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No. 50 (March 1965)
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– 19 –

Knowledge Brought Back From Underworld

This Ngati Kahungunu version of the myth of Mataora and Niwareka is taken from John White's ‘Ancient History of the Maori’, volume II. There are in existence a number of other versions, which differ from it only in detail.

Several versions are brought together in an account given in A. W. Reed's ‘Treasury of Maori Folklore’, pages 97–101, where we are told that the garments which Niwareka

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Peter Smith, aged 12 (left) and Barry Smith, aged 15, are sons of the late Peter Smith, an All Black and New Zealand junior tennis champion. At present living in Australia, they have been holidaying here with their mother and step-father, and took part in the national junior tennis championships and the Maori tennis championships.
Barry is the under-16 South Australian champion, and Peter is the South Australian primary schools champion. Both hope to be able to become professional players.

brought back from the underworld—in one version, a cloak named Te Rangi-haupapa and a belt named Te Ruruku-o-te-rangi—are the prototypes of all such garments woven by women.

So Mataora brought back from the underworld the knowledge of the art which was the badge of manhood, and Niwareka brought knowledge of the art which was the main concern of women.