Maori Customs

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 160, 27 September 1927, Page 1

Maori Customs

ANCIENT CEREMONY OF j ! URU-URU WHENUA IS { STILL PRACTISED BY THE | MAORIS | i ; i MR. G. GRAHAM’S LECTURE ALD tribal customs still survive ” in many parts of New Zealand. That, for instance known to the Maoris as uru-uru whenua,, is still practised on occasions of ceremony. Addressing the anthropology section of the Auckland Museum last night, Mr. George Graham, the well-known authority on Maori lore, explained that uru-uru whenua particularly concerned visitors to a village. Before entering they were requested to resort to the tuahu, or sacred place, and participate in this ceremony, which varied according to the locality. “Although it is not so stringent or is as much in observance as of yore,” said Mr. Graham, "it is still, in a more or less elaborate manner, observed in many places on important occasions of tribal assemblies.” PERPETUATING HISTORY These, and other customs, he said, all had significance and utility in past days. They were useful for the recognition of boundaries in order to prevent confusion and discord. The system of naming places and people helped to perpetuate history in the absence of written records. Examples were quoted of customs in war and peace, showing how boundary and other rights arose and became the basis of recognised claims in the Native Land Courts. Beyond actua.l tribal areas, said Mr. Graham, particular places were recognised as owned by tribes or certain families in accordance with customs initiated. Mr. V. F. Fisher also addressed the section on the uncultivated food plants of the Maori. The New Zealand natives, he said were not so fortunate as their Polynesian brethren in this respect, who had breadfruit and coconuts in abundance. Yet the Maoris were compensated physically and intellectually through having to strive to maintain an adequate food supply.