Polynesian Voice Lost

Mana (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 7, 29 September 1977, Page 1

Polynesian Voice Lost

Often Auckland has been called the world’s largest Polynesian city, and there the description ends. It should be a city that provides equal opportunities for Maori and Pacific Island people and a city in which those people should play their part in full as members of the community.

Often people ride the wave of publicity that concerns

these people but how often do the people themselves who are called Polynesians ride any wave of publicity for their benefit and well being within the community. It is high time that the Pacific Island and Polynesian people should be elected to the Auckland City Council in order that the voice and

views of that minority group can be expressed and be

heard. This year a large number of candidates as usual have offered themselves for the office of City Councillors. Some have experience, others aspire to the office through ambition, and some stand to be heard and to be counted. The electors should screen the candidates who are standing for office carefully and choose their representatives. The office of the City Councillor is a very demanding one in many respects. Often he is called upon to adjudicate on economic matters, moral matters, legal matters, and social matters, and the candidate or office holder should be capable of meeting the challenge and the call that is made upon him or her to make a decision.

This year there appears two Polynesian and Pacific Islands who have offered themselves as candidates from the opposing teams that are contesting the Auckland City Council. Both have rendered services for the community at large, and interest will be focused by the Pacific Island communities on the performances of those two candidates, first in ascertaining who will be elected and secondly their performance in office if they are fortunate enough to make it. Mana wishes them both well and every success on October Bth.

some people couldn’t help having a second or third serving! Parents of the children at the school gave money and food to the school for the feast and the Government also made a contribution to help cover the cost of the contest. The aims of the contest were to promote among secondary school pupils, the oratory skills of the various Polynesian Cultures existing in Auckland; to give all participants the opportunity to practise the above skills in as traditional an environment as possible; and to provide a Polynesian type function to be experienced by organis-

ers, contestants, audience and supporters. The large number of children who took part in the contest especially the Maori section was a good indication that Maori linguistic stock was safe and sound, and this was the same for the islands’ sections particularly the Samoan group. The contest comprised the senior and junior grades and five sections including Maori, Samoan, Niuean, Cook Islands, and Tongan. The judges and contestants had a long day but everything ended in a harmonious tune. The competition was mainlyjudged on the basis of

the standards of the oratical style the speakers used and formal introductions and courtesies appropriate to a Polynesian tradition. No voice amplifying equipment was used and no time limit was imposed. The length of the speeches averaged between five and 10 minutes. In some cases contestants used supporters in accordance with tradition during or at the end of the speeches. During intervals and whilst the judges were deliberating on their markings in the school’s staff room, the visitors and contestants were entertained in the school hall by various groups from some of the colleges ranging from Maori songs to a Samoan fire dance and the lovely ula from the Cook Islands young beauties. It was pleasing to see some Palagi beauties amongst the Cook Islands beauties doing the ula.

The success of the contest was a good indication of how much the Polynesian people wanted to preserve and develop their traditional way of speech making. It is one of the vital parts of their identity and it was very encouraging to see some Palagi visitors present at the contest. In the real Polynesian way, it is fitting to end this story with words of appreciation and gratitude to the organisers of the contest, the Principal of the Epsom Girls Grammar School, Miss Blakey, Deputy Principal Mr Bill Sorby, and their fellow hosts and assistants, the people and parents who assisted with the hangi and umus, the caterers, the contestants, the parents of the children at the school who contributed money and food, the Government for its contribution, the hardworking judges, the visitors, and last but not the least the prominent guests, that made the day a success for everyone. Results of the contest were as follows: COOK ISLANDS — Senior: Angelene Tipokoroa (Massey), 1; Clark Manutaire (Birkdale), 2; Lynette Williams, (St Marys), 3. Junior: Celestin Poona, (St Benedicts), 1; Nooroa Pita (Tamaki), 2; Ngaoa Hebrew (Onehunga), 3. MAORI — Senior: Hoturoa Barclay Kerr (Onehunga), 1; Reo Te Kawa (Wesley), 2; Ted Timoti (St Stephens), 3. Junior: Ra Durie (St Stephens), 1; Raewyn Tierney (Seddon), 2; Andrew Biddle (Wesley), 3. NIUEAN — Senior: Shirley Sisepi (Otahuhu), 1; Phanderty Siohane (Seddon), 2; Jenna Tohovaka (St Benedicts), 3; Junior: Sui Halatau (Tamaki), 1; John Ikitoeilagi (Mt Roskill Grammar), 2; Blue Pelesi (Otahuhu), 3. SAMOAN — Senior: Kapeneta Faimoa (Mangere), 1; Veni Morisa (Onehunga),, 2; Toe Pune (Tamaki), 3. Junior: Apaula Laga (Avondale), 1; Nofa Tauvalaau (St Mary’s), 2; Masedina Sao (St Benedicts), 3. TONGAN —Senior: Maria Tullukuate (Rangitoto), 1; George Aleamotui’a (Wesley), 2; Asinate Matangi (Mahurangi), 3. Junior: Glandys Ledger (Onehunga),

1; Hans Muller (Mt Roskill Grammar), 2; Rahan Reid (Massey), 3. OVERALL WINNERS — Senior: Hoturoa Barlcay Kerr and Kapemeta Faimoa, 1 equal. Junior: Ra Durie.