Books, Books and More Books

I’ve been collecting old books on matters Maori again. The first is A Dictionary of Maori Place Names by A.W.Reed and illustrated by James Berry. Published in 1961, it lists New Zealand place names and gives a concise meaning. Little ink sketches are a quirky addition. Tangata Whenua – The World of Maori is by D.M Stafford and was published by Reed in 1996. I guess in that regard it doesn’t really qualify as ‘old’ but it’s filled with good illustrations and some interesting facts. Last but least is a small boxed collection of leaflets on The Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand’s founding document. Over 500 Maori chiefs and representatives of the British Crown signed the Treaty in 1840. The leaflets the story of the Treaty, it’s journey and timeline – an excellent backgrounder to a document that still colours the political and cultural climate of this country. www.treatyofwaitangi.govt.nz

Maori Place Names - 47

Whitianga Marae

East Cape, North Island

May 2009. Ajr

One Waka, One Lake

A Rare Sight

One Waka

(canoe)

Crossing the lake

Clearwater Estate, Christchurch

Traditional Designs - 15

Bags For Sale

At Kaiapoi Christmas Parade Day

December 2009. Ajr

Maori Proverbs - 3

Maori Proverbs - He Whakatauaki

He kotuku rerenga tahi

The white heron is a bird of one flight

(A rare visitor)

From The Reed Pocket Dictionary of Modern Maori by P.M. Ryan

A Note Regarding Photographs

To the people downloading my images - you know who you are (and I know who you are too because I track downloading on this site), please stop. As it clearly states on this blog, all text and images are copyrighted, either to myself, or to those who have generously donated me the use of their images (which are duly credited), and you do not have permission to download them. I'm flattered that you think they are nice enough to keep, but note that you are in breach of copyright laws. - Adrienne Rewi.

A Museum Piece

The Maori adze, or toki, was a woodworking tool, usually made of a hard stone fastened to a wooden handle. The most prized were made of pounamu (greenstone). This early example is one I photographed at Auckland Museum. It was found near Hamilton and is made from greywacke stone. Regional construction styles were common. www.aucklandmuseum.com

From the Kete Files

Woven Kete

(Basket)

Hui-a-Tau, Colac Bay, Southland

November 2009 Ajr

Maori Place Names - 46

Ohinemutu, Rotorua

May 2009. Ajr

Meet the People - 27

Another in the Series Meet the People - Contemporary Maori Doing Ordinary and Extraordinary Things - Rob Martin (Ngai Tahu, Ngati Mahaki) never turns away from a challenge. There’s nothing he likes better than testing his own limits and if that comes with a competitive edge, so much the better. Rob, 43, who lost his lower right leg after a motorcycle accident in 1985, is fresh from his third New York marathon, raced on a hand cycle in November last year.
“I’m very competitive and getting 5th this year was just the best feeling ever. I was second in the 2008 marathon but I finished in a better time this year so I was happy. Being part of the New York marathon is amazing. There are over two million spectators and they all go mad. It’s a real party atmosphere for the whole 42 kilometres. That’s a real buzz,” says Rob. Rob is no stranger to success. In 2007 he raced in two demonstration stages of the famous Tour de France; he is the only hand cyclist to have ever completed Le Race between Christchurch and Akaroa; and he is both the 2009 Canterbury and National Hand Cycling Road Race and Time Trial Champion. He also played in the first New Zealand wheelchair basketball team in Australia in the late eighties; but when someone lent him a hand cycle he was hooked.

Rob immediately decided to ride the handcycle from Hokitika to Christchurch with his mother, Win Martin, as support crew.
“That took me 15.5 hours over two and a half days and I was the first person to cross the new Otira Viaduct. Afterwards Mum checked with the Guinness Book of Records and they awarded me the Guinness Record for the longest journey (247km) by a hand-cranked cycle. That record no longer stands but it was pretty special getting it back in 1999,” Rob says. Among Rob’s many achievements since, is his participation in the Gold Coast Half-Marathon on elbow crutches in 2000; his crossing of Cook Strait in a kayak with former Olympian Ian Ferguson in 2002; his first New York marathon on a hand cycle in 2001; and his sixth placing in the European Hand Cycle Circuit in 2007. Now he has his eye on the big prize – participation in the 2012 Paralympics in London and he’s prepared to continue his punishing weekly training schedule of boxing workouts and training rides with able-bodied road cyclists to make sure he’s fit and ready.

Property Progress

I'm enjoying keeping an eye on progress as the new Christchurch Civic Centre develops. The revamp of the old Post Office in Hereford Street is a $113-million joint venture project between Ngai Tahu Property and the Christchurch City Council - each contributing $56.5 million to the massive makeover. The below image shows work on tyhe striking main entrance on Worcester Street (opposite Christchurch Art Gallery); the top image is a side view from Cambridge Terrace. The development is so far on-time and on-budget and when it is completed in July-August, it will become home to over 1,000 council staff. It is the first public-private partnership of its kind in New Zealand. www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz

A Place Called Home

A picture-perfect day at Koukourarata on Banks Peninsular.

