No. 33 Vol. 9 (No. 1)

Year of Awakening

The year 1960 has been a crucial one in the development of the Maori people. Suddenly, it has seemed, there has been a great flowering of interest in and awareness of the whole race. Newspapers have devoted more space than ever we remember, both editorially and in reporting, to Maori problems and difficulties, to progress and advance, treated in a highly responsible and sympathetic manner.

Earlier in the year, the massive campaign organised by the Citizens' All Black Tour Association brought its activities to an unsuccessful, but dignified conclusion. The decision of the Council of the Rugby Union prevailed, but whatever the moral issues involved, one fact emerged clearly: that any suggestion of racial discrimination will be deeply resented and combated by a large proportion of the European population; any slight to the reputation New Zealand has established in this field will be vigorously contested. This is a most heartening sign.

We cannot doubt that the main impetus to this upsurge of interest and sympathy with Maori problems has come from the Young Maori Leaders' Conferences. Since Te Ao Hou last went to press there have been Regional Young Leaders' Conferences at Whakatane and Gisborne, and a South Island. Conference at Christchurch, reported in this issue. As we go to press, further regional conferences are being planned at Marton and Kaitaia. The agenda for these conferences have been almost identical; papers on population trends, health, housing, apprenticeship and employment have been finely presented and eagerly discussed. Through the wide and interested reporting these conferences have received, Europeans seem suddenly to have realised that the Maori people, far from being an insignificant minority in the population are increasing their numbers so rapidly that by the end of the century, they may be approaching parity with the European.

We print in full in this issue the remarkable paper by Dr Rina Moore, The State of Maori Health, presented at the South Island Conference in August. Those who heard Dr Moore will not easily forget the deep impression she made, both by the quality and insight of her observations and by her manner of delivery, at once scientific and deeply sympathetic. She makes certain observations on housing, population and crime which we trust will form the basis of much fruitful debate, and a notable survey of neurotic behaviour patterns among young Maoris. We feel that no more considered or useful statement has yet been made on this theme.

He Tau Whakaohooho

ka mutu te tino tau mo te iwi Maori ko te tau 1960. Ano he mea ohorere te puawaitanga mai o te whakaaro nui mo te iwi Maori. Tamatuatahi te puta nui o te korero i nga nupepe mo nga take Maori, mo nga taikahatanga mo nga uauatanga, mo nga painga mo nga pikanga a ko te mea nui ia ko te ngakau aroha o nga korero a aua nupepa.

Timata tino mai te tau i nga korero a Te Ropu Tautoko i te take ma haere he Maori i roto i te tiima ki Awherika, a ahakoa kaore i haere he Maori, i mutu pai nga korero. I tau tonu ki ta Te Ropu Whakahaere Whutupaoro i mea ai kaua he Maori e haere ki Awherika ahakoa ra kaore taua whakataunga i taea te whakaueue, ko te hua nui o te tautohetohe ko tenei na he tokamaha te hunga kei Niu Tireni nei e kore o ratou ngakau e whakaae kia whakaparahakotia te iwi Maori he mea tino pai tenei.

Kaore i kore atu na nga hui a Nga Kaiarahi o Te Rangatahi tetahi wahanga nui i penei rawa ai te aro mai o te motu ki nga take Maori. Mai i tera putanga o Te Ao Hou kua tu nga Hui a Te Rangatahi ki Whakatane, ki Turanga a ki Otautahi, a meake nei ka tu he hui ki Marton a ki Kaitaia. He orite tonu nga putaki korero mo aua hui, ko nga korero mo te piki o te tokomaha o te iwi Maori, no nga mahi e pumau ai te ora a tinana, mo te hanga whare, mo te whakanohonoho i nga taitamariki Maori ki nga kura mahi a ringa, mo te whakawhiwhi mahi. He nui nga korero i puta i aua hui mo aua putake korero. Na te puta nui o nga korero o nga hui nei i roto o nga nupepe ko mohio te Pakeha ko te iwi tokoiti nei ko te Maori kei te piki ki tetakimano ke te takitini a ki te penei tonu te kaha a te tipu pau rawa mai tenei rau tau kua ahua ritetonu te tokomaha o te Maori ki to te Pakeha.

Kei te taia ki tenet putanga o Te Ao Hou nga korero a Takuta Rina Moore “Mo te Ora a Tinana o Te Iwi Maori” i panuitia ki te hui a Te Rangatahi i tu ki Otautahi i Akuhata. Ko nga mea i rongo i aua korero a Rina Moore a kore e wareware tata i a ratou te hohonu o ana korero te pai o te whakatakoto o te korero a te wairua aroha hoki ki te iwi. I roto i ana korero etahi korero mo nga whare mo te Maori, mo te piki o te tokomaha o te Maori menga korero hoki mo te hunga e taka ana ki te he he putake korero hei whiriwhiritanga me kore e kitea he maunga ringa. I puta hoki etahi korero a taua Takuta mo nga mahi hianga a nga taitamariki. Ka mutu pea i ana korero.

Koa ana tera a Te Ao Hou ki te panui I tenei putanga ona i nga korero a Miss S. Ashton-Warner mo Takuta Maharaia Winiata. He kai tito purakau ara he wahine tuhi pukapuka a Miss Ashton-Warner nana te pukapuka ra a Spinster i tuhi a kei te mahia tana korero purakau hei pikitia. Ma koutou tonu e korero te tangi a tenei wahine.