PAPAWAI PA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1939, Page 5

PAPAWAI PA

—o BIG GATHERING OF MAORIS AND PAKEHAS Restoration and Rehabilitation Plans ADDRESSES BY SIR APIRANA NGATA AND OTHERS REVIVAL OF TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP (“Times-Age” Special.) For the-past twenty-five years the Papawai Pa has .slowly but surely decayed. The buildings have become ddap cl< : . In 1934 the meeting house was blown to the ground ait the result that the Maoris’ most prized and cherished —his hospitality—was severely curtailed. The Aaluabk caings of his ancestors once looked on with awe, 'vere ho longei heeded, nor was an attempt made to learn and cultnate tl . anei The C makiens, with their supple wrists, no longer oatheriivs with “that tiny ball on end of string. So bad weie the sanitary conditions that numbers migrated to other’ • • • The once proud and happy South Wairarapa Maoris had lallei ° n 'a dSe is now taking place, vital not only to the Maori but to the pakeha as well. The old meeting house has been dismantled. The smaller hall has been renovated into a meeting house. An attempt is being made to ieuie the dvinc craft of carving. The hitherto unheeded treasures are being carefullv rehoused. The younger members o the community are returning to 1 heir traditional pastimes. Ihe South Wairarapa Maoris are regaining their lost heritage. Yesterday afternoon, in what is now serving as the meeting house 250 Maoris and pakehas gathered to extend a welcome to Sir Apirana and Lady Ngata, to see what had been done, and to hear about what was projected ,by the 1 apawai la Renovation Committee. Amongst those present were representatives from practically every local body m the Wairarapa, and apologies were received from Mr C. Skill, Mayor of Maryborough, and Mr A. B. Martin, chairman of the Featherston County Council. The official party was accompanied by Messrs Ben Roberts, member for Wairarapa, and J. Robertson, member for Masterton.

A TRIBAL WELCOME. On his arrival. Sir Apirana was welcomed by the representatives of the different tribes, after which an informal lunch was held. In the afternoon, tea was served by the ladies’ committee, and several items were rendered by the younger generation. Their performance was a creditable one, Sir Apirana congratulating them on the wonderful progress they had made. PURPOSE OF MEETING. On behalf of the Wairarapa electorate, Mr Roberts welcomed Sir Apirana and Lady Ngata and other visitors present, especially the members of the various local bodies. The meeting, he said, had been called for a very definite purpose —to carry forward the restoration of the meeting house, and after that to try to provide better housing for the Maori people and to rehabilitate them in the cultivation of their own lands.” , “Sir Apirana Ngata has done great work in Native development schemes and we are pleased to have him with us today,” said Mr Roberts. "About 12 months ago a few of us met to see if anything could be done to restore the Papawai meeting house and to see whether we could bring to our Maori friends again the associations of this historic building. The building was blown down in 1934. Later several persons interested themselves in its restoration, and the Government offered a £1 to £1 subsidy, but owing to the depression it was impossible to .do anything. Unfortunately that subsidy is not available today. However we had a little money to build with and I was able to obtain about £l2O out of the employment funds to employ Native labour to dismantle the old buildings. That has been done. It is now proposed to remove this building on to the old site and sufficient timber has been retained to restore it for use later. During our operations we have had the whole-hearted co-operation of everyone concerned. It would be invidious for me to mention names, but I would like to take this opportunity of publicly thanking all those helpers, especially the ladies' committee, who have done much valuable work in raising funds. Mr Johnson, Native Housing Supervisor has directed us so far, and we hope to obtain his practical advice and assistance in moving the building. “Last week,” Mr Roberts stated, “we discussed whether we should invite the public today, or should wait until the building was completed. We decided to invite the public today so that they could see what we have done and. hear what we arc going to do. No doubt numbers of whites are wondering just what we hope to accomplish by the restoration of the meeting house. Our object is this—we hope to restore the spiritual centre and idealism of the Native race.” On behalf of a friend Mr Roberts placed £5 in the contribution plate, plus his own cheque. Mr Robertson, joined with Mr Roberts in extending a welcome to Sir Apirana and Lady Ngata. “I know that Sir Apirana’s visit has been productive of much good already," said Mr Robertson, who also touched on the work already done and the work it was hoped to accomplish. “A great spirit of co-operation has led us on to success so far and I feel certain that it will continue to lead us until the job is completed." Mr Robertson continued. "At one time, the Papawai Maoris were the most important in New Zealand. They have done creditable work throughout the Wairarapa in the past, and we are going to see that they and their children get the same chance as the pakeha.”

assurances of co-operation.

