The Challenge of 1972

‘At our 1972 conference, the 21st birthday of the League, the then Minister of Maori Affairs, the Hon. Duncan MacIntyre, issued this challenge:—

“Let your conference next year be one where you report on what you are doing, a conference where all the work in the past years is analysed, where your priorities are sorted out and a true plan of action is prepared to guide you in the next decade.”

‘This is 1974! When do we accept this challenge?

The Work in Past Years is Analysed

‘In reply, let me begin at the beginning. In the 40s, Maori women joined Health Leagues under the auspices of the Department of Health. Their chief concern was the health of babies and mothers. Then, when tribal committees were set up under the 1945 Social and Economic Act, by the very nature of tribal organisation, women were excluded. The work undertaken had no bearing on the needs of the “mother, the child and the home”. The early recognition of this situation resulted in the formation of Maori women's committees—Maori women then entered welfare work—and, in 1951 formed their national organisation, the only one in existence, the Maori Women's Welfare League.

‘The first Patroness was a Maori lady of great stature, Te Puea Herangi of Waikato. Under the inspired leadership of Whina Cooper, the devoted support and guidance of Rangi Royal and his welfare staff of the Department of Maori Affairs—the name of Rumatiki Wright particularly comes to mind—the League began its work. The names of successive presidents we recall are Miria Logan, Maata Hirini, Ruiha Sage, Miria Karauria and Hine Potaka. With a clear vision of their needs and problems, and with dedication and determination, this body of women moved out in force, leaving no stone unturned in seeking solutions to our post-war problems. No task was too big or too small—they raised money to educate and clothe children in need, undertook housing surveys, demanded more and better houses, built roads, revived Maori arts and crafts, visited hospitals and prisons, and carried out a general programme of fundamental education. Above all, they challenged government policies in every area of social need and justice.

‘All through this first decade, the women were fully supported by their men. The leading men of Maoridom were our advisers, and they came to conferences such as this, unfailingly—Sir Turi Carroll, Mick Jones, the Rev. Ngapaka Kukutai and many other loyal supporters. They knew that what was happening was unique and good, and so they came.

‘In summing up the effectiveness of the League during its first decade of existence, no words of mine can better those expressed by the then Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Corbett, when he stated: “The greatest social

advancement of the years was due to the efforts of Maori women themselves, under the Welfare League's inspiration.” This constituted for our organisation the very essence of achievement. (I will never cease to quote this until it finds its way into the annals of our history and social development!!!)

‘The second decade saw the independence of our organisation, the formation of the New Zealand Maori Council—the development of a dichotomy in Maori leadership and thinking, and the consequent effects of such division on issues of public concern. The activities were based largely on differences of functions and interests. Our women began to leave such things as land laws, housing and general politics to men, implicitly recognising their traditional roles in these fields and their pre-emptive status.

‘Because of this act of accommodation, the League assumed a secondary leadership role and somehow lost its momentum. The conference platform and democratic procedures remained our metier, submission and the modern mass media, that of the men.

‘Also during this period, the birth of the Maori Education Foundation took away League educational involvement, removing our close relationship with some of our secondary schools.

‘However, it introduced for us what can be considered our most outstanding contribution in the 60s—the development of the play centre movement in the League, and its extension by our women into Australia amongst the Aborigines. With such obvious ability it would appear to me a shocking indictment that to date, few, if any of these women have been used in a paid government system for pre-school services as pre-school advisers, so urgently needed.

‘Thus ends the first chapter of League history and endeavour over 20 years, and the beginnings of a new era.

The Third Decade—a New Era

‘Today we face the challenge of the Seventies.

‘We have come full circle round. For all that we did in the past, it seems the circle was but a vicious one. We have come through a second migration—te heke tuarua—from the villages to the towns—a refugee population 70% strong!

‘We now have youth alienation in large

above: In the morning mist, tangata whenua powhiri the visitors. below: Tumokai Katipa, husband of the late Princess Te Puea, is one of the welcoming speakers.

measure. What are we going to do about them? They demand an active response—now not tomorrow. They demand a personal response—a group response—a community response. We must review first, our own attitudes—mine, yours, each one of us—and only then, that of the group and of the community in which each of us is working. If we don't, if we do not respond to them, then the future of the League will be that of a beautiful myth—kua pakiwaitaratia!!!

What Are We Doing Today
and What Are Our Priorities?

