Letters to the editor

Tu Tangata, Issue 22, 1 February 1985, Page 40

Letters to the editor

Nga tuhituhi

To the Editor, I read the article in your latest Tu

Tangata Magazine on the concerns of Henry Tahawai Bird Q.S.O. From words in that article it would behove you Henry Bird to get your priorities right about the desired intentions of Dame Whina Cooper. First: I understand the concerns of Henry Tahawai Bird for objecting to Dame Whina Cooper’s desire to support the establishment of a Marae in Australia and for the reason being that as Henry quotes the land is the Turangawaewae of the Aboriginal of Australia and the Maori Turangawaewae is here in Aotearoa. But Ehoa; we have “nga iwi Maori’’ over there either friends, relatives or family. The majority of our Maori abroad in Australia are young, whether they are there for travelling, holidaying, visiting or to escape the problems that young Maori face today here in New Zealand which is jobs, money or a wider scope for entertaining. However we are aware that across the Tasman there are legalities, views, issues arising and opinions in Australia about the establishment of a Marae, yet it is seen only as a desire of Dame Whina, we have not yet heard the views of the Tangata Whenua of Australia. So why the word opposing Henry. As one Australian told me, “every nationality in the world is in Australia”, why not the Maori? Did our ancestors not travel across the Pacific Hawaikinui Hawaikiroa Hawaikpamaomao. Secondly: Henry also enquired about where would Dame Whina get the finance for the building of this Marae complex. I am sure that in the description Henry Bird did not miss anything out in crediting the construction and lay-out of his marae and a fine pakeha illustration of how flash and (not forgetting) expensive his marae is. Further to mention as Henry also quoted in the last article the furnishing of his wharekai costing $31,575 with the “best of furniture” very appealing and luxurious to Modern Pakeha Society. Ehoa congratulations it sounds as if it is worth every cent but (Q. 5.0.) Quit Showing Off. Money and housing is hard to come by during this day and age and I agree with Henry on that statement. Yet it is not only 200 people in housing difficulty in one area but 200,000 maybe more or less, both Maori and Pakeha. Yet I fail to find Henry, how one of our kuia’s can solve this problem in an instant and as a respected lady of her people and seeing

the struggles of her people she may offer the best of her kuia aroha but not a

miracle Henry. Therefore my intention and purpose of writing to the Editor of Tu Tangata was not to extend ideas of Dame Whina’s desire or disrupt the high voiced objection of Henry Tahawai Bird neither speak in defence or inflict a personal attack to Henry, but merely point out to you Henry Ehoa waihotia nga mahi pai o tenei kuia ka takatakahia i a koe.kaore i kuia anake engari e nga iwi Maori. Tu Tangata me tautoko tatou te awhi o nga raruraru o enei ra. Ko tenei te take i korero hangai ki a koe kite kuia. Ko enei nga whakaaro paiinga wawata hoki kaua e awangawanga na te mea ka pau te ahi o te whenua ka hinga te poutokomanawa aroha. Na reira mutua. Kia piki te ora. Hoani Nuku Dame Whina has now decided to stay in New Zealand following many requests by her people to do so. She still intends keeping a close interest in events in Australia. Ed Dear Sir, We were delighted to read the reference to Rangimarie Parata’s participation in the New Zealand delegation to the 16th International Conference of Pan-Pacific and South-east Asia Women’s Association held in Tokyo, Japan, in August 1984. She was a charming and capable representative and followed ably in the footsteps of those Maori members of the association who have been part of the New Zealand delegation at previous conferences. This goes back as far as the third conference in Honolulu in 1934 when Mrs V.T.A. Bennett was a delegate. It has always been our joy and privilege to have the support of Maori women in our work both at national and international levels. It was our pleasure to have Rangimarie with us in Japan. G. Lilian Lyth National Secretary Pan Pacific Dear Sir, The eye of the beholder...? Strange isn’t it. I attended the Women’s Forum in Whangarei 3rd November and what I saw was simply this... The Ministry of Women’s policy can be likened to a hot air balloon: flexible

enough to roll up and tidy away into one basket, dressed in Labour’s colours; yet totally dependant upon the heated exchanges of all N.Z. women to get it off the ground. Unfortunately, it is very cumbersome requiring an expert team to tend it, a competent driver to control it and lots of bags to balance it. Sadly it is obviously very vunerable to the winds of change, particularly the feltpen stroke that could cause either a slow leak to deflate and suffocate those around or an explosion that would leave debris scattered all over the countryside.

Wake up, women of N.Z. No governing body in the world can legislate the freedoms of economic, education, health, social, cultural, legal and political equality with lasting dignity and worth. Only God gives such freedom. Freely to all and no-one and nothing can remove the Godgiven.

Remember Proverbs 31;30... ‘a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears God, she shall be praised’ for if you ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul’ and ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ the power, the prosperity, the dignity and the privilege of being a woman can never be taken from you.

In Jesus name,

Ihapera Vera Moulton (Mrs) (nee Cherrington, Taitokerau)

Dear Sir/Madam

I would like to express my concern at some of the contents of the Dec 84 Jan 85 issue of Tu Tangata in particular one called “From the pulpit” in which I find that ‘Tabernacle Tarbuk’ whoever he is or if it is a she then I refer to the man who is behind her writings. In this article I find what is typical of so many who speak, write and produce art that is double talk with a forked tongue defaming, has a learners mind that is not wise.

I find any person who hides behind barriers of any kind like unidentifiable names or positions that he sees himself/herself above others, to be entirely on the wrong path when they write such as Tabernacle Tarbuk has.

There is only one aspect that the whole of Tu Tangata should evolve around as a guide to its contents and that is arohanui-love and all that is good for everyone and everything. I rest my case in your hands.