HOW TO REMAIN MAORI A Conference in Christchurch About fifty leading Maori South Islanders attended the meeting called in Christchurch by the Cantebury Tribal Executive from 2nd to 4th June. Chairman and secretaries of tribal committees and leagues had come from as far away as Motueka and the Bluff. Right through the weekend numerous Christchurch Maoris came to the hall on the Addington Showgrounds to listen to the discussions. It was the first time in over thirty years that such a representative gathering had been held in the South Island. To act as honorary president of the conference, Dr Pohau Ellison had come from his retirement near Napier; he is now the kaumatua of the South Island and the long journey and tiring sessions had not deterred him. Apart from the committees and leagues, other Maori organisations in the South Island were repsented; there was for instance Miriama Pitama, who has for many years conducted an academy for Maori culture called Pipiwharauroa at Tuahiwi Pa, Kaiapoi. There were social functions, and both the visitors and the Christchurch Maori Youth Club had an opportunity to show their ability at the traditional dances; some performances of the double long poi particularly took the eye. On the Sunday, a religious service was conducted in which both the Methodist and the Ratana church participated very fittingly; it was just after the service that the subcommittee on Religion sat. Developing an idea brought forward during the service, Mr Te Ari Pitama spoke about the great importance that the Maori attaches to the mystic element in religion. The three fundamentals of Conference personalities: Seated, Mrs I. R. Young, secretary of the MWWL in Christchurch, Messrs A. K. Hopa, secretary-treasurer of the Canterbury tribal executive, Te Ari Pitama, member of Ngaitahu Trust Board (all of Christchurch). Standing: Messrs T. B. Bailey, J.P., Chairman of the Motueka tribal executive, R. Whaitiri, Bluff, chairman of the Awarua tribal executive, and R. Potiki, Dunedin, chairman of the Otepoti tribal executive. (Photo: George Weigel.)