“Faery Princess” of Waikato Maoris

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 381, 15 June 1928, Page 14

“Faery Princess” of Waikato Maoris

TRIBUTE TO TE PUEA ANCESTOR SAVED AUCKLAND The days when Potatau, the first Maori King, saved the infant settlement of Auckland from the wrath of the Maori people, then all-powerful, were alluded to last evening by his descendant, Princess Te Puea Herangi. The chieftainess and her troupe were greeted at a largely attended gathering at the Majestic Theatre, when members of Te Akarana Association welcomed Te Puea tp Auckland. Mr. Henry Hayward, governing director of the Fuller-Hayward theatres, under whose auspices the Maori party commence a season to-night at the Majestic Theatre, presided. Princess Te Puea was accompanied by Mrs. Kaihau, widow of the late Henare Kaihau, ex-M.P. • “We are an amicable people,” said Te Puea, as she related the incident when Potatau, the friend of the Europeans, saved Auckland from pillage and worse. * The Waikato war that followed some years* later, she said, had sown the seeds of bitterness. Only now were those wounds being healed. “Now, you see me and my children roaming around the country for a living. You have heard of my settlement at Ngaruawahia. It is five years since we started it. Through hail and storm we walked, sleeping often in swamps, and too poor to pay for railway fares, while we were raising money for this work, “In some places the pakehas received us kindly. In other places they laughed us to scorn!” Quietly, the dignified social leader of her people traced the development of her Ngaruawahia movement until it was honoured by a visit by the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, and the Prime Minister, Mr. J. G. Coates, both of whom promised assistance. This was the first time that she and her people had “departed from their way,” and Te Puea thanked the FullerHayward management for the opportunity of appearing before Aucklanders and thereby assisting the movement that she had so much at heart. JUSTICE FOR WAIKATO Mr. Hayward ventured the hope that the Government would do the Waikato Maoris justice even at this late hour. “We admire the Waikatos, for they fought for their country to the very last,” he declared, ‘'and the people of New Zealand do not want them put under any disadvantage because of that fact.” Mr. E. C. Huie, managing director of The Sun, said that the newspapers had done their best to familiarise the people with Te Puea’s work, and would continue to do so. “We hope that before long the Government will restore some of their lands to the Waikato people,” he said, “so that they might live upon them and develop them. Te Puea has set her people a notable example.” “You are a famous woman and we bow in gratitude and respect to Te Puea, the faery princess of the Waikato, a noble woman who has every right to be recorded on the list of the most noble,” declared Mr. Patrick Smythe, secretary, Te Akarana Association.

The Rev. T. Iveepa, Mr. T). Kaa (St. John’s College), and Mr. George Graham also spoke.