•T would like to take this opportunity of returning thanks on behalf of my councillors and myself for the invitation to be present here today," said the Mayor of Masterton. Mr T. Jordan. "We are indeed glad to be present. "Next year New Zealand will celebrate a hundred years of settlement by whites. The time would therefore seem ripe for the white man to stand still and think what he has done for the Maori.

Sir Apirana Ngata: “We’ll forgive you for that."

"The Wairarapa Maori is as fine a human being as you will find on the

face of this earth, but I am sorry to say that he has not benefited through contact with the white man.” said Mr Jordan. ‘‘The meeting house is the centre of Maori activity. Both this and Te Ore Ore should be made object lessons during the coming 12 months. If the Maori is prepared to make a start, I feel certain that the splendid people of the Wairarapa will do everything in their power to assist. As you all know the Government has set aside some £150,000 for subsidies in connection with providing suitable centennial memorials. I am sure that all that money will not be used in that respect, and it would seem to me that here would be a fitting place to spend some of it.” “I feel sure that the people of the district would only be too willing to help the Maori people to re-establish their meeting house and obtain decent housing accommodation, providing the Maori is able to show that he is willing to, and is doing the job,” said Mr J. W. Card, Mayor of Featherston. "It would indeed be an excellent time during the centennial to assist the Native race,”

“Actually this is not a centennial project, but there is no doubt that Mr Jordan’s suggestion is a good one," said the Mayor of Greytown, Mr A. W. Horton. “The housing of the Maori people is a serious problem, and I am of the opinion that the people of the Wairarapa will rally round in an endeavour to have this unfortunate position rectified. Mr M. Maxton, Greytown’s oldest pioneer, stated that he was present when the old original j meeting house, since pulled down, was being built. “The time has now come for us all to join together and build up a better manhood,” he said. CANOE VOYAGERS. Mr J. F. Thompson, the only European member of the Rongokokako Maori Council, extended on behalf of the council and the Renovation Committee a hearty welcome to the visitors. Mr Thompson, who is a student of Maori history and affairs, recalled many interesting and amusing incidents of days gone by, “The Maoris of the South Wairarapa were of the Rangitane tribe,” said Mr Thompson. “They came from Polynesia in the canoe Takitinu, which carried the tohungas and wise men. They settled the rich land of South Wairarapa. The Ngatiporou tribe, of which Sir Apirana Ngata was so distinguished a descendant, came in a smaller canoe Tokamaru, but apparently did not use their wisdom when they landed on the East Coast. “However,” Mr Thompson added, "Sir A. Ngata, claims that in the great journey across the ocean the Takitinu crew, with all their wisdom, ran short of food and the more practical members of his tribe had to supply them with food. This tribe is still paramount in the North Island, and I hope that the work already done will bring the Papawai people back to their pa and centre of interest. I would like to make an appeal for the preservation of the Maori craftmanship and language, and I earnestly appeal to the young people to preserve this with all their might.’’ CORDIAL RELATIONS. 'From my awn personal knowledge and experience, 1 know that the relations between the white people of the Wairarapa and the Maori have always been of the most cordial, so there is no need for me to mention the necessity for co-operation," said Sir A. Ngata, after returning thanks on behalf of his wife and himself for their warm welcome. His witty sallies repeatedly filled the meeting house with laughter. “It is unfortunately true,’’ he said, “that the Maoris have let the pa slip into a bad state, and it is a glad sight for sore eyes to see such a wonderful gathering of people here today who > are prepared to help the cause of the Maori people. Never before have I seen the Maoris of the Wairarapa so keen to see a project through. My ap- . peal to the Maoris is to do their part first before going to their pakeha ■ friends for assistance. They must use [ their own resources to the very utmost. Then is the time to seek help , from the pakeha residents of the Wairarapa. , “This is your land," he continued. “Would your fathers have liked to i see the conditions as they exist today? , Since 1595, the Wairarapa pas have

gradually fallen away, until now they are in such a state that the Maoris are ashamed to hold up their heads. The first thing, therefore, is to help yourselves first, and then look for other means of assistance after your own resources are exhausted. “It is indeed pleasing to know that there is a desire to revive the crafts of the Maori in the Wairarapa. The pakeha does not want to live alongside anyone with a hangdog air. Least of all a Maori. Despite some of their tattered clothes and unpainted houses, the Maori still acts as if he owns New Zealand, and the pakeha wants him to have some justification for that pride. Up till the present tne glories of the past have been sufficient enough to make the Maori pride hold up. Let there be some present and future justification for the holding up of that pride. In conclusion I would like to say that 1 have no doubt whatsoever that this project will come to a happy and successful ending.” Sir Apirana rounded off his address by leading a haka.