WELL EARNED HONOUR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 17, 12 September 1931, Page 3

WELL EARNED HONOUR

RHODES SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATION MAORI PARENTS SACRIFICED ALL FOR EDUCATION OF FAMILY FIVE MAKARINI SCHOLARS It is New Zealand's elaim that its education system presents equal opportunities to all classes of the community, and there could be no more striking conformation of that claim than the nomination of Hirini Te. Mokai Wikiriwhi for the coveted honour of a Rhodes scholarship. First of his race to attain *that scholastic distinetion, the story of Hirini Wikiriwhi's prpgress from the humble sur~ounings of his home, £0 premiership in one New Zealand's University colleges, is a unique. aehievement and one which would be possible "n very few countries in the world. One of a family of J-7, young Wikiriwhi had to coni'end throughout his schooling with the difficulties of straitened circumstances, and by sheer hard work and native ability carved out a brilliant scholastic career for himself.

The story of the WikiriwM family is in itself a tribute to the qiialities of the Maori race. Although only eight of the family of 17 brothers and slsters are still living, the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wikiriwhi Te Tuaahu, sacrifieed themselves to the education of their children. They were well rewarded for no less than five of their sons, Mataranga, Tuaahu, Autiti, Hirini and Matarehua, have won Makarini of McLean scholarships from Whakarewarewa native school. These scholarships are regarded as the supreme prize among New Zealand's native primary schools and are tenable for two years at Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay. Only one scholarship is offered each year and is comneted for by the pupils of 127 Maori schools in different parts of the Dominion. It has been a life-long struggle for the parents to provide their children with the advantages of the pakeha education but they succeeded In giving every one of the family an equal chance. Last year's Makarini scholarship winner, the youngest brother, Matarehua Wikiriwhi, is regarded as an exceptionally brilliant boy who should follow in Hirini's footsteps. Matarehua took his scholarship under the new headmaster at Whakarewarewa, Mr. McCowan. Victory for Plodder In the triumphs of young Wikiriwhi great credit must go to his first schoolmaster, Mr. C. E. Banks, for many years headmaster at Whakarewarewa native school. Mr. Banks has taught all the Wikiriwhi brothers who gained Makarini scholarships, while one of the sisters, then Miss Q. Wikiriwhi was at one time a teacher rt the school. Accordmr- to Mr Banks, the success of Hirini Wikiriwhi is a victory for the plodder and the result of shee"' hard work. Until his final year at School, Mr Banks told a "Post" representative, Hirini was not brilliant :n any way but he had a tremendous power of application to his work. It vas in his final year, however, that he showed immistakeable evidence of unusual ability, and he passed out of ihe school with flying colours and a Makarini scholarship. The aptitude for work which he had shown under "VTr Banks bore further fruit at Te Vute College, and impressed by the ability of the boy, the Maori Purposes Fund and Arawa Native Trust Board granted him a bursary which gave him an opuortunity to go still further with his education and ultimately ^each one of the highest honours which a New Zealand student can a£tain. There is a very proud Maori mo'•her in Whakarewarewa village, Mrs Miriama Wikiriwhi, and her only regret is that her husband Eruera Wikiriwhi Te Tuaahu, has >not lived to see the triumph of their son. "He sacrifieed everything for the education of the family," she said. "We are all very proud of Hirini — 't is a great honour but Mr Bapks did 1 great deal — he did everything for •';he boys." Mrs Wikiriwhi is one of the survivors of Te Wairoa, the Maori village buried during the eruption of Mt. Tarawera. Her mother, and the rrandmother of Hirini Wikiriwhi, was the famous guide Sophia of the Pink md White Terraces. . Tho Arawa tribe as a whole is ieeply gratified by the honour conferred upon one of its youngest and most distinguished sons.