Mr John Waititi, B.A., is a considerable influence on the younger Maoris of Auckland today. He teaches Maori language and culture at Ardmore Training College, at St Stephen's and Queen Victoria colleges, and at the Auckland Girls' Grammar School. He comperes many shows at the Auckland Community Centre mixing freely with the young people there. He is president of a university study circle dealing with anthropology and Maori studies. He was chairman of the Ruia Morrison appeal. His birthplace is Cape Runaway, on the East Coast. whether they just prefer to stay in the town I do not know, but there is no doubt of their preference for these schools. It is a good thing for young Maori teachers to teach in board schools for a period anyway, for only in this way could there be any balanced attitude to the two distinct cultures. A marked characteristic of many Auckland students is their inability to express themselves in their own language. Their own home environments and the greater emphasis on western education are probably contributory causes. Something will have to be done to arrest this deterioration of language and culture. Nevertheless, the city migrant maintains strong links with his kinsfolk in the country. Every Maori makes his way home at some time or other, even after intervals of twenty or thirty years. This desire to go home to a tangi or to any other family crisis persists in spite of criticism by employers of some Maori workers. Many people deserve special mention for their efforts in generally helping the adjustment of the Maori to city life, and in helping in the preservation of maoritanga. I can mention only a few and the first name that comes to mind is that of John Waititi. Whenever youth groups or Maori clubs require advice of a kaumatua it is to John they go. Whether it be a person to arrange a concert to aid Ruia Morrison's overseas tour, or a teacher required urgently to teach Maori its always to John that the task goes. We could do with a few more Johns. Another person who comes to mind is Dr Biggs, lecturer in Maori at Auckland University. Though I cannot agree with some of his ideas on the teaching of the Maori language, I still think that he and his colleague, Pat Hohepa, B.A., are doing a grand job in giving the language its rightful academic status. To Mr Lambert, lecturer in Maori studies at the Training College, goes some credit for bringing about better Maori-pakeha relations. To the four above persons, “Kia ora koutou ino ta koutou ngakau nui ki enei a o tatou taonga.” Many Maoris when asked by people about what the Maori is achieving to-day will often refer to the past and talk about the great men who lived then. These Maoris appear quite content to leave it at that. True, we have had giants in the various social, cultural and political field of the country but let us not hide behind the deeds of the past when we consider the present. Yes, let us look back with pride on the achievements of these men, but let us also treat these achievements as stepping stones for the present and future youth to do other things of benefit to themselves, their race and their country. We must concern ourselves with the present and with the future. We should not only look to the future, we must move into the future. Perhaps from the youthful migrants to a city such as Auckland we may yet find a small band of people who will one day hold the reins of life of this country in their hands. In conclusion, “Kai a tatau e te rangatahi te ao te Huarahi; ma te matauranga, ma te kaha, ma te u, te totika o te haere ka puta ai te wairoa ki te Maori, ki te pakeha.”