Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 1, Number 1, 1 June 1981 — A Visit to Aotearoa [ARTICLE]

A Visit to Aotearoa

by Trustee Walter L. Ritte, Jr. When I have thoughts of our three week trip to Aotearoa or New Zealand, the feelings run deep, a warm swelling in my na'au, a closeness, a dampness comes to my eyes. There is no doubt in my mind that the Hawaiians and the Maoris are of the same ancestors, the same people. The language is uncannily similar. Hawaiians look like Maoris. In a crowded room you can't tell them apart. The lands consist of beautiful rolling green pastures, dotted with white sheep. Mueh of the Maori lands have been lost, through confiscations by the English and European. The dominant peoplearenow the European called Pakeha (our equivalent to haole) with only about 400,000 Maoris in a populahon of three million. Like the Hawaiian, the Maori makes up too high a percentage of the population of prisons, unemployed, educational dropouts, etc., and existing programs and agencies have done little to help.

In many ways the Maori cultural basis is a lot broader and stronger than the Hawaiian. There is a strong resurgence or awakening reflected in their songs and dances, arts and crafts; intense interest in speaking their language; heightened activity in their history, Maori Rights, and Land Tenure. The push is to rebuild upon the strength of their culture and to move out of the cities and back into the rural country areas. Like the Hawaiians, their lineage chants speak of Papa (Mother Earth) and Wakea (Sky Father) and of their seven canoes coming from Hawaiki. Most important I felt the deep essence to be the same, the Aloha was as one; it was the myriad of little things and mannerisms whieh through interaction locked us all in as being of the same plaee. Note: Accompanying Ritte to New Zealand were Kunane Nihipali, Kawehi Ryder and Frank Hewit. Our thanks to the Hawaii Cultural Research Foundation for sponsoring this trip.