Penfriend Wanted

The Editor,

‘Te Ao Hou’.

I wonder if it will be possible for you to help me. I am very keen to have a few Maori penfriends over the age of 18.

MR K. BALASINGHAM

19 Redcliffe Gardens, London S.W. 10,

Great Britain.

The Spiral Tattoo’

The Editor,

‘Te Ao Hou’.

With interest and gratitude I have read your appreciation and review of the Spiral Tattoo which is understanding and sensitive and hence my thanks is going very warmly to Mr Alan Armstrong too.

There is, however, one point on which I feel I ought to say a few words. Mr Armstrong writes of Hotoke's words to his son Mataora on the emptiness of honour gained in war: ‘One can argue that in a people so steeped in warfare for warfare's sake it is doubtful if such thoughts could gain currency, particularly in one of the warrior caste. Yet such a theory would be tantamount to saying that a race which could produce warrior-poets could not produce warrior-philosophers. The seed which made the Maori people of later times so susceptible to the message of Christianity is contained in Hotoke's words: “Living is hard, thinking is harder, the hardest is to live, think and be content in a world made thus …”.’

While this argument would appear to be a perfectly apt criticism it does not fill the bill of Maori outlook altogether. In John Te H. Grace's Tuwharetoa on p. 40 we find the following paragraph:

Houmaitawhiti was the aged father of Tamatekapua and he watched the double canoe sweep across the clear, blue lagoon. As the paddles took the water his voice was heard crying his farewell: “O my sons Toro, Tia and Hei, depart! Depart to your new land. Depart to where there is peace. Leave war and strife behind you. Turn not to the ways of Tu, the god of war; but be steadfast in the ways of Rongo, the god of peace. Haere! Haere! Haere ra!”’

Any further word would only labour my point. The Maori are a far greater race than even those who love it can always realize.

ADELE SCHAFER (Wellington)

‘Waiata Maori’

The Editor,

‘Te Ao Hou’.

Over the past years, though not always agreeing, I have appreciated the remarks of the record critic, Alan Armstrong. He has often shown a lack of musical background, but his desire to uphold the best in Maori culture I have never doubted. His criticism of the record Waiata Maori left me speechless. Some of the finest voices ever heard in New Zealand were on that record, with full marks to Inia te Wiata for his wonderful leadership.

The only thing I could find wrong was a Maori phrase which should, or could have been deleted.

Criticism of the Aotearoa Maori Group in conjunction with the National Band I thought was Iudicrous.

I am sure that these two records will be acclaimed all over the world. The opportunity the Porgy and Bess singers and the Aotearoa Group received from the Opera and the National Band respectively is something denied them in the past. Be grateful Mr Armstrong for two very fine records. Enough said.

NEGRO SPIRITUAL (Hamilton)