Ua Sao Le La O Samoa

‘The Samoan Canoe has broken through the reef’

‘Ka to he ra ka rere he ra’

The sun has set, a new day is born. How very true this is from our point of view, for our participation in the New Zealand Polynesian Festival has given us Samoans from Wellington, something to think about.

Living on Mataatua Marae alone has revived memories of home (Samoa). It has given our generation food for thought. The festival was a success and a milestone was passed.

Our welcome by the Tuhoe people at Mataatua, and living as Maoris has reminded us of our culture left behind on the shores of Hawaiki with our coming to New Zealand and now we are determined to revive it. Take it from us that it will be a

different story at Rotorua next year, should there be another festival.

No longer shall we go as guest performers and as amateurs. Now that our canoe is in sight of land, we plan to pull it ashore, As far as the Samoan group is concerned there is to be a follow-up action to this operation. We are going to see this through by reviving our dances and national activities. So much interest has been created that we have formed ourselves into a permanent culture group in the Hutt Valley.

And what of the hospitality of our host Tuhoe of Rotorua? In my language all I could say is: Tuhoe malo teu malo le fa'aaloalo. Ua fo'i le va'a le mama ua lomi ua malie le va'ai. Fa'afetai. In Maori presumably it could mean, Tuhoe, mou mou kai, mou taonga mou mou tangata ki to po. No tribute could be adequate or fitting. From the minute we landed on the marae until we left, it was home away from home all over again. And to be privileged to sleep on the marae was an experience. Tears were shed, (this is true Polynesian parting) and deep inside our hearts we told ourselves we will return, and this we will do—return to Mataatua.

The competitions were a treat to our young members (who went planning a sightseeing tour of Rotorua which never eventuated) who as amateurs are now determined to go back polished and as real Samoan entertainers, next year. The Maori groups showed our members uniformity in its wide sense; the Cook Island group, rhythm to the beat of drums, the tin cans and goodness knows what; the Tokelauans, gracious moments and gently does it; and for Niueans, all energies preserved was the caper. But what of us—just wait and see. We know we can do better. Here is a classic example. We beat ‘Little Samoa’ our Auckland brothers and that speaks for itself. Any tiny brother who annoys a big brother deserves a lesson or two. And now that ‘Little Samoa’ (Auckland) is hurt it is enough evidence that in a festival next year the Samoan competitions are going to be hard to judge. All groups are out to win. We are looking forward to the acid test and let it be done in the true Polynesian spirit.

A new day is born: To ka rere he ra. Ua sau le aso fou.

Soifua. Hugo R. Stanley

The Rev. Kingi M. Ihaka, M.B.E., J.P., Chairman of the Festival Committee, gave this address of welcome to Their Excellencies the Governor-General and Lady Porritt at the official opening of the first New Zealand Polynesian Festival at the Sportsdrome, Rotorua.

Korohi pō… Korohi ao
Ko Rongo i tūria ki te mātāhau o Tū,
Tū te winiwini, Tū te wanawana,
Tū i whakaputaina ki te whai ao,
Ki te ao mārama
Tihe… mauri ora!

Te pou! Te pou!
Te tokotoko i wherangi,
Te tokotoko i whenuku,
Tukia! Tōkia!
Ko te mumu, ko te āwhā,
Ko te mānihi kaiota,
Takere, panapana,
Ka rau i runga,
Ka rau i raro,
Ka whai tāmore i runga,
Ka whai tāmore i raro.
Tena ko te pou,
Ko te pou no Rongo
He rongo!
Unuhia i te rito o te harakeke
Kei hea koe, e te kōmako, e kō,
Whakataerangitia!
Rere ki uta, rere ki tai,
Kī mai ki ahau, ‘He aha te mea nui?’
Māku e kī atu ki a koe,
‘He tangata! He tangata!’

E ngā iwi, e ngā mana e ngā reo, kua manaakitia tātou e ngā rangatira o Te Arawa; kau paenga te taha ki a tātou. Nā reira, tēnā tātou katoa!

Te Arawa, our hospitable hosts, have already welcomed the participating groups and their supporters, in order that we, both Maori and our brethren of the Pacific Islands, may ally ourselves with our hosts, not only to welcome you, Your Excellencies, but also to assure you of our steadfast loyalty to the Crown.

