and Rei Vercoe for Te Arawa. Mr T. Omana, M.P., and Mr H. Dudfield, M.P., also delivered speeches. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland, handing over the Ahuwhenua trophy to Mr Kopua Waihi, the winner for 1951. Mr Waihi was awarded the prize for breaking in difficult country and making an efficient dairy farm of it, which is now entirely free of debt. Production from the farm is going ahead every year. Apart from dairy cows, sheep are kept and an orchard is maturing. Most of these speakers had been closely associated with the late Sir Apirana. They had seen him champion his ideas among his own people in the early days, when they were still far from generally accepted. They had seen the farms and meeting-houses spring up around them on the East Coast, and they had witnessed the revival of arts, crafts and traditional knowledge. Later, they had seen other Maori tribes follow the lead, and found themselves in the forefront of a powerful national movement. First of the guest speakers was the Hon. E. T. Tirikatene, who paid a tribute to the late leader in the name of the South Island Maoris. He was followed by the Rt. Hon. W. Nash. Mr Nash caught the feeling of the gathering well when he recalled a saying frequently used by the late Bishop Bennett: ‘Put the shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’ Knowing that Tapatahi was the very marae on which Sir Apirana Ngata had expounded his greatest projects, he felt that this, to the Maori people, was indeed holy ground. Rich in memories the ground certainly was; everyone's thoughts were drawn back to the past. Strength could be drawn from this, as the Hon. E. B. Corbett said in his speech: ‘Time is well spent in casting back the mind upon those men who have shown their people the way, and held singular places in their community and the life of the nation.’ But then Mr Corbett also said: ‘Sir Apirana Ngata was the greatest of all Maoris. We shall never see his like again.’ This was undoubtedly the dominant thought at the hui. Many of the speakers said: ‘There will never be a hui like this again. This is the last great hui on the East Coast.’

PRIME MINISTER'S TRIBUTE This was an expression of grief, natural enough at the time. Did it go further? Is this really the present mood of the East Coast? To the visitors it appeared to be partly so. The gloom that still lies over Ngati-Porou, two years after Apirana's death, appeared as a very painful and powerful unspoken tribute to his memory. The Prime Minister noticed this feeling, too, when he commented on the saying that ‘this was to be the last great hui’, and declared: ‘These gatherings are the Parliament of the Maori people. It would be a great pity if they did not continue. Sir Apirana would wish them to continue. Gatherings like this should continue to be held from time to time, to discuss the affairs of the Maori people.’ He continued: ‘We think of the example Sir Apirana gave of adventurous leadership, and must hope that those who take up his work will not fail in inspiration. We know that his work will live, and we believe that his example will not be forgotten by the young men who must come forward and dedicate themselves—as he did in his youth—to the service of their people.’ After the speeches the official party and some of the prominent people present climbed the little knoll known as Te Patoiti, where the beautifully carved St. Mary's Church stands. It