MAORI HIGH RITUAL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 833, 29 November 1929, Page 1

MAORI HIGH RITUAL

House Opened in Museum SIFTS TO THEIR EXCELLENCIES rE Polynesian god of the forests, Tane. was appeased this morning by Maori ceremonial in the War Memorial Museum. In the presence of the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, Lady Alice Fergusson and leading citizens of Auckland, chieftains from all the provincial tribal districts performed their task with diplomacy and dignity.

It was the opening of the Hauraki tribal house, Hotunui

Polynesian proprieties demand a demonstration of annoyance on Tane's part, when his trees are felled to be Embodied in construction of whares. Kvil spirits haunt new houses, and tapu prevails. In the rites to banish the spirits and to dispel tapu lay the significance of the important tribal leremony. Then, again, there was the notable meeting of nearly 100 representatives of important birth trom the tribal districts of Tokerau. Talnui, Arawa, Mata-atua. and Tairawhiti, besides the attendance of hundreds of other natives, principally residents of Auckland. * Involved ceremonial, embellished with gesticulations, ritual calls, and mass hakas. led up to the crossing of the threshold of the house of Hotunui by Sir Charles and Lady Alice. Their entrance was heralded by chants by the high priest of the occasion, Tutanekai Taua, of Rotorua. The representatives of Britain’s royalty, and the descendant of the Tutanekai ot' the centuries-old New Zealand romance, stepped together into the dark confines of Hotunui. As Lady Alice Kergusson entered, a valuable Maori cloak was placed on her by a native woman. "Tane. the tree, stood erect in the forest glades, hut now he is fallen. Guardian; of the mighty works of Tane. listen to my prayer,” says the Maori incantation against tapu, carried out with appropriate gestures by the priest. “I have performed my propitiating ceremonies. and have appealed to the spirits of our priestly ancestors. . . .” FAITH IN TRADITION As Tutanekai raised his voice in his incantations, even the sense of the novelty ot the rites left European watchers. The faith ot a race in its tradition had its illustration. The arrival of Sir Charles and Lady Alice, Mr. H. E. Vaile (president of the Auckland Institute and Museum), and Mr. G. Baildon (Mayor of Auckland) before the ceremony, was the signal for a haka of welcome. Pirika te Miroi, of Rotorua, and Tahuna Pai, of Mangere, led the haka with much flourishing of taiahas. Cadets from 3t. Stephen’s Maori Boys’ College, commanded Dy Lieutenant P. Smyth, were a guard of honour, and Queen Victoria Maori Girls’ School pupils were also assembled. The vice-regal party was ushered into the Maori court with high ritual by the welcoming party. With the preliminaries over, the assembly w-as grouped round the historic war-canoe, Te Toki-a-Tapari. The Maori ceremony was conducted on a space in front of the runanga house, representing the marae of the whare. Mr. L. W. Parore was the interpreter. The sacredness of the house to the Arawa peoples was related by the Rotorua high chjef, Mita Taupopoki, a picturesque figure in plumed headdress aud a kiwi cloak. Addressing Sir Charles. Mita said: "We dearly lave you. sir. because your heart is with our people. We welcome you to this—the treasure house of the Maori race." For the Arawa tribe, Mita presented a whalebone mere to Sir Charles and a taiaha to Sir Edwin Mitchelson, as the representative ot the Auckland Racing Club, which is entertaining visiting Maoris. A trustee of the house, Mare Tere tiu. spoke for the Ngati-Tamateru people of Thames, saying the museum was the correct place to lodge the relics of the Maori race. There was a speaker for Mata-atua tribesmen, who built the house, and the Hon. \\ Rikihana, M.L.C., spoke for the tribes of North Auckland. HIS EXCELLENCY PRAISED "I do not think other Governors will love the Maori people as much as you do,” Princess Te Puea Herangi said to Sir Charles. "We enjoin you vo take our salutations to the King.” Te Puea expressed the sorrow of the tribes at the impending departure of their Excellencies. in reply, his Excellency mentioned the wonderful understanding between the two originally strange races of Europeans and Maoris. "We have listened with great interest to wlial has been said.” his Excellency continued, “and we are satisfied that the ceremonial, although it may have lost some of its original significance, retains the tradition of your race. 1 have the greatest interest in the future of the Maoris, in their history and their progress.” Mr. Vaile said the Maoris had been described as the aristocrats of the

South Seas and it was certain that they lead in art.. He asked the chieftains to remember the advice of the Governor-General to preserve the originality of the Maori race. Mr. Baildon said efforts should be maintained to preserve native history. Hakas and songs echoed through the stone pillars of the museum to end a memorable ceremony. Emotional cries came from the assembled Maoris at the departure of their Excellencies. PRESERVING HISTORY MUSEUM SPEAKERS MEET NATIVES CHIEFTAINS’ ORATORY The faces of 150 people in the dimming light of two lanterns formed an unusual setting last evening for the meeting of representatives of the Auckland Institute and Museum and leaders of the Maori tribes of the province. A long room in a building on the Ellerslie racecourse was the hall for a unique conference. It served as a preliminary for the Maori ceremony this morning to open the house of Hotunui in the War Memorial Museum. From Maori speakers came a How of oratory, translated into English by Mr. James Rukutai, which fell strangely on the ears of European listeners. Assurances were made by representative natives that they agreed to depositing Maori relics in the museum for safe keeping. The Maoris invited to the opening of Hotunui were welcomed to the City by Mr. H. E. Vaile, president of the Institute. The Institute, he explained, would have welcomed a larger number of natives, but finances permitted the visit of only a limited number. Mr. Vaile thanked the Akarana Maori Association for its assistance and said the organisation would play a prominent part in native affairs in tho future. The City Council and the Auckland Racing Club also received the Institute’s thanks. PRESERVING HISTORY “The magnificent museum building opened this afternoon is as much yours as ours.” Mr. Vaile told the assembled natives. “The history of New Zealand is nothing without the history of the Maori race. For about 70 years, the Institute has been trying to preserve the dying arts of the Maori race and it is now wanting the assistance of the Maoris themselves in preserving historical articles and records. By depositing exhibits in the museum, the natives will not lose possession of their heirlooms.” Mr. Vaile expressed the regret ot the Institute at the absence of the Waikato king, Te Rata Mahu-ta.

Raureti, an Arawa chieftain, replied in an eloquent speech with many gesticulations. The Thames chief Eruini Taipari, had, he said, performed a worthy action in placing the house named after his ancestor Hotunui in the trust of the Institute. “By rights, the house of Hotunui should have been relegated to the limbo of the past through its decay,” Raureti said. “It is good that Eruini made the presentation.” A vigorous speech came from the Arawa high chief. Mita Taupopoki. a dignified figure in sombre dress. His reply to Mr. Vaile expressed the goodwill of the natives in the recognition of the Institute’s work. PICTURESQUE FIGURE Then there were the picturesque associations of Tutanekai Taua, of Ohinemutu, directly descended from Tutanekai, whose romance gave New Zealand its best-known native story. He spoke for the Arawa tribe. Representing the tribes of Nortli Auckland was the Hon. W. Rikihana. M.L.C., and i Nga-ti-Maru speaker suggested to Mr. Vaile the compilation of a roll of honour, to be lodged in the museum, bearing the names of Maori soldiers who died in the war. Suggestions by Maoris concerning the history of relics deposited in the museum were invited by Mr. Gilbert Archey. curator of the museum, who stressed the significance of the ar rangement leaving the opening procedure wholly to the natives. Late into the night the natives held a conference to decide the formalities.