Newspaper Article – Maori histories of HB in the pipeline

Maori histories of HB in the pipeline

By MARION MORRIS

In a region rich in Maori history, it is to be expected that the recording of the past will be attractive to many.

Many histories of Hawke’s Bay Maori have been written and many more will be, but at least two histories are now nearing completion.

Mr Pita Naera, an attendant at the Hastings District Court, plans to publish his book “Nga Whanau Ra” (those people before) next year to coincide with a reunion of his family.

As the great-great-grandson of Te Whatahouro Jury, a scribe for many of the Maori leaders of the Kahungunu and Rangitane tribes, Mr Naera has written his book “to validate what the old people say”.

“As a youngster I was unhappy with the two different stories I was hearing – the published histories were not the same as what I was being told by my kaumatua.

“The advent of the European resulted in histories being written, but of course only what was deemed suitable at the time was published. My book seeks to corroborate the unwritten history – the history, handed down in waiata (song).

Mr Naera’s book, written essentially as a family history will encompass some of the history of the five tribes from which he is descended – the Ngati Porou, Tu Wharetoa, Ngai Tahu, Rangitane and the Ngati Kahukurawhitia.

He says his book may be considered controversial.

“Hawke’s Bay is generally regarded as Kahungunu, which is right, but not completely right.”

He claims it will be the first reference Maori scholars will have access to since that written by Te Whatahouro Jury which is in the Turnbull Library, Wellington.

It will also be Mr Naera’s first history. In 1985 Brookfield Press, Auckland published his anthology of verse Poems for Our Time.

Mr Naera was educated at St Stephen’s school, Auckland, and began studying law at Otago University. He graduated from Auckland University.

He went into business in horticulture and security and “came unstuck”.

To get back to Hawke’s Bay he accepted a position with Lion Breweries and then worked with the YMCA. He said his programme with them was the forerunner to the Access schemes.

In 1969 he became the historian for his whanau and for eight or nine years studied the material he was given.

At the insistence of the older people of his family, he began his history which is now almost ready for publication.

Mr Patrick Parsons, a teacher of English at Hastings Boys’ High School, may or may not see his history of the Hawke’s Bay sub-tribes of Ngato Hinepare and Ngati Mahu published.

He is regarded as the official historian of the Moteo and Wharerangi marae and he says it will be up to the marae committees whether his writings are published.

Initially Patrick, who says his motive to write of the early Maori history of Hawke’s Bay is one of fear that unless he does not do it it may not get done, began his investigations for himself.

He met many elders and they then asked him to be their official historian.

Mr Parsons has been working on his history, which because of the interlinking of fortune of both the Ngati Hinepare and Ngati Mahu is quite a full history of the province, for many years.

He said in 1978 it took direction.

It is not only writings which make up Mr Parsons’ history. Old photos, pictures and legends are being preserved.

“Things which are only just hanging on by a thread,” he said.

Now with the main research and writing completed, Mr Parsons intends to go through the entire thing again. “I want it to be readable, especially to Maori people,” he said.

Mr Rangi Logan, as a tribal spokesman who intends to write of Kahungunu says he is only at the planning stage.

It’s his intention to trace the inter-tribal connections since the main migration of the Maori to New Zealand.

Photo captions –
Mr Naera… carrying on where his great-great-great-grandfather left off.
Mr Parsons… elders will decide whether to publish.