This pretty jetty juts out into the bay just in front of the marae.

You can read much more about this gorgeous, somewhat isolated location by clicking on Koukourarata in the label line below this post. www.nagitahu.iwi.nz

Way Down South

A pretty morning scene at Colac Bay, southwest of Invercargill in the deep south. I took this photograph of a couple of little Maori boys riding their bikes on the beach just in front of Takutai o te Titi Marae, when we were all down there for the Ngai Tahu Hui-a-Tau in November last year. www.ngaitahu.iwi.nz

Maori Place Names - 45

Kia Ora Street

Aranui, Christchurch

South Island

December 2009. Ajr

Maori Crafts on Sale

I always enjoy wandering around markets - wherever I go - and here in Christchurch there's a market in Cathedral Square several days a week - at least Friday, Saturday and Sunday. This stall selling Maori crafts is always there and I like to watch visiting tourists react to traditional designs. In all honesty, I'm not sure if these particular articles are made by maori, in new Zealand or not. I must remember to ask next time I'm passing by. The top photograph shows a traditional hei matau, or fish hook, which is now popularly used as a pendant.

Church on a Hill

I turned into Wairahoraho Road on Karikari Peninsular in the Far North to see if I could get to this gorgeous little Maori church that sat high on a hill overlooking the peninsular. Unfortunately, the way up to the church was a heavily rutted clay track that would have ruined my car, so I had to content myself with this long view with a telephoto lens. I adore Northland's red-roofed Maori churches and I photographed dozens of them on last year's trip. Well-known New Zealand photographer, Laurence Aberhart made a comprehensive photographic study of them - usually in black and white - and many of his images are in major New Zealand art collections. When I lived in Wanganui many years ago (back in the mid-eighties), Laurence Aberhart was the artist-in-residence at Sarjeant Gallery's Tylee Cottage and he was often seen wandering about the town, wheeling his photographic gear in a wheelbarrow.

A Muriwhenua Marae

I was on my way to Karikari Peninsular in the Far North of the North Island when I veered off State Highway One and went down a side road, taking my lead from a sign that pointed the way to Parapara Marae. Like so many of these random diversions that I took on my North island trip, it turned out to be much further than I expected.

I followed the road down into a pretty, quiet valley, passing an occasional farmer, until I came to a sign pointing into Parapara Road. Not far down that gravel road, I found Parapara Marae – an unassuming cluster of little buildings with a large green lawn in front. The place was deserted. Cicadas chirped, kingfishers swooped across the lawn and not a single curtain rustled in the old houses nearby.

I loved the old church, the bell and the weathered corrugated iron structures. A lush pa harakeke and wharenui (meeting house) sat to one side. The wharenui – Te Manawa of Ngati Tara – indicating that the marae is home to the Ngati Kahu hapu, Ngati Tara, one of the northern Muriwhenua tribes. Muriwhenua means ‘this end of the land’ and is the collective name given to 6 northern tribes: Ngati Kuri, Ngai Takoto, Te Patu, Ngati Kahu, Te Aupouri and Te Rarawa. www.ngatikahu.iwi.nz

Among the Mangroves

In April-May 2009 I spent about a week working in the Far North. I made sure I programmed in enough time to go exploring – veering down side roads whenever the urge took me, delighting in unexpected finds. It was just 8am on April 30th when I pulled off State Highway One into the tiny enclave that is Kahukuraariki Marae, the Hato Hohepa Catholic School, a handful of houses and a few residential flats that I think may have been retirement homes. There was no one about – just a few cows bellowing in a nearby field.

The whole community – part of the Ngati Kahu iwi (I think!) - is just across the road from a huge mangrove swamp at the southern end of Whangaroa Harbour, with two small hills directly behind the marae. One had the look of an old terraced pa site. The simple marae building sat to one side of a pretty memorial and I sat awhile waiting to see if my arrival would stir any of the local residents. No one came out so after taking a few photographs, I moved on. It was the same throughout my two month-trip – I was always on the road so early (because of the distances I had to travel), that I often missed those special little interactions with local people. I guess that’s all the excuse I need to make a return visit this year. www.ngatikahu.iwi.nz

Traditional Designs - 14

I love these decorated ceramic tiles by multi-talented, Christchurch-based Maori artist, Riki Manuel, who is perhaps best known as a carver and Ta Moko artist. You'll find Riki's paintings, carvings, tiles and Moko studio at his gallery, Te Toi Mana Maori Art Gallery, in the Christchurch Arts Centre complex.

For Next Christmas.

Spied these very cute Maori-themed Christmas decorations when I was out walking last weekend. Created by Moth of New Zealand.

www.scarves.co.nz

Maori Proverbs - 2

He Whakatauaki - Maori Proverbs

He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka.

A choppy sea can be navigated.

(Persevere)
From The Reed Pocket Dictionary of Modern Maori.