In my prelude, I quoted a saying attributed to a high ranking lady of my tribe. Freely translated, it reads. ‘Ask me: what is the greatest of all things? I will answer: Tis a human being: A human being.’ It is because of our concern for human beings, primarily for those who are classified as Polynesians, that we have promoted this festival, confident that partnership in action will greatly contribute to the betterment of race relations in this country. We have always desired to meet one another on a common ground, and this has proved successful in a few areas. But never before in the history of this country have we—the various ethnic groups under the umbrella of Polynesia—come together, not as rivals, but as a united front, to provide what I believe to be the first of many New Zealand Polynesian Festivals.

Nowhere else in the whole of the Pacific, is there anything approaching the array of Polynesian talent that exists here. I am confident that eventually we could provide Polynesian entertainment on a scale, and of a standard, which could not be equalled anywhere in the world.

I believe that the reception by the Maori people to Her Majesty the Queen and members of the Royal Family at Gisborne in 1970, was a most spectacular and moving performance. This acted as a stimulus to those of us who have been concerned with the preservation of Maori culture as well as concern for the type of entertainment which has been labelled as ‘Maori’, to do something positive in this field. We felt that the time was opportune for the Maori to exhibit his talents and perhaps recapture the spirit of his ancestors, to compose his own songs, chants, haka and so on, rather than rely on the latest pop tunes, to move him to write lyrics.

We felt also, that here in our country we have the best racial climate in the world, to promote through song and dance an even warmer climate in our relations one with another. It was natural then, that we should invite our Polynesian brethren in New Zealand to join us, with the result that we have five groups representing the Samoans, Tongans, Tokelauans, Niueans and Cook Islanders with us today.

Let me hasten at this stage to assure the non-Polynesians that we have no intention of excluding them. We welcome them and we hope that they will join our ranks, provided that what they display is of Polynesian origin.

It is encouraging, Sir, to note the marked interest in things Maori by a fair section of our New Zealand society. I am particularly impressed with what a number of schools are doing in this respect, and I have no doubt that when more qualified tutors are available, more and more schools will take advantage of their services. I would suggest, however, that there are still more important avenues available for propagating this. I am looking forward to the day, for instance, when radio and T.V. announcers will include as part of their normal Iangauge, Polynesian phrases. It would be good to be greeted on a cold wet morning by, ‘Kia Ora!’ or ‘Tēnā Koutou!’ or ‘Talofa Lava!’ or ‘Kia orana koutou katoatoa!’, instead of ‘Good morning’ when one is still tugging away at blankets to keep warm. If you, Sir, during the remaining months you have with us as Governor-General can convince someone of the beauty of the Maori and Polynesian languages and incorporate them in radio and T.V.—not as an extra, but as part and parcel of the daily routine, I am sure we all will be most grateful. But there is a proviso to this plea. It is simply this: please ask them to pronounce the words correctly.

May I, as chairman of the New Zealand Polynesian Festival, now extend our warmest gratitude to the Government, and the Maori Purposes Fund Board, for supplying us with the bulk of our financial needs. There were also some business firms and Maori Trust Boards which assisted. Provided we can depend on these sources, plus a marked increase from the business world, for funds, and provided further that the Maori and the Polynesian people support us, we intend to make this an annual Festival.

At a wedding banquet, the supply of wine proved inadequate. Because of a miracle, a further supply of a more superb quality was obtained. The master of the house complained that the more palatable wine was served last. Your Excellencies, the more palatable section of the Festival will follow soon.

Before you address us, however, let me add this. I feel that it is most fitting that the first New Zealand Polynesian Festival should be held during your term of office as Governor-General, because you, Sir, are the first son of the land to hold such an exalted office, and as a New Zealander, you have carried out your onerous task with great dignity. You and Lady Porritt will leave our shores before the end of this year, with our

love and affection and I express the hope that you will both return one day to enjoy the friendships you have made here.

Kia hora te marino;
Kia whakapapa pounamu te moana;
Kia tere te karohirohi i mua i to korua huarahi.
May peace be widespread;
May the sea glisten like the greenstone,
And may the shimmer of light guide you on your way.

To which I may add the words of the Psalmist, ‘The Lord preserve your coming in, and your going out, from this time forth, and forever more.’

Your Excellencies, I am greatly honoured and pleased, on behalf of this Festival, to present you with these gifts of our aroha.

E iti noa ana, nā te aroha.
Though small, ‘tis all that love can give.
Tēnā korua! Tēnā tātou katoa! Talofa lava.
Kia orana koutou katoatoa.

Replying to Rev. Ihaka's speech, His Excellency said,

‘Tena koutou, aku hoa.

