Maori Studies students at this University are doing research on the Tawhaki myth as it is recorded for New Zealand and Polynesia. One of the difficulties encountered results from the fact that conventional spelling in most of the languages concerned does not mark vowel length. The correct pronunciation of a number of the most celebrated names in Polynesian mythology is in danger of being lost. Rata, son of Wahieroa according to the Maori story, is sometimes pronounced with long vowels, sometimes with short. We would like the opinion of Te Ao Hou readers on the pronunciation of Rata, Tawhaki (father of Wahieroa), and Hema (father, or as some say, the mother, of Tawhaki).

Yours sincerely,

Bruce Biggs,

Professor of Maori Studies,
University of Auckland.

Through your book I would like to thank Witi Ihimaera for one of the most amusing and enjoyable evenings I've had for a long time—reading the story ‘Halcyon’.

While waiting to be served in our local bookshop, I started turning the pages of Te Ao Hou to see if there was anyone I knew in it. Lo and behold, there was a picture of Atareta Poananga, so I promptly bought it.

That night while everyone was watching ‘Steptoei’, I decided to read my book. I started with the item about Atareta, next the Queen's visit, then Remembering the Dead, and then I thought, ‘Now I'll read the story with the most pages first and the lesser ones later’. That was how I met Witi, and he certainly is witty! I haven't laughed so much for a long time. Everything was so real. I loved his ‘you know whats’, and what I loved most was the fact that although he had a much nicer car and home, he didn't think he was better than his cousins and aunts. That's my kind of Maori.

Yours sincerely,

Ngaroimata Hawea