Rarotongan “Good-Will” Tour of NZ

Described as an Embarrassment

From Our Own Correspondent

AUCKLAND, February 3.

RESPONSIBLE Maori leaders are pondering on whose authority a party of Rarotongans was invited to New Zealand. In some ways the visit has been a distinct embarrassment, and the objective planned—a “good-will” tour to give the travellers a favourable impression of New Zealand —can hardly be realised.

As the Labour Government sanctioned the departure of the visitors (the majority come from Ngatangiia at Rarotonga, and from the island of Aitutaki) the least it could have done was to sponsor the tour in some form.

Towards the end of last year, Barnett Maniapoto Otene, a well-known Maori who has, for years, been associated with the Labour organisation among his people, visited Rarotonga to inquire in to industrial troubles there—and he claims that he achieved success in his mission both there and at Aitutaki. The invitation may have been extended by him.

No one appears to know just what Mr. Otene’s mission was in Rarotonga, or with what authority he was invested by the Government. But the trip ap peared to have at least a semi-official basis.

His stay in those islands was followed by the visit of the present party, numbering about 40, under the leader ship of Piri Moate, a member of the recently constituted Legislative Council, and Pa Ariki, a leading chieftainess (who was educated in New Zealand, having been brought here as a child by the late

Makea Tinirau).

The intention was, it is presumed, to pay expenses of the tour in New Zealand by giving concerts in the various Maori centres. Those in charge, however, ap pear to have little business acumen, and the response from the public, at several centres was, by no means, satisfactory.

Considerable portion of the financial expenses have fallen upon Princess Te Puea Herangi, of Waikato, who was in the Cook Is. last year, and during the stay of the visitors she has been an ex ceedingly generous hostess to them at Ngaruawahia.

In some centres, nevertheless, Maori hosts have declined to receive the party, because they have been engaged in other activities. Sir Apirana Ngata, who was closely associated with the Rarotongan visit in 1934, it is noticed, did not ex tend an invitation to the visitors to go to the East Coast, where the previous party was made welcome.

It is obvious that he and other Maori leaders were not consulted about the tour. Therefore, it would seem that the arrangements were haphazard and badly planned, and the visitors are likely to return to their islands with a wrong conception of Maori hospitality. Some settlements (as was the case, of course, in Waikato) were exceedingly helpful, but others could not afford the expense of entertainment.

WHILE in Wellington the visitors were received by Prime Minister Fraser, and they were also invited to Gov ernment House by the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg, VC) and Lady Freyberg.

Another complication is likely to arise concerning their departure. At the

moment it seems that only half the number can be accommodated by the April steamer. The others will have to remain at Orakei, a Maori settlement near Auckland.

Pe Ariki has* left the party, and is in hospital in Auckland, expecting the birth of a child. But her husband is travelling with the visitors.

It has been estimated that there are 1,000 Cook Islanders in New Zealand, the majority being in the vicinity of Auckland.