'Sweethearts of Yesterday’ attend Ball

Tu Tangata, Issue 13, 1 August 1983, Page 34

'Sweethearts of Yesterday’ attend Ball

Queen’s Birthday week-end saw a unique ‘Sweethearts of Yesterday’ ball held at the Te Rangimarie Centre, Christchurch. The ball, attended by about 200 guests, saw 32 elders from all parts of the South Island and the Chatham Islands presented to the special guests. These guests were the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Ben Couch and Mrs Couch, the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rev. H. Vercoe and Mrs Vercoe, the Dominion President of the Maori Women’s Welfare League, Mrs Maraea Te Kawa, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Christchurch, Sir Hamish and Lady Hay.

The ball was organised by the Taumutu branch of the Maori Women’s Welfare League whose President, Mrs Ruku Arahanga of Taumutu, was recently re-elected to the post for the twenty-first year in succession.

The presence of Mrs Te Kawa gave the ball special significance for South Island Maori. It was the first function in the South Island she attended in her new capacity as Dominion President of the League. The immediate past President of the League, Mrs Violet Pou, was also present at the ball. At a service held on Sunday morning at the Rehua Marae, a finely woven kit was presented to Mrs Te Kawa in honour of her first official visit to the South Island.

Of the ball, Bishop Vercoe said it was a unique occasion to pay a tribute of

honour to the old people present who were so often taken for granted. His only regret about the successful function was that more young people had not been at the ball to take advantage of being able to enjoy the dancing, talking and reminiscing of the old people.

The 32 ‘sweethearts of yesterday’ presented to the official guests at the ball were: Mrs Muriel Orchard (Christchurch); Mr & Mrs John Stirling (Kaikoura); Mr & Mrs Bill Moses (Blenheim); Mr & Mrs George Smith (Taumutu); Mrs Ethel Walters (Christchurch); Mr & Mrs Hemi Takaiora Williams (Christchurch); Mr Joseph Pomare (Chatham Islands); Mrs Hetty Idian (Chatham Islands); Mrs Ernie Paynter Stephenson (Chatham Islands); Mrs Makere Tahuhu Wallace (Little River); Mrs Hira Mahuraki Shaw (Christchurch); Mrs Maera Couch (Rapaki); Mrs May Rakena (Rapaki); Mrs Te Whe Ariki Hutana (Rapaki); Mrs Rima Te Aotukia Bell (Tuahiwi); Mr & Mrs Maurice Pohio (Taumutu); Mr Riki Te Mairaki Ellison Taiaroa (Taumutu); Mrs Alice Tairakena (Christchurch); Mrs Bridgette Meads ( ); Mr & Mrs Mehae Meha (Ashburton); Mr & Mrs D. Howarth (Christchurch); Mrs Malta Pitama (Christchurch); Mrs Vron Smythe (Christchurch); Dean and Mrs Michael Underhill (Christchurch).