Down at the Jetty

Man Fishing

At the end of Rapaki Jetty

Discarded Mussel Shells

Signs Of

A Previous Feast

Marae Progress

The weather was picture-perfect on Tuesday when I decided to drive over the Port Hills to visit the little Maori community of Rapaki, which nestles into a bay in Lyttelton Harbour between Lyttelton township and Governor's Bay. That's it pictured above.

For some time now, the Maori community here have been building a new wharenui (meeting house) at the marae, which sits in the heart of the tiny village. I've featured the early stages of the building here before and thought I'd just slip across the hills to see how things are coming along. There was a gathering at the marae when I drove by, so I didn't stop. I just snapped this one image of the new building as I drove by. You can't see a lot but with the new tiled courtyard laid and the building itself roofed and fully closed in, it's fair to say they're much closer to completion that I expected. The craftsmen and women are now working on carvings and taniko panels for the interior of the wharenui.

I drove down the hill to the water's edge to see what was happening at the jetty - a beautiful little construction that is a feature of the community. The last time I went across to Rapaki, I chatted with a Maori woman who was drying tuna (eels) in the traditional manner, hanging them off the side of the jetty on nails.

This time, there was a man fishing off the end of the jetty and a few Maori kids checking out his catch. The caretaker was mowing lawns at the nearby Maori church and people were visitng the urupa (cemetery) on the hill above to pay their respects to late whanau (family) and friends. All up it's a gorgeous spot and I look forward to seeing the marae when it is completed sometime this year.

Feathered Beauty

One Small Feathered Cloak

Kakahu / Korowai

On Display

In a Wellington Hotel

Maori Place Names - 44

Maori Point Road, Wanaka

Central Otago, South Island

May 2009 Ajr

A Cafe Stop

Kai Whaka Pai Cafe in Wanaka is an old favourite.

It's been there for years and although it has recently slipped into bar mode in the evenings, it's still a popular coffee stop on the main street of Wanaka at any time of year. I love the little kete (baskets) they use on the tables, to contain sugar sachets.

Poi Pupil

I spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for what I consider to be an interesting photograph.

Sometimes - often - I find that photograph in the detail of things rather than in 'the main event.'
That was certainly the case here - last year on Waitangi Day, at a kapa haka performance at Christchurch Art Gallery. I did in fact, get some terrific shots of the group performing but I loved these shots of the little girl best of all. Like so many Maori cultural groups, they encourage the young ones from a very early age and the adult performers never seem put off or distracted by the inattentions of the young. I loved the way she just kept doing her own thing, fiddling with one of the women's piupiu (skirts).

More Collectible Maori Books

I added to my collection of old Maori books again a few days ago. There’s nothing I like better than poking about in second-hand bookstores, leafing through old pages, noting the gathered histories of old pen marks, owners’ names and a note or two. I was very pleased with my latest three. Top of the list is a thin little book – a leaflet almost – called The Birds of Maoriland, by A.W. Reed, illustrated by P.Newman and published by A.H & A.W Reed, NZ – no date but it looks to be about 1940s and is part of the Raupo Series of School Readers. It features little tales about various birds – “the tales Maori tell of the birds of the forest and lake and coast.” Much older is “Our Maoris,” by Lady Martin, a facsimile edition (Wilson & Horton), “Published under the direction of the Committee of General Literature and Education, Appointed by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. 1884. It’s a frail copy with foxed-brown pages. I’m intrigued by Lady Martin’s ‘first encounter with Maoris’ in 1842 but I’m almost too afraid to read it for fear of damaging the copy. A much more sturdy volume is “The Maori People in the Nineteen-Sixties,” a symposium edited by Erik Schwimmer and first published in 1968 by Longman Paul, NZ. It has some fabulous photographs from the sixties including a good number of now-leading Maori artists in their youth – people like Ralph Hotere, Fred Graham, Para Matchitt, Cliff Whiting, Arnold Wilson and Selwyn Muru. Lovely to see.

Entry Points

When I was travelling in the North Island in April-May 2009, I stopped at Ngaruawahia to see what I could, of Turangawaewae Marae. As the seat of the Maori King Movement (Te Kingitanga), it is perhaps the most important marae in all of New Zealand and while there is no general access, there is still plenty to see from the street. I spent a good while, wandering around the outside, completely in awe of the many stunning doorways and gates that give entry at various points around this huge complex. Both carved and painted, they punctuate the traditional fence/barricade that is adorned with many smaller carvings. You can read more about this fascinating marae and see more photographs by clicking on Turangawaewae Marae in the label line below this post.

Maori Proverbs - 1

The Waikato River at Ngaruawahia. April 2009 Ajr.

He Whakatauaki = Proverbs

"Waikato taniwha rau, he piko he taniwha, he piko he taniwha.

Waikato of a hundred monsters, at every bend a monster.

(There are many tales of mysterious beings in the Waikato River, but here 'monsters' refers to independent chiefs)."

From The Reed Pocket Dictionary of Modern Maori. P.M.Ryan

To Market, To Market

Maori Carvings

Cathedral Square Market

Christchurch

Dec.2009. Ajr

Maori Place Names - 43

Waiwhatawhata Stream

Hokainga, The Far North

April 2009 Ajr