TE PUEA’S NEW ROLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 18

TE PUEA’S NEW ROLE

SUPPORTING TOKERAU FOOTBALLERS BRIEF VISIT TO CITY In Auckland to give her support to the Tai-Tokerau Maori Rugby team, Princess Te Puea Herangi, the Ngaruawahia chieftainess, was a prominent spectator at Eden Park yesterday afternoon. It w r as Te Puea’s first visit to the city for a considerable time. Not until her w r ide social activities last year did the public learn of the important place held by Te Puea among her people. In her village at Ngaruawahia, she has encouraged knowledge and proficiency in ancient arts among the younger Maoris. The activities at Ngaruawahia have elevated the historic settlement to importance in modern times. Then Te Puea brought a party of young native musicians to the city. Aucklanders saw them on the stage. The chieftainess figured in notable Maori ceremonies in the city, and then toured in the South. In Wellington, her speech of friendship to southern North Island tribes —hereditary enemies of her people—was listened to by Parliamentarians. It made a new link in the progress of co-operation among the Maoris. At the same meeting were Hawke’s Bay natives.

Crowning all the work among the natives was the holding of the Maori tennis tournament at Ngaruawahia. Ngapuhis, Rarawas, Arawas, Maniapotos, Waikatos, and Te Whatuas of the North met Porous and Kahungunus of the East, Toas, Rangitanes, Whanganuis, Atiawas, Taranakis, and Tabus of the South and the Southwest. Te Puea arranged entertainments for the tribal representatives. Parliamentary members and Maori orators spoke, and the success of the gathering was greatly due to Te Puea’s arrangements.

Since then, activities at Ngaruawahia have simply meant quiet progress.

With Te Puea w T ere several members of leading Maori families in the Waikato.