MAORI MEMORIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 September 1939, Page 2

MAORI MEMORIES

UI NGA TUI.

(Recorded by J.H.S. for “Times-Age.”)

When our clan arrived at Port Nicholson in 1841 and settled at Pipitea (where are the shell fish), the suiface of the surrounding hills and valleys was covered- with evergreen ngaio, making a delightful background to the sunlit calm waters of the harbour. In flower, their tiny honey laden<blossoms were visited by tui, korimako, and other musicians in thousands, and when the berries were ripe still more lived among the branches. When surfeited with food the fearless tui were quietly captured in hundreds by the Maoris for their delicate flesh and warm feathers for clothing. The tui’s chatter sounded to the Maori ear like a sermon in English of which they could not understand a word, and it was they who referred to it as “Te Ariki Kauwhau” (the speaker of past events). Prompted no doubt by the familiar white collar, the Pakeha unwittingly but correctly translated it in accord with the Maori idea. ; We have a great steamship and an important little township each misnamed “Wing a tui” and several people claim the honour of originating it. The facts are these: When asked a question which he does not wish to answer a Maori derisively answers “Ui nga tui,” and that was how a pioneer put on record his own rebuff, “Ask the Tuis.” Both the township and the big ship should be named in accordance with history as intended.