Letters

The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’ From the West Coast there came news some time ago of the setting up of a whare wananga to teach aspects of Maori art and culture. This school of learning was run on ancient lines with all-night sessions, due regard to tapu and all other traditional observances. This in itself was an excellent idea. However I understood that in accepting entrants Pakeha were specifically excluded. If such was the case one wonders what criteria for the admission of Maoris the organisers adopted. Did they use a colour chart against the skins of those seeking entry? Perhaps it was necessary to pass a language test or to declare all one's Pakeha ancestors. What happened to those who had Pakeha blood in them by absorption—their forbears having eaten a Pakeha? It all seems very strange and an echo of the racial bigotry which is rightly condemned in some Pakeha. The idea of a whare wananga is most praiseworthy but to carry on the treasure of one's ancestors, what matters the colour of the basket? Maoriness is a matter of the heart—of having a love and a reverence for those things which are precious to the Maori. Give the torch to all who will carry it, for as Sir Apirana Ngata said: ‘I leave you to dream the dream that I and many friends have treasured throughout the years, that worthwhile elements of the old Maori culture, the things that belong to this beautiful land, may be preserved for the New Zealand Nation.’ KOTAHITANGA Wellington

The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’ Enclosed is the renewal of my subscription for the next three years; I look forward to and enjoy the magazine very much indeed. The editorial in No. 47 I found most thought-provoking. From it I got a point to ponder which was implicit in your words: the use of Maori culture to create a New Zealand image overseas and amongst tourists is a tacit admission on the part of the Pakeha of the worth of Maoritanga—with all that it implies. Yet, though we Pakehas are pleased enough to associate ourselves with that Maori image, we are in the main everlastingly knocking it for six because of our derogatory criticism. How inconsistent can we be! I was grieved to see the image, delineated by Rowley Habib and printed in the official ‘Te Ao Hou’, of the 28th Battalion as composed of a crowd of drunken, anti-social oafs from the substratum of society. Mr Habib's parallel theme of musical exuberance and the qualifying reference to ‘the exceptions’ can in no way break down the overall image he has created. Making all due allowance for poetic licence, and for the fact that the sons of Tumatauenga are of necessity tough guys, the image created is unfair. I do hope that he does not cultivate his undoubted and talented flair for words any further along the current road of arty cleverness. Yes, I must confess that I belong to another generation! With good wishes for the continued success of the magazine—for even the power to introduce controversy is such. F. M. PINFOLD (Tauranga)

‘Te Ao Hou’ is not an official magazine in the normal sense of the word. It attempts to reflect as wide a range of Maori opinion as possible, and publishes this disclaimer on its contents page: ‘statements in signed articles in “Te Ao Hou” are the responsibility only of the writers concerned’. Mr Habib's poem was published in the belief that it was in no way intended as derogatory criticism, and was unlikely to be interpreted as such. We would be glad to know how other readers feel about the poem.—Ed.

The Editor, ‘Te Ao Hou’. I was interested to read Riki Erihi's article, ‘What's Wrong with our Maori Foods?’ in the March issue of ‘Te Ao Hou’. I would like to know the proper way of doing some of these things. Perhaps recipes could be collected and printed in book form and sold by some group such as the Maori Women's Welfare League for instance. That's just a suggestion anyway. MICHAEL WILTSHIRE (Taranaki)

INDEX TO TE AO HOU An index listing the contents of issue nos. 23–48 appears on page 58. (Contents of earlier issues were given in an index in issue no. 22). Most back issues are still in print, though in some cases very few copies are left. Information as to copies available appears on the contents page.