Father Wasn't Fooled

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30953, 8 January 1966, Page 3

Father Wasn't Fooled

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, Jan. 7.

“Hawaii’s sole delegate” to the fourth ecumenical youth conference which ended in Hamilton this week went home to Tokoroa yesterday, leaving astonished churchmen and red-faced reporters.

Si xteen-y car-old Tia Tepana, alias Tewhakahuriritia Te Pana, has never seen waving palm trees in his life. Until he came to the youth conference in Hamilton, he had never strayed far from the exotic forests surrounding his home town. For more than a week, proudly displaying his home-made Hawaiian badge, he played his role of Hawaiian delegate to

the satisfaction of the conference authorities.

He was found out when the “Waikato Times” photographer called at the conference and persuaded him to pose for a photograph which was published on the front page of the newspaper on Wednesday.

The caption described the young Maori as Hawaii’s sole delegate. A copy of the newspaper found its way into the possession of Mr Te Pana, senior, who made a hurried telephone call from Tokoroa to the newspaper.

After initial explanations, Mr Te Pana inquired about his son's whereabouts. Told that the boy was

on his way home, Mr Te Pana left no doubt about the sort of welcome the prodigal was likely to receive: “By crikey, he’s going to get a good hiding when he arrives.”

The youth conference authorities were reluctant to comment on the impersonation hut one said that “he had us all fooled.”

Apparently no doubts were raised until Wednesday about the “Hawaiian’s” bona fides. It is believed the Hamilton police were informed of the impersonation and the youth was interviewed.

Satisfied there was nothing sinister in his behaviour, the police told him to go back to Tokoroa and behave himself in future.