Fascinating History Of Maori Farming Family

Click to enlarge

News Release
For immediate release
May 14, 2007

Fascinating History Of Maori Farming Family Will Appeal To All

Reading the recently published He Whanau No Maraehara – the story of Apirana Ngata's older brother Hone, his life, the farm he broke in and lives of his descendants - gives a snapshot of one family but it echoes the times and will resonate with all New Zealanders.

It is a story about a particular farm in a particular valley but many people will feel the characters are familiar.

It covers land conquest, pioneering farming, two World Wars and challenges of land ownership and succession.

Central to the story is Maraehara valley (north of Tikitiki, East Coast) contested in the Maori land court by Paratene Ngata (father of Hone and Apirana) at the end of the nineteenth century.

While Apirana Ngata is a well-respected figure in New Zealand history he came from a place with strong support that some say was crucial to his achievements. On his brother Hone's tombstone there is the epitaph ia Ta Apirana nga mahi a hinengaro, ia Hone nga mahi a ringaringa – Apirana is the leader, Hone and his cousins are his backbone.

The book is a collection of writings largely by Hone Ngata's great grandson, the late Waho Tibble, a respected Ngati Porou spokesman and whakapapa exponent. Stories have been collected of rural life for this rural Maori family from the times of World War 1 and before through to the present day.

A unique feature is that stories told in English are written in English. Those related in Maori are written in Maori. Approximately half the script is in English.

But it is the pictures that first draw you in. Then you are drawn to read snippets of tales and quite quickly you feel like you are coming to know some of the people.

There is a stunning old photograph of a haka at Porourangi (marae next to Apirana's homestead at Waiomatatini, Ruatoria, East Coast) during a fundraising for WW1 veteran soldiers in 1917. Quite apart from the historical interest that it features Apirana Ngata and his brother Hone, the picture has an intensity with the knowledge that the war is still going on and the lives of these people in remote rural New Zealand are being deeply affected by it.

Another feature of that picture is the physiques of the men, toughened by days spent fencing, splitting posts and battens, clearing native bush and working packhorses. That speaks volumes of the times.

For whanau there is also a lot of whakapapa information that will make this book a treasured possession.

For anyone of Ngati Porou, He Whanau No Maraehara is a close encounter with the recent past. The second half of book gives a broader history of Ngati Porou with histories of ancestors such as Karuwai, Major Ropata Wahawaha NZC and Paratene Ngata.

Waho passes on the views of his elders with respect to terms such as "Ngati Porou tuturu", the origin of the name 'Ngata' and a defence against the offensive description of Ngati Porou loyalists as being 'kupapa' (i.e. people who stoop, cower or remain neutral). As Waho puts it Ngati Porou "never stoop or remain quiet and neutral".

Ngati Porou Runanga Chairman Api Mahuika says He Whanau No Maraehara is a very, very important base document and is the first one of its kind from Ngati Porou.

He says from the perspective of this family the story joins the family together.

"You see this story has no ending. Others need to keep adding to it, and then each new generation becomes part of that history. As Maori we need to be telling our stories like this."

He says he encourages other Maori to read the book as it might encourage them to write their own stories.

"There are many books about Maori or this tribe or that. What is different here is these are real stories about real people in a small community. This is about individuals talking about themselves to the wider community."

"As I read the book I could relate to the way this family lived as it was the way my parents lived as well. That sort of communal togetherness. They talk about the 'big house' and meal times at seven o'clock; that real disciplinarian way of life as it was for me growing up."

"Therefore a lot of others will relate to the stories and the pictures as well. It is an interesting read."

For non-Maori this is a story that will give another view – of Maori farmers having to be away from homes and family for long periods while they worked for pakeha farmers to bring in extra money.

Copies are available for purchase through orders@wahopublishing.co.nz for $35 plus $5 postage and handling.

ENDS

© Scoop Media