HAEREMAI!

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 263, 30 June 1932, Page 4

HAEREMAI!

old enemies meet ARA WAS EXTEND CEREMONIAL WELCOME TO THE NGAPUHIS. "• IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. Yesterday afternoon Ohinemutu was the scene of a picturesgue and significant Maori gathering. A common pnrpose the improvement and happiness of the Maori race hrought old enemies* ' together in peace and arpify, Arawa and Ngapuhi grasping hands and rubbing noses to sjiow fiJbiSLt: |:he bitterness born of hy-gone tribal warfare had been forgotten and fprgiven. ' On the arrjval in Rotorua yesterday afternoon of the delegation of Northern Maoris visiting this district to inspect land development operations a special ceremonial welcome was extended to the visitors at Ohinemutu Pa. The party was headed by Mr. Tau Henare, M.P., and included a number of influential Ngapuhi chiefs who are interested in thq work being done hy the Arawas. In the square outside the TamateKapua the Arawas assembled, and Chief Te Naera extended a typical welcome in speech and song. He was followed by Chief Mita Taupopoki, who, carrying the ancient greenstone axe, Haparangi, made a fiery and eloquent speech. Mr. R. N. Jones, Chief Judge of the Native Land Court, extended a welcome on behalf of the department, and expressed the hope that the delegation would find its visit instructive, and that the members would go back and concentrate upon their own development scheme, because the work upon the land was going to be the salvation of the Maori. The State was now giving assistance to develop native land for the first time in the history of the Dominion, and the Maoris had their future in their own hands. If the Maori was prepared to work he would have the assistance, moral and physical, of the whole Pakeha population. If, on the other hand, he failed, it would be his own fau.lt. Rangi Peorere also spoke on behalf of the Arawas, after which four of the Ngapuhi chiefs replied to the greetings, and the usual salutations were extended followed by handshaking, and in some cases, by noserubbing. Welcome to Neighbours. Shortly after the conclusion of this ceremony the party of Tuwharetoas from Tokaanu arrived several hours 'late, owing to a breakdown in their 'bus. To these visitors Sir Apirana Ngata, Minister for Native Affairs, extended a welcome and declared that the gathering was an epoc making event. They were meeting their friends the Ngapuhis and their own people from one end of the Arawa canoe, and those from the other end would come later. Tahere were also representatives of the Matatua canoe, those who lived on the East Coast. All were interested in the one purpose — the development of our country in order that the native • lands might be producing instead of ! lying idle. To-day pakeha friends i were expecting every Maori to do j his duty toward his country. 1 In the evening the Tamate-Kapua ! was crowded with guests and the J preliminary speeehes were continued j by those who had not previously j spoken. Supper and social enjoy1 ment followed the business of the | meeting.