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Published: January 31st 2010
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Wedding day smiles
'gentle water by the mountain' and me outside our living room This is my last day in Auckland, and also my last day on the North Island. I am guessing that this is therefore the last chance I will have to delve into Maori elements as there seems to be more Maori activity and history in this half of New Zealand, so will make this my focus of the day.
The central museum puts on a Maori display twice a day, and although I saw a Maori show in my hotel in Rotoroa, I suspect this one will be more genuine, and less of the singing and dancing. So, I head into the museum again, buy my ticket and wait.
To be honest, I am surprised that the display here is not as good as the Rotoroa one. The group is younger (no problem with that), and they are trying to do the same as the Rotoroa show, but the players don’t have the same presence - there is no true fear factor - when the ‘men’ do their Haka. Have a look at the photo of the young warrior sticking his tongue out - would that make you turn and run? The girls had a go at some of
My new food cupboard
Now that I am married to a beautiful Maori, I have a specially decorated food hut the complicated spinning dances too, and unfortunately didn’t quite make it.
However, the big advantage of the younger group was that I was able to get myself a Maori wife. You can see our wedding photo here. Waiti Nin (gentle water by the mountain) is very traditional, so will stay living in her Marae of course, but if I ever return to New Zealand, she (as my wife) can act as my sponsor.
For any of you familiar with Amsterdam’s city marketing, you’ll understand my interest in Auckland’s museum’s use of I AM ..... in their promotional work. Amsterdam is wed to the phrase ‘IAMSTERDAM’ which they think is the cleverest thing since the invention of the invaluable portable melon slicer. Auckland’s museum used I AM followed by a variety of words such as I AM 80 (meaning they are celebrating their 80th anniversary), I AM HERE TO HELP (Can’t work out what this could mean), and many other varieties linked to exhibitions or staff roles. I like this version so much more than the Amsterdam one - I must share it when I get back.
My final comments on Maori-ism would be that (a) they are
Young Maori warrior
Needs to work on the eyes if he wants to look more fierce relatively well integrated with settler descendents, so much so that there are few 100% Maori left, (b) they are generally more relaxed in their actions and attitudes and have more of a communal view of possessions rather than an individual one. Therefore, if you think you own a table and go away on holiday, don’t be shocked if on your return the table has been re-located to a family member’s home - the table belongs to the family, (c) many of them seem like gentle giants, as their build seems somewhat stocky, but their manner is in no way threatening, and (d) they have gained a far fuller place in NZ society over the past decade with their language and history being taught better at school, Maori representatives in parliament, and a Maori language national TV station. The land rights issue is still being discussed with a variety of views being held concerning what is fair, and ironically, a small minority of Maoris seem to be unwilling to extend this discussion to the original inhabitants of NZ, the Moriori, who some historians claim arrived in 800AD and were ethnically cleansed by the invading Maoris, and feelings about the new skilled
I AM
An example of the way the I AM phrase has been used in Auckland's main museum - far more effective than IAMSTERDAM immigrants (generally from S. E. Asia) who the NZ government desperately need to tackle the national greying problem, suggest significant discomfort about the integration of other ethnic groups. However, on the whole, the Maori factor in NZ is enriching and adds depth and breadth to society.
So, now it’s off to the South Island, some empty roads, and the freedom a small camper offers.
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