enei ngā kuia

One of the big discussions in the 1980s was as to whether or not feminists would visit marae. Pākehā feminists that is. This was because they perceived the status of women in the Māori world to be presented as inferior to men. I failed in this aspect of 1980s feminism.

For many Pākehā there were kuia who helped us to cross into the world. For many of us these strong women were able to assist us and nurture us, and correct our mistakes. It’s alarming to hear from a friend that these kuia – Aunty Marj in particular- spent time with local government too – alerting them to stories, histories and expectations and that many of the people they mentored are now have access to power that they, in a sense, misuse.

Marjorie Rau-Kupa at AGMANZ 40th birthday celebrations. AGMANZ Journal. John Bevan Ford seated.

Witarina Harris became a friend of and mentor to Jonathan Dennis. She travelled with him supporting his bicultural work and becoming kuia / kaumātua to the NZ Film Archive. You can view the remarkable story of their friendship in the film Friendship is the harbour of joy.  Marjorie Rau-Kupa provided support and friendship to James Mack. She also became the kuia for AGMANZ and guided us, along with Mina, through many a tricky business. Listen to her assured and elegant voice as she narrates the story of Parihika.

Miria Simpson, with whom I worked at the Alexander Turnbull Library also advised, chivvied and shared. She would talk about her days when she came to Wellington, and her travels around the world. She had decided to visit every romantic place in the world and described her visit to a place I recall as Tashkent. But was perhaps another off the beaten track place.

She was a stickler for protocol and correct use of te reo and at times terrified young Māori. And Pākehā. She told me off in the middle of a restaurant in Turangi for a now forgotten slight. But she loved to hang out with ‘youngsters’ and watch the new leading lights appear, especially within her iwi. When she was relaxed she enjoyed a giggle or two. She loved opera and theatre and would often take a nephew or niece along with her.

I’d hear her at the Turnbull on the phone if she wanted the correct translation for a word.

“Oh? He’s in an important meeting? Tell him it’s Miria.” A few minutes later. “Now (Kingi/Maui/Hirini) which word do you use for…).” (Spoken in te reo but I wouldn’t dare….)

Sandra Lee says of Miria:

“She worked on many of the significant Maori and bilingual texts in recent history including Nga Tangata Taumata Rau (Dictionary of New Zealand Biography), and was editor, Wahanga Maori for the Historical Atlas of New Zealand. She also wrote Nga Tohu o Te Tiriti: Making a Mark”. Sandra Lee in beehive.govt.

These women  and many others, had the strength, skill and tenacity to achieve in both worlds and to assist us to move into their cultural world even if in the slightest of ways. They walked both paths with style and panache.

While their focus was ngā ao Māori, their impact was universal. We owe them a lot.