‘This is surely a great day for New Zealand! Only once before have representatives of all the Maori tribes been gathered together

on one marae for a common purpose—and that was on the famous occasion of the Maori welcome to Her Majesty The Queen at Gisborne during the Captain Cook Bicentennial Celebrations two years ago. Today we add to representatives of all the Maori tribes (17 teams from eight Maori Council Districts)—some hundred or more of our friends from the Pacific Islands— from Samoa, the Tokelaus, Niue and the Cook Islands. Indeed it is a noble and historic gathering!

‘Remembering, as we should do on such an important occasion, our worthy and revered ancestors and forbears—it is not

difficult to picture their amazement had they seen such a magnificent korerorero as this.

‘So, my friends, let us realise and appreciate straight away that, despite all present differences and difficulties, we have come a long way in a relatively very short time in history towards achieving that ideal we all in our heart of hearts hold so dear—in your language kotahitanga—in ours living peace-peacefully together in mutual trust and understanding. The aims and objectives of this Festival—the encouragement and promotion of Polynesian culture—have already proved to be a very important factor in producing this much-to-be-desired result and I have no doubt the doughty deeds of this weekend will greatly enhance that influence.

‘The word ‘culture’ is often misused and certainly overused—but here it simply stands for those simple and delightful activities of singing and dancing, playing and talking, weaving and carving—the intrinsic values of which are just that amount greater as our world becomes more mercenary, mechanical and over-mobile. In this sense, I am sure few would deny the increasingly important part Maori and Polynesian cultural activities have played in recent years in our national life—a part all the more vital at a time when minority factions are not being particularly helpful in assisting the natural —and inevitable—merging of the two great streams of Polynesian and European thought and tradition into one great river

of racially unified New Zealanders.

‘And as a New Zealander I sincerely trust and fervently believe that in this respect New Zealand may yet in due course give an example to the world—as it has already done in an extraordinary number and variety of aspects of life considering its small size and even smaller population. I note, with warm delight, a very simple evidence of this here today, where most of the Maori groups contain Pakeha members —Pakeha who have earned their places not only by their ability and skill in the arts portrayed, but by their spontaneous enthusiasm for and love of what is being done. So does a modern New Zealand weld together its ancient traditions—from all sources.

‘As the years have gone by, I think I am becoming a little allergic to the word ‘Pakeha’—as this in Maori originally meant ‘stranger’—and this is something I have

never felt on the many maraes and at the many Maori gatherings my wife and I have been privileged to attend. After all, there should be no strangers in the world—only friends we have not met! I came across a few words the other day which seem relevant to this concept. They read—

I sought my soul;
my soul I could not see
I sought my God;
my God eluded me
I sought my brother,
and found all three.

‘This discovery of our brothers should not be all that difficult. After the Captain Cook Bicentenary Celebrations I used to say to school children, “I would advise you, as soon as you can and as much as you can, to go out and do exactly what Captain Cook did—discover New Zealand!” It is high time we went out and discovered New Zealanders! We all live in a country much blessed by nature—a country of incomparable scenery, of equable climate, well-stocked with food and with facilities for leisure and recreation unequalled in the world; a country with enormous developmental potential, an age-old legal system, a first-class health service, great social amenities and a highly comprehensive educational system. It is this last—our educational facilities, which if fully used and appreciated could supply the answer to most of today's problems. The opportunities are all there, but they need acceptance and this applies particularly to you—my Maori friends. You know, as I know, that with a full and proper education there is nothing you cannot achieve. Go to it!

‘But let me revert to this Festival—a Festival of joy and happiness, of sunshine and of pleasure. And there is one matter. (I nearly said ‘little matter’ but that would be utterly wrong.) to which I must refer. The Festival is the brain-child of Reverend Kingi Ihaka—it is he who nursed it from the inception of the idea—it is he with his bubbling enthusiasm, his flair for organisation and his slave-driving tactics, who has been, admittedly with many good friends, advisers, and helpers, responsible for the complex administration that has brought us all together today. We would all wish to thank him most gratefully and to congratulate him. “He amorangi ki mua”—it is good to have a priest in front! I know his greatest reward would be for the success of this Festival to justify it becoming an annual event—spreading its beneficent influence more and more over this our country. So let there be “Aroha, mai, aroha atu”—love coming towards us, love going out from us.

‘I can assure you all, there are few things I have done in this country which have given me greater pleasure, greater pride or a greater sense of privilege than officially to declare open this First National Polynesian Festival. Kia toa, kia kaha, kia ora.’