POLYNESIAN CUSTOM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 36

POLYNESIAN CUSTOM

A telegram addressed by Maoris of Auckland to a dead chieftainess marks a strange survival of Polynesian tradition. This week. Te Akarana Maori Association pronounced a farewell message, In accordance with centuries-old practice, to Te Marae Mahuta, Maori Queen in .the Waikato, who' died last Sunday. Across wires more often than not burdened with brief business messages and private communications dashed the association's words to the spirit of Te Marae, the fine old chieftainess of the King family. “Go, O mother, to thy Rangitira . . .” the native farewell surely struck a new and pathetic note, even on a prosaic telegram form. . to thy people who have migrated to the realms of death. Fell Destiny cannot be thrust aside. Such, indeed, is the pathway whence departed thy ancestors. Therefore, go.’’ No more solemn message has been (Sent in New Zealand's post offices. Last •veiling the association sus-

pended active business out of respect to Te Marae. The main discussion was whether it was appropriate, in European times, to preserve the custom of making an address direct to the dead. It was held by one member that no direct link could be established with the departed by addressing messages to the relatives. The association made no definite decision. So that is essentially the meaning of the dignified custom.

Before the Europeans colonised JJew Zealand a visitor to a mourning family always spoke of the dead’s welfare before reference was made to the living. As Akarana members pointed * out last evening, the custom was the reverse of the sympathy shown immediately by Europeans for relatives. "Follow the path to Te Reinga—the Maori Hereafter,” the association has said to Te Marae. And the simple message from mourners in Auckland will be taken to Te Marae as she lies in state at Waahi, Huntly. In Te Reinga, so belief says, Hiue-nui-te-Po, the Great Lady of the Night, will be awaiting Te Marae. Death, the Polynesians say, is merely the change to the meeting with honoured ancestors —beyond Te Reinga. Princess Te Puea Herangi, of Ngaruawahia, and Rata Mahuta, son of Te Marae and Maori King, were in Auckland yesterday. They returned in the afternoon to Waahi, where Te Marae’s other sons, Rau-angaanga, Tonga and 'J’umate, are the main figures among the mourners.