My Future as a Maori
New Zealander

I am very proud that I am growing up in this world as a young Maori New Zealander. My ancestors of the Ngapuhi tribe came to this land in the canoe Mamari. I am very proud of my race and have been taught to love my people. Yes, I have learned to love them. I have warmth and affection for family relationships among my people. I have shared hospitality among them and generosity too.

They have respect for and take care of older Maori people. I love the customs we have. When a member of the family dies a tangi is

held so that people can show their respect.

I love the culture that we have. I am able to participate in the action songs and hakas and help at school with Maori singing. Maori music and culture is admired in many countries and concert parties going abroad are warmly welcomed by other nations. Some of the waiatas are very old Maori songs but they have a meaning in the life led by my people. Our ancient costumes are used on special occasions. The meeting house is usually a splendid example of Maori design with rich carving and lovely tukutuku panels.

To go with all the historic facts about my people, I must learn with interest, understanding and love for my European neighbours, all that I need to know of their culture and ways of living. First, I must master the English language in speech, writing, listening, and reading. I must get all the education I can and train myself for skilled work or for a profession. The culture and patterns of thinking used by Europeans must be fully understood by me. Because my speech, dress, and manners will be as good as any European I will be able to participate fully in all activities. My Maori ancestry and all that goes with it should make me a more interesting person because I will have two cultures and they usually have only one.

I do not fear the wider life in the city, either for myself or later, when I am married, for my children. I sincerely believe that among both races in New Zealand there is a growing respect each for the other and that in years to come a definite New Zealand culture will develop, a blending of the best of Maori and European traditions. Perhaps in my old age I shall see this. In the meantime let every young New Zealander set out to learn all he can about our common heritage.

When we look around us today, what do we see? A land rich in beauty, fertile, busy and growing. My Maori people have increased from the small number of 44,000 sixty years ago to almost 200,000 today. Of these about half are children who, in the next few years, will reach adulthood and themselves raise families. So the Maori race might well be half a million by the turn of the century. Now we can see the importance of both Maori and Pakeha getting to know each others culture and blending it into something new and vital for New Zealand. Probably the Maori has the harder part but with his splendid traditions he will meet the challenge.

By the year 2,000, it may happen that a Maori will have been Prime Minister or Governor General of New Zealand, and that we shall see Maori names much more frequently in our directories of professional people. In the country some of our best farmers will be Maoris and they will also be found among our most able and respected citizens.

More Maoris will go to University, and Maori pupils will stay longer at school.

By then communication between the two races should be so good that understanding will be perfect and no barriers will be left. At this stage New Zealand could well be the envy of the world with its two races welded into one great people and with a new and exciting culture enriched by both.

This is what I want for my children and my grandchildren—a land where perfect love has cast out fear and where all its citizens enjoy equal opportunities to live a life full of goodness in a land of peace, filled with happy memories of the past and packed with vigorous plans for the future.

Aotearoa—Land of our Fathers, together we will make you great.

Olive Neho, 5A

Respect for Law and Order and for
Private Property

As soon as a number of people come together to form a small community, a town, a city, or a nation, they will make laws which are really rules for the protection and fair treatment of each and every person who lives there.

Although laws differ in different countries there are some very important things that should be the foundation stones upon which good law is built. Some of these things are:

1.	Freedom to move about from one place to another.
2.	Freedom of speech, which means you can express your opinion without fear.
3.	Freedom of the press so that news can come to everyone without censorship.
4.	Freedom from arrest without proper reason, or being kept in prison without a fair trial.
5.	Freedom to work and earn a decent living.
6.	Freedom to vote at the age of twentyone years.
7.	Freedom to worship as you please.
8.	Freedom to secure a suitable education.
9.	Freedom from hunger.
10.	Freedom from fear.

The purpose of the law needs to be understood by everyone. Schools and homes should teach these things so that growing children will begin to understand and value laws which give them more, not less freedom.

In most civilised countries the law protects private property. A man's house and all his belongings are his alone and must not be taken or used without his permission. A person who breaks into a house or steals a car is committing a crime against his own country and himself. So is a business man or other person who cheats. Every country has its laws and these laws are enforced because the people want them to be. To make sure the laws are enforced we have policemen, who are our friends and guardians, and our courts where anyone charged with breaking a law can get a fair trial.

No one likes to be arrested and charged with a crime but while there are lawbreakers it is necessary to have arrests, trials and punishments, either by fines or imprisonments. No person who keeps the law need fear, because no charges will be laid against him. If any citizen has his property stolen or damaged or suffers any injury from the violence of others he should ring for the police who will come at once to his help.

In New Zealand today too many young people break the law. They drive their cars too fast causing death to themselves or others on the roads. They sometimes drink too much. They sometimes use threats or violence instead of calmly thinking out their problems. They have not listened to the good advice of parents, teachers, clergymen and elders. The lawbreaker never feels secure and is therefore never happy. He must live out his days with the fear of being caught always in his heart.

Because of lack of respect for the law many people are in prison in New Zealand today. Far too many of these are young people from eighteen to twenty-five who are wasting the best years of their lives in this way. Unfortunately

too many of these young prisoners are Maoris. A Young Maori, because of habits of sharing among his own people may not have a clear enough idea about private property and in fact many go to prison for stealing of one kind or another, or for taking motor cars belonging to other people. Sometimes because their understanding of the law is not good enough, people resist arrest. This is a very serious matter and always leads to longer terms of imprisonment.

