Koha poser for marae

Tu Tangata, Issue 19, 1 August 1984, Page 30

Koha poser for marae

Operating a marae in a pakeha world poses its share of problems for students and staff at Auckland Teachers’ College.

The Department of Maori Studies welcomes school and community groups into the Tutahi Tonu marae in the college grounds. The marae and whare whakairo, built last year, are the focus of the Maori studies undertaken by all students at the college. Three or four groups use the marae each week and the department may be faced with costs of over SIOO depending on the length of stay and needs of the many groups. Department head George Parekowhai says the koha (the traditional gift of a guest to defray the expenses of a visit) is not offered if city

guests are not aware of its importance. Since the college administration is under no obligation to fund the marae, the department is left to fund the visits or ask visitors for a donation. Mr Parekowhai says the question of a contribution to defray costs may be raised by the department even though such a request contravenes strict maori etiquette. ‘Since we are seeking to develop an

understanding of maoritanga we see it as our role to explain the concept of koha to visitors,’ he says. The importance of a guest on a marae paying a koha achieved national prominance recently when Foreign Affairs Minister Warren Cooper left without paying a koha after a visit to Waahi marae. The ministry later claimed that it had always intended to send a cheque at a later date and made good the omission. Mr Parekowhai says that because the college marae does not have the traditional support base of a rural marae the question of spreading costs is more important.

Guests are often asked to make a donation because they are city dwellers and may not understand the practical, as well as cultural importance of the koha. The charge is not only for the use of facilities, as hosts, the students and staff like to prepare and serve the first meal of a guest’s visit because that is a tradition. Once the ceremony is over the students will usually return home

and the guests will remain for their visit. While the need for the koha may be pointed out to guests, staff stress that there is no compulsion attached to it and no bill will be sent. ‘Sometimes we are left to foot the bill ourselves,’ says tutor Rua Pipi. ‘We don’t mind that. If the koha is only a song from their hearts we would be quite happy.’ Mr Pipi says that some groups pay more than their due and ‘it probably evens out in the end. But giving a guesstimate’ to the guests avoids embarrassment for both us and them, as it gives them a guideline to work by.’