Letters to the editor

Tu Tangata, Issue 23, 1 April 1985, Page 36

Letters to the editor

Nga tuhituhi

Ki a Piripi Whaanga Kei te nui te mihi kia koe te tangata Kaiwhakahaere i tenei pukapuka. Kia kaha to mahi i enei taonga o tatou. No reira tena koe. I have writen a story about the old Kuias of Tuhoe and their ta moko and I’ve written a waiata ringa o Tuhoe to finish it off. Kei te tuhi ahau mo enei taonga o roto o te Rohe Potae o Tuhoe. Ki nga kuia e oranga me nga kuia kua ngaro atu kite po. He whanaunga katoa nga kuia ta moko nei i te taha o aku maatua mama, maatua papa. Kei Ruatoki taku kuia e takoto ana kei raro i tona maunga tapu a Taiarahia mete awa o Whakatane. Ko nga tau o enei kuia etahi he whitu tekau, waru tekau, iwa tekau. I te tuatahi ra ka nui te kitekite i nga kuia ta moko nei i runga i nga marae o Tuhoe. Inaianei i roto i te ao hou kua kore e kitea enei kuia ta moko, no te mea kua matemate katoa i runga i o ratou papakainga. Ana no reira tena koutou tena tatou katoa. He waiata whakamutunga. Ko te rohe potae o Tuhoe, Maungapohatu, Penekire, Manawaru, ko Huiarau me Tarapounamu e aue. Huria ra ki Ruatoki ko Taiarahia. No reira Tuhoe kia kaha ra ki enei mahi a o tatou tipuna. Te whakapono, tumanako mete aroha aue. Kia u kia mau kia kaha ra kia ora ra. Na Tehapuku M. Rikiriki Nga Tamariki a Hine Pukohurangi (children of the mist maiden]

Dear Sir, Our Primary School girls need support. I am a resident of Titahi Bay. My sister has two daughters attending, Ngati Toa Primary School. Earlier this year my sister was coaching the school netball teams. They had four teams. On the 4 September I had the pleasure of observing the standard of netball in the primary schools. I was disappointed. I know, there are a lot of girls who have the potential to become prominent people within the netball world. The problem they have is lack of support from families, schools and the association, in their districts. If they had the support needed, I know, as they mature, they will become confident in themselves and their ability as netball players. And New Zealand netball will never be short of representatives. I spent three months in Whangarei and I was picked to play Premiers. I was elated, because all the years I played in

Wellington, I couldn’t even get a fingernail in. This proved to me that Wellington’s standard of netball was higher than that of Whangarei, but only in the senior sections. On Saturday mornings the Whangarei School teams played their games. I was amazed at the high standard of play and interest in the school teams. Kamo Intermediate A team, specially. They were so good. All the girls showed a lot of potential. Comparing this team to some of the womens social teams, I would give them a 10. They were all Maori. Everytime I went to the courts I made a point of watching that team. It was great. It would be a shame if after their reaching adulthood the desire to play netball dies. This would happen if the support they are getting now is no longer there in the future. Six months ago my sisters and some friends started a team for midweek games. Now, Twilight Netball started on 30th October. She (my sister] asked me to coach her team (due to rupturing my archilles tendon, I can’t play] I agreed. The club is called ‘Hi Fliers’. We have nine registered players, and most of them are solo mothers. Of the nine, seven are Maori, one is Samoan the other lady is Tokelauen. Some of these ladies haven’t played netball or any other sport since they left school. What happens is they have to be taught again. No doubt it is great they’re getting into it again, but it would’ve been easier for them if, when they were younger, they had the support from people around them. It is similar to the problems the unemployed are facing today. If our unemployed youth had the support and understanding right from the start, I’m sure they wouldn’t be feeling useless now. If we don’t support our children and continue to misunderstand them, they give up on themselves, which plays havoc with their lives in the future. I would love to see more Maori and Polynesians in the New Zealand netball team. Mahia Fuimaono

Dear Sir, I have read with some concern Alan Taylor’s review of the Long Yarn of the Law as in Tu Tangata, Issue 20, October/November 1984. This book was written primarily for school children aged 11-13 years.

Mr Taylor has, I feel, misrepresented the contents of this book by failing to read objectively what I wrote. The book is historically accurate and I suggest readers examine it for themselves and make up their own minds. Fiona McMorran

Dear Sir, Maori rugby is not racial. Maori rugby is traditional as the first team from New Zealand to tour the British Isles was Warbricks Maori Team of 1886, playing 65 games and losing only seven. This was followed up by the tour of France in 1926. This team won the last series and a trophy of a Rooster was presented to them for competition between them in whichever country they played. Since then the rugby bosses have stowed it away in moth balls. During the recent French tour it was brought out of hiding. The rugby bosses did not even have the common decency ever at that late stage to honour the French visitors by giving them a challenge against the Maoris for the Rooster Trophy. The Maori Advisory Board should all resign and hand the reins over to Mr Vadonovich. This man will not succumb to Mr Blazey and his old fashioned brigade. Young blood is badly needed to administrate New Zealand rugby at all levels. I am certain there is a school of thought even among certain Maoris that Maori rugby be phased out. If then what is going to happen to the Prince of Wales Cup. Is its fate destined to go the way of the French Rooster? Maori rugby must be fostered and promoted throughout the land as Maoris love physical contact sport and they also have that flair so lacking in All Black rugby. Arthur Stone, Pokere, Shelford and Clamp gave the All Blacks that extra dash which won the series for New Zealand. Many a time good ball was booted away. Thank goodness the Aussies had the kick-its too otherwise Campese would have camped on our goal line. Dr Paewai with the due respect to his football prowess is a voice in the wilderness. He is out of touch with rugby. Waka Nathan, Mac Herewini, Ben Couch, Sid Going and Pat Walsh just to mention a few all advocate the continuance of Maori rugby. Maori rugby attracts large crowds as it has spectator appeal because of its rugged

forward play and back line flair a combination that bodes ill for the opposition. All you doubting Toms, Paewai etc. please join us the vast majority of Maori Rugby supporters. Na Kami Bird

Dear Sir, After having studied the subject for 18 years, I have recently completed a book of 260 odd pages, titled “Nga Ohaaki o nga whanau o Tauranga Moana”, the history and genealogy of the Maori families connected to the three tribes of Tauranga and surrounding districts. It traces back to the beginning of their movement from Asia to the present time and includes all known history and genealogy of most ancestors mentioned. There are over 100 pages of genealogy from all canoes to Tauranga families. I consider it of great educational value in our present time of striving to regain our Maoritanga. I will be selling the books privately at sls delivered and after all expenses are met, some of the profits will go toward necessary improvements to our local marae. As a means of advertising my work, would you please consider mentioning this in your “Tu Tangata” Magazine. Many orders have already come forward from a local paper article. John A.W. Steedman Waitoa Rd Welcome Bay Tauranga RDS