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OPINION: ‘New Zealand Maori owe their heritage to us’

Monday 8 February 2021 | Written by Ruta Tangiiau Mave | Published in Editorials, Opinion

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OPINION: ‘New Zealand Maori owe their heritage to us’
This double canoe was sketched off the New Zealand coast in 1769 by Herman Spöring. Photo: BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. 21020702

There's a reason why a lot of New Zealand Maori say they fell like they're at home when in Rarotonga - because they are. Ruta Tangiiau Mave writes.

There's a reason why a lot of New Zealand Maori say they fell like they're at home when in Rarotonga - because they are. Ruta Tangiiau Mave writes.


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Comments

Geoffrey Lye on 11/02/2021

May I suggest a new book released in Aotearoa New Zealand last year called Sea people The puzzle of Polynesia by Christina Thompson and it is an enlightening read for your museum guides and plenty of the latest up to date info of Polynesian migration throughout the Pacific ocean. Geoff Lye Christchurch New Zealand. Ps I was in Rarotonga in 1980 and I sure miss the place.

George KiwiKiwi on 10/02/2021

Tena koutou katoa, I really enjoyed this article and tautoko everything that was highlighted by the author. My personal insight on this subject has been an evolving journey spanning many years. I was lucky enough to have an auntie who married a Rarotongan when I was very young and he used to always say " Georgie, we are all one people " and being too young to understand, didn't think too much about it.... I was taught by my grand-parents that our people had migrated here to Aotearoa from a place called "Hawaiiki " through many places to establish our kainga and taonga tuku iho which over time has evolved into what we have today. So...with time has come progress and with that comes technology and what I have found out personally from Ancestory DNA came as no surprise to me as the oratory history handed down to me was bang on. HAWAII, TAHITI, RAROTONGA, AOTEAROA!!! Two years ago when I first visited Raro with my Whanau I too strongly felt I had come home...I felt the same way when I went to Tahiti and Hawaii. To me, I felt an immediate connection with the people, the language, kai and an overwhelming spiritual emotional connection which confirmed to me exactly what my Raro Uncle said to me years ago " We are one People" So, taking that literally, no more long queues in the tourist lane at the airport for me....I'm just home for a visit and its the local lane from now on.... Oh and yeah, next time you NZ Maori's call our Polynesian whanau " COCONUTS" you better include youself in that!!!

Tangi Crummer-Adams on 09/02/2021

As evidence at Te Hono ki Rarotonga, Tokomaru Bay marae, revered tipuna of both the Ngati Porou (East Coast iwi) and people of Mauke, rides the proud Paikea on his faithful whale (whose name escapes me presently), looking longingly toward his homeland, Mauke. The haka performed proudly by Ngati Porou, is aptly named, Paikea. The article stating Maori are not aware of their Cook Islands history is possibly a generalisation.