Bryce Murray - Rotorua

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,

These tools of colonisation still
operate today but not in full view,

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

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.