ACTION AGAINST DANGER by F. M. PINFOLD The people of Matapihi peninsula were never sure until recently whether they really belonged to the town of Tauranga. They could look across the harbour and see Tauranga less than a mile away. Many went to town to work and do their shopping. But yet the place seemed very far removed in spirit; in fact looking at all the urban progress across the harbour the people felt left behind. Typical of the separation was the access to Tauranga; it is seventeen miles by road, served by an irregular bus service. There is also the railway bridge used every day by workers and shopping women. Through many years of use the railway sleepers have been worn down well over an inch in the centre and become very slippery. The narrow space outside the rails is beginning to be worn too. When a train approaches, the only point of safety is the end of the nearest beam, studded with round-headed bolts. Here every accident is fatal: no one who slipped on these sleepers has ever been recovered alive. The people of Matapihi, mainly Maoris of the Tukairangi and Ngatitapu subtribes of Ngaiterangi, have lost thirty people in thirty-three years; their saying is that the bridge claims one death a year. Most of the accidents have been in the dark, in stormy weather. The bridge kept the people of Matapihi in constant fear. At night when the weather was rough, wives feared for their husbands and sons. The perilous crossing kept alive the feeling that the people belonged in a separate world lacking the security and comfort of town. Matapihi has some imaginative leaders who see the need to change things. I interviewed one of them. Mr Turi Te Kani, a farmer prominent in local affairs. In his opinion, the community's main need was to develop pride in themselves. As soon as a belief in their own value was restored, the people would find it easy to become fully part of the town. It was with such thoughts in mind that the Tukairangi and Ngatitapu tribal committees and leagues took a very active part a few years ago in the drive to build a hostel and hall in Tauranga. The whole community worked for the Queen Carnival and for the great field days in Tauranga which were great financial successes. In this work they joined with all other Maori communities in the Tauranga area whereas previously they had little real contact with them. Simultaneously, many people responded to an appeal from the Department of Maori Affairs to improve housing conditions and a number of families were settled in good modern homes. Shortly after this upsurge, there was a dreadful series of accidents on the bridge: four people died in quick succession. Through the mayor of Tauranga, Mr R. Wilkinson, an appeal was made to the Railways Department to erect a footbridge but this was not, of course, one of the Railways Sleepers worn by many feet. (Photo Peter Blane)