History and those oral histories that are passed now
can strengthen the identity of the child
and can get children to focus on their culture,
on our culture.
Regardless of where the child is from, whether Māori or Pākehā,
it is important firstly that they know the stories of this region,
even if they are from another iwi.
Because perhaps those stories are like a doorway
for them to return to their own people and pursue their stories.
This is a good thing because more often the history we learn
is told by someone else and comes from overseas,
and out of books that have been printed by Pākehā.
To me, however, the stories of the Māori people
and the stories belonging to iwi come from what we’ve been told by our ancestors.
See, you and I sit here in this same house,
but the way I see the centre post of this house
is different to the way someone else may see it.
Although we are looking at the very same centre post,
there are many different perspectives to consider.
To me, that’s a good thing.
There are many perspectives held by Māori and by iwi.
We must also have an awareness
of the ways other people think,
like the Pākehā people and the tools they brought, but also colonisation
like the 3 C’s of colonisation -
commerce, Christianity and civilisation.
These tools of colonisation still operate today but not in full view,
and so the iwi should be aware and careful with these types of ideas
that are still present in this world.
We have to search. Many people have different stories
like those associated with the great body of water, Rotorua.
Despite Mokoia being in the very middle of the lake we of Ngāti Whakaaue
Despite Mokoia being in the very middle of the lake, we of Ngāti Whakaaue
have our stories as do the other hapū that I am connected with.
Ngāti Uenukukōpako, Rangiteaorere and also Rangiwewehi.
Each have their own stories, and that’s a great thing.
It is important, however, to hold fast to what you have been taught by the older generation.
Others also have their versions
and we should accept this and not negate them.
To my knowledge, the iwi has not yet deliberated
in terms of what sort of knowledge should be shared and what should remain solely with iwi.
For some, it is agreed that it should be shared with whomever
and with the general public also.
For me, some of it is good to share.
And these stories will not be simplified, but it is of greatest importance to me that
the people sharing understand what they are sharing.
There are also many people who know these stories well
but have not yet grounded themselves in their knowledge.
Our older people, they hold all the stories from when they grew up here -
those ones who live here at home, on the pā at Ōhinemutu.
They remember when the soldiers returned from World War 2.
They heard the stories.
So they are of great benefit, they were experts in the world around them.
That’s an amazing thing, and when they pass, those stories will go with them.