When young Maoris go to gaol their parents, relatives and friends should write to them and visit them. Then they will not feel too much loneliness and despair while they are serving their sentences and will be more easily encouraged to make a fresh start when they are released.

The following part of a poem by P. A. Webster has good advice for the young Maori.

But, my son, listen. Still, be a Maori;
Not a warrior for now it is peace time.
Of the skills that we had, use them wisely.
Know where you go as you sail your canoe;
Hold firmly the paddles, dip strongly.
Be proud of the fleet that you sail with.
Make your eye keen in your hunting.
Use the best flax in your weaving.
Cast your nets wide in your fishing.
Kia toa, my son,
Kia toa, kia kaha. Be a Maori.

Julie Neho, 5A

Ngahuia Gordon, who was in the Upper Sixth Form at Western Heights High School, Rotorua, in 1966, is the author of the next two poems. She plans to study law this year.

Pukeroa

So wild blows the wind—cold
And here I sit against
A tree, emblem of Life
Green, growing
Silent upon this hill
That was the realm, the fortress of Te Makawe
Feared and avoided
That road before me stretches
Far into the cool twilight—
Black tar which melts beneath the hot sun.

Cars—modern, streamlined, vintage how they move
Upon a road that once knew
Only the tread of tough brown feet
And heard the power of the haka
The plaintive wail of the tangi
A call, a challenge, echo
Across our warm marae.

Still, he has come, the white man
—Has come, and has conquered
Wiped from beneath us
That base we knew so wel
So that it should exist no more
But be replaced, our glorious heritage
With muskets, fire and bricks
With industry, with progress With 1966.

(Pukeroa—‘The Long Hill’—a rhyolitic mound was in the past a well-fortified pa of Ngati Whakaue, Rotorua. ‘Te Makawa’ was one of Ngati Whakaue's atuas, or protecting spirits and celestial custodians. His presence was symbolized by a great tree of intense tapu, still carefully fenced off on Pukeroa hill, and treated with wary reverence, although the Rotorua Public Hospital sprawls across his demesne.)

On St Faiths, Ohinemutu

One feels
the closeness
Of the poupou
glaring, garish, grotesque
Eyes blazing
from the walls.

One tastes
an intimacy
secret, intense, sacred
Stir within
the depths
Of one's soul.

One marvels
At the beauty
In red wood
and toe toe
And one
rejoices.
One wonders
O Christ
‘Tis a marvel, a miracle
in pagan art
A heathen shrine
To see Thy glory praised.

One cries
‘Tis indeed
Perfect integration
Peace
tranquility preserved
Beneath these rafters.

And one pleads
O God—
When will
this harmony
be forever
universal?

Life at Sea

With the death of Captain Albert Mokomoko last March the only Maori master-mariner is Te Waari Kahukura Whaitiri, now in command of M.V. Totara. He writes of his career:—

I went to sea as a young boy after leaving the Chatham Islands, and after passing into the second standard at school. I had some difficulty in sitting for my certificates through not having enough education, there being only

primary schools on the islands, but got by after a struggle. Higher education is not necessary, but is an advantage. A boy's eyesight must be good, as he has to pass an eye-test set by the Marine Department.

After working for several shipping companies. I served with the Merchant Navy in the Pacific and the Atlantic during World War II In 1947, I joined the Anchor Shipping Company and since then have been in command of all their ships plus some they have chartered.

My present command is M.V. Totara, length 218 feet, tonnage 855.49 gross, 800 brake horsepower and a speed of 11.5 knots.

I have taken some Maori boys to sea with me in hopes that they may like the life, but most seem to prefer the land. Perhaps reading The Coming of the Maori may have been enough for them! There must, however, be many boys who would enjoy life at sea. I can

recommend it as a satisfying and worthwhile career, especially for a boy who is qualified as an engineer. Such boys are in great demand today. To qualify, a boy would have to serve five years as a motor mechanic, or in an engineering firm, or a foundry.

Maori Music

Sweet Maori music—
Swaying rhythm of the sea,
Mellow voices blending
In natural harmony.

Deep Forest music—
Hidden birds among the leaves,
Calm and strength imparting
Spirit of the Trees.

Music of the Lakes—
Deeply blue, serene;
Flashing paddles lifting,
Canoes among the reeds.

Music for the Battle—
Rousing hakas, ages old
Fierce voices shouting
Defiance to their foes.

Haunting Maori music—
Of my life a part;
To me—forever Home,
This music of the Heart.

—Renée Ottaway

Jenny

Can she be a princess, from some far off foreign land?
Maybe her father's an emperor, and she has kings ask for her hand;
Do you think the mysterious East, is the home of such as she?
Was it a fabulous castle, that housed her family?
She surely is most gracious to give us such a smile.
Do you think that if we begged her, she would stay with us awhile?
Do you perceive that delicate skin, of a strangely dusky hue?
To touch those soft dark curls would thrill the sense of you.
Such beautiful big grey eyes, a Queen indeed, no less!
I take much pride to tell you, in case you cannot guess—
That pretty little child is my half-caste
Maori niece!

—Raewyn Juhàsz