MAORI REGISTER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 89, 3 February 1947, Page 3

MAORI REGISTER

ESSENTIAL TO PROGRESS ! ANOMALIES IN NAMES No modern New Zealand-wide Maori roll or register—electoral or otherwise—Exists. This is regarded in State departments and elsewhere as a hindrance to Maori progress within the European administrative system. Students of the position consider that a nominal roll is rendered more than ever necessary by the rapid increase in Maori population! From 63,670 in 1926, it increased to 82,000 in 1936; at the 1945 census it was 98,744, and, with the average rate of increase over the past 20 years, must now be over 100,000. The Maori birthrate is 47.38 per 1000, or double that of the European population. The population increase between 1936 and 1945 was 19 per cent, for the Maori as against 10.6 per cent, for the European. In response to inquiries, departmental officers said that Maoris frequently vary or alter their names for no reasons other than are natural under Maori custom. A Maori father may apply for the registration of his baby son, and on being asked for the name may—the matter as yet having been given no consideration—say “John” on the spur of the moment. As events develop in family and pa, that may prove to be the first and last time the baby is called “John.” Or, again, Maoris not infrequently vary their own names, or for some special reason may add others. For instance, a Maori candidate in an election included in his name that of a famous warrior to whom his family claimed relationship. The consequence of variation in names is that when a department has official business with a Maori registered under one name, it may find itself dealing with the same person known among his people by a variation of the original or by a different name altogether. All that can be done is to pursue enquiries as to date birth and such details, and to accept assurance from the best sources available that the same names apply to the same persons. With the immense population increase various departments - would be glad of a system making for uniformity and greater certainty. As contributing to uniformity, a reporter was informed that the regulations for certifying deaths among Maoris are being applied with increasing rigidity. Effect of Family Benefit

The advent of family benefits had practically solved the infant registration problem. For those old enough to vote, the Maori polling system inaugurated in 1938 provided a workable basis. Be-

fore that the voting was not secret. Now the Maori elector completes a declaration form in which he supplies his full name, - address, tribe, hapu and sex.

The difference in the Maori idea of naming themselves and their children still remains. A glance at a trial roll of the Maori people prepared in 1919 furnishes ample instances of the difficulties to be contended with. It appeared to the compilers of the roll that the most practical system was to make it alphabetical .on the first or Christian name as the surname might vary and offer other difficulties as well. Numbers of Maoris appear on the roll with only one name, “January,” for

instance, followed by “(Mrs) January.” Less unorthodox single names such as “Koro,” “Maea,” were all the

owners possessed. The single name, a Maori author-

ity explained, was traditionally Maori. In the old days, prominent men rarely had need for two names.

If a son were not known by his own single name alone, the first, own or Christian name of the father was ad-

ded by way of clarification. In turn, the name alone, the first, own, or

Christian name, followed if neces-

sary the own or Christian, name of the father, or foster parent, or favourite relative, etc. All that, however, was passing away, said the Maori authority. Leaders of the native race were setting the example by standardising surnames on the European system.

For instance, Sir Apirana Ngata’s

name was Paratene Ngata. By Maori custom Sir Apirana would have been Apirana Paratene, but he took Ngata as a surname and his descendants had carried it to the third and

fourth generations. Similarly, Sir Maui Pomare’s son was Ra Pomare,

not Ra Maui. In an extension of this

example, in the full registration of

Maori births now taking place, and

in the declaration papers of Maori

electors, lay the foundations for a

nominal roll which would furnish a valuable link in the progress of the

Maori within the European system

of administration