‘This review, together with a preliminary sorting out of priorities in the two reports from the executive and the president, which I also prepared for this conference, as well as the financial submissions forwarded to the Minister of Maori Affairs last year, are but an attempt at guidelines. You, the Dominion Council, must ever be the director.

‘These priorities were also requested and presented to the Minister last year, and may I venture to say that our Auckland Regional Council top priority—youth needs and trade training—is included in the Maori Affairs Bill placed before Parliament this month by the Minister, as one of the functions of his department.

A Plan of Action

1)	‘Pinpointing problems is not enough; we need a plan of action. A serious and continuing assessment of our situation is needed. Because the problems have become too complex, we need the help of Government and universities, for research and analysis of necessary and accurate data. (We need too, members with hindsight, foresight, leaders in training, research, policy-making and action—plenty of action.)
2)	‘Decide on our priortites—choose a project and act on it. As well as providing palliatives and curing symptoms (Alas! the causes!!), we must take action to encourage change in our own communities as well as continuously challenge the structures which perpetuate the present inequalities — in employment, education, social welfare, police recruitment and judicial systems, as we have done so well in the past.
3)	‘We need an educational programme for awareness-building within ourselves—those positive feelings which pass on to our children (osmosis)—our search for an identity or self-respect needs a firm foundation. It must begin with the affirmation of self, of one's Maoriness—“To thine own self be true”—Kia whakaae te hinengaro, Ae, he Maori, he pai. To those active and loyal members of the old brigade, I challenge you to forget your “weariness of spirit”—we need you. We need you to show us and teach us this very quality. We need you to teach us the waiata, the patere, the oriori, the karanga — the role of the women on the marae. Our conference is in the heart of Waikato, where their kaumatua and kuia meet regularly to learn and to practise these very things I am asking for. Our needs for you do not stop there. We need you to teach us the pride of making a kete pingao, a kete whakairo, a whariki whakairo, of conserving and cultivating our flax, our kiekie, our pingao. If you don't know, get together, learn, practise, and teach us. Ma te Pakeha ranei matou hei whakaako? Our Maoriness—parents of today must cease to devalue that which is beyond them to change—this done, then build upon it—and finally influence the outer community to ensure social justice.

4)	‘Work or service for the family and the community—a belief and a commitment based upon aroha.
5)	‘The League must become once again, a movement for change, if we are going to remain alive or dynamic. Youth is suffering most, yet our hope is in youth—the new generation. Let's work with them and for them! Such service of love, and the highest charity of all.
6)	‘The exact details of a true plan of action

• must be worked out by you during our open forum session—my suggestions have been made known to you through our reports.

Conclusion

‘Members, I have said some very hard things indeed, but in saying them, my heart aches also, because I am ever mindful of your sacrifices over these many long years, and your loyalty to the spirit of this organisation. There are some facts about the voluntary service given by so many League individuals which are unknown to our critics (especially those who came down in the last rain). The reality of this situation needs to be placed in its proper perspective.

‘While we guard our independence jealously, we can no longer serve as we have done in the past. We are no longer able to sustain true preventive work, with most of us needing to work in order to live in dignity. A partnership with all Maori organisations and the Maori and Island Affairs Department is needed—but with more financial assistance.

‘This organisation has saved past governments thousands of dollars by its service—selflessly given. On the basis of one youth saved from prison alone. $6,000 or

more is saved. Therefore I make no apologies for asking for this help. Much help is given to other groups of newer vintage—we ask for this help as of right!

‘Much of what happens to our organisation, and to some extent, to the future of our people, will depend on your deliberations and decisions during this conference. Therefore, I here and now charge you with a grave responsibility.

‘KIA ATAWHAI!
KIA MANAAKI!
KIA AROHA!
RAPUA TE MEA NGARO!’

A feature of the conference was a song especially composed by the Rev. Dave Manihera, and sung to the tune ‘Amazing Grace.’

Kia Mau, Kia Ngawari

E te Atua titiro mai
Aroha Iho ra

Tenei matou te mahi nei
Kia mau kia ngawari

Nga mana tapu o te wa
Te whanau Ariki
Kia whi ra kia oho noa
Kia mau kia ngawari

Nga Ropu Toko i Te Ora
Nga mate o te ra
Mauria mai kia tangihia
Kia mau kia ngawari

A ma te marie a te Atua
Tatou e tiaki
Kei hoki ki nga mahi he
Kia mau kia ngawari