BIG NUKUHAU GATHERING

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 81, 5 August 1953, Page 1

BIG NUKUHAU GATHERING

AOTEA MAORI COUNCIL MEETS The Royal Visit and the Maori Purposes Bill were the main topics discussed at a meeting of the Aotea District Maori Council held at the Tapuaeharuru Pa, Nukuhau, Taupo, on Saturday, July 25. The meeting created wide interest, as apart from the thirty members of the Council there were also present more than three hundred Maoris from various parts of the island. The Wanganui and Taranaki quota of five bus and several car loads arrived on the Friday evening. Notable Visitors Notable visitors included Judge G. M. O'Malley, Aotea District Land Court, Wanganui; Mrs I. Ratana, M.P., Western Maori; Major R. H. Vereoe, D.S.O., Chairman, Waiariki Council; Mr K. A. Anaru, DeputyMayor, Rotorua; Mr E. Edwards, Chairman, Taranaki Maori Trust Board; Messrs G. D. Thierry and T. Tomonui, delegates, Waikato Council; Mr S. White, Mataatua delegate; Lieut. Col. A. Awatere, former commander of the Maori Battalion and secretary of the Aotea Council. Royal Tour Arrangements Discussion of the Royal tour arrangements at present made by the Government showed the meeting to be unanimous that these were most inadequate and disappointing as far as the reception to Her Majesty by the Maori people at Rotorua was concerned. Apart from the home people 1 about two hundred only from other i tribes were to be asked by the Government to take part. Various speakers said that on former visits by members of the Royal Family much more elaborate programmes were arranged. On this, the first occasion on which a reigning sovereign was to visit the Dominion, the programme was being curtailed to a minimum. It was decided that representations be made to the Government to give the matter more liberal consideration. Maori Purposes Bill There was also unanimous opposition.to the Maori Purposes Bill in its present form. It was decided that representations be made to the Government to give further thought and discussion to the Bill bef ore bringing it up at the forthcoming Parliamentary session. On the Sunday the Wanganiui and Taranaki visitors were the guests of the Tuwharetoa Trust Board as sight-seers over the Wairakei thermal sights. The catering and feeding arrangements for the large gathering were handled very capably by the Taupo Branch of the Maori Women's Health League. Much credit is due them for the untiring manner in which they attended to their guests. They were ably assisted by other local volunteers who were always on hand. After a sumptuous dinner of "haangfid" pork, beef, mutton and vegetables, with puddings, trifles and jellies, the visitors departed for their distant homes, after expressng their gratitude and thanks for the wonderful hospitality of the home people.