TE IWI/People

Tu Tangata, Issue 10, 1 March 1983, Page 26

TE IWI/People

Promoting the health and cultural well-being of the Maori people through sport is the objective of the newly constituted New Zealand Maori Sports Federation (Inc). First president, Dr Henare Broughton (Ngai Tahu) says the Federation will operate under the umbrella of the New Zealand Maori Council to achieve those objectives through proper fitness and training programmes. He’s looking now to recruit sports officers willing to be a contact person for their local area. He says the idea is to find out what sports and fitness programmes are catered for in different areas around the country and then to co-ordinate the successful ones. The sports officers will let their local Maori Committee know what is going on, and in turn the Sports Federation can feed out information through the Maori Committees that comprise the New Zealand Maori Council. The first annual general meeting of the New Zealand Maori Sports Federation will be in March. The full committee is: president, Dr Henare Broughton; vice-president, Mr Franki Dennis; legal adviser, Miss Pauline Kingi; secretaries, Miss Laurel Tatana and Miss Joy Martin; treasurer, Mr Lance Hadfield; committee, Messers Richard Tamaho, Donald Rameka, Graeme Tatana, Leon Toki, John Forbes, Dennis Hansen and Mesdames June Mariu, JoyAnne Robinson. People interested in being sport officers should contact Dr Broughton at Auckland Hospital, Private Bag, Auckland. * * *

Te Aturangi Nepia Clamp has sculpted a stone figurehead of his great-grandmother. Paku Maraea on the Whakato Marae near Gisborne. The figurehead was unveiled at the marae’s centenary celebrations on New Years Day and continued a family tradition, Paku Maraea opened the marae 100 years ago. The one and half metre high figurehead has been carved on all sides and includes the mermaid Hine Te Ariki on the front, and the meeting house on the back. Other figures show Hine Te Tama, the goddess of dawn, changing into Hine Nui Te Po, the goddess of night. Te Aturangi Clamp works at bone carving, painting and kowhaiwhai panels as well as sculpting. He’s an advocate for the recognition of artistic talent on a par with academic talent, suggesting that overseas study scholarships should also go to younger artists developing their art. He says art grants usually go to older people rather than giving younger kids a chance. ★ * ★ A Hastings Maori girl is now in South Africa spending a year there as a Rotary exchange student. Vivienne Rarere, a 17 year old at Hastings Girls High School is a guest of an English-speaking family in Durban where she attends Berea Girl’s High School. Vivienne became interested in South Africa after meeting five South African girls at an orientation weekend and being billeted with one. It’s believed Vivienne is the first Maori Rotary exchange student to go to South Africa.

* * * Three objections against proposed boundary changes to Maori electoral districts were received by the commission currently considering objections to proposed boundary changes in New Zealand electoral districts. Mana Motuhake objected to boundary changes in Northern and Eastern Maori as well as suggesting a namechange of districts to Tai Tokerau, Tai Hauauru, Tai Rawhiti and Te Waipounamu. Social Credit questioned the validity base of the population figures for each electorate while at the same time objecting to no increase in the number of Maori electorates. Another objection suggested the formation of a new electorate in central North Island to be called Te Rohe Potae. The commission is expected to deliver its findings this month. * * * The success of the ‘Maori of New Zealand’ cultural group at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games has already meant plenty of work offers as well as a reawakening of maoritanga amongst the performers. Linda Morrison, who helped lead the group, says offers for charity shows and private functions continue to come in as well as overseas requests, such as one from Edmonton in Canada. The group also took part in this years Polynesian Festival at Hastings. Linda Morrison says back in Australia the group is preparing for the Warana Festival at Brisbane which is an annual cultural extravaganza.