Kuia Wisdom

Waimama Bay, Whiritoa -  photo 2011 

It is not from books that we always find wisdom.

It is the wisdom our elders  give us in their words and stories passed down from many generations.

 For me, the story from my Scottish family – the Spider Story Of Robert the Bruce – “ Try, try, again.” 

The calm words of Kuia and Kaumatua sharing their words for looking after and respecting the environment, gathering flax to weave, planting a tree or fishing for food. Their stories passed on.

waterfall wairere near Matamata  nz  - photo courtesy Chris Ball 2008

                             

                     Kuia Wisdom 

                                        (A Tribute by Anne Stewart Ball 2011 ) 

She sat there, cigarette in hand,

A look of' wisdom, came to her eye.

I moved closer, knees crossed,                                                  

To listen to, her lessons of life.                                                         

For, from the Kuia, came a lesson,

Not found in books.

The things, that are the essence,

 Of one's life outlook.

                                               Kotuku - special in stories passed down 

My child, she says to me,

The first fruits, must always be returned.

Whether it be, from land or sea, To the place, they were reaped.                                                                   

Fish only enough, for your needs,

The rest, you leave in the sea.

My words, you must heed,

Then enough, there will be, for eternity.

The bones and shells, of shellfish too,

Get taken back, to the tide.

Then, there will always be, plenty for me and you,

 And Maru, in peace, will let us abide.

If you are wanting, to make a kit,

Respect the flax plant, you use.

Count the leaves, you need for it,                                                                      

Then, there will be none left over, to abuse.

The leaves, you take at dusk, or dawn.

Not, in the heat of day.

Don't forget, the prayer of thanks. 

 Always, show respect, in the proper way.

The Kuia's voice, grew softer,

 As slowly, her eyes, did close.

 I knew this lesson, was over,                                                           

For she drifted, into quiet repose.

Her words, have been in my mind,

Through, each passing year.

And in the things of nature, I find,

First fruits, put back, much more, do bear.

In Perthshire Scotland - where some of  my Scottish kin came from to NZ ,flax was grown to weave into linen. This flax, was grown near Dunning and Strathearn. 

The maori name for flax is harakeke. Twisted plaited and woven, and still  today in 2021, harakeke has many uses - fishing nets, kete

( baskets), mats, cords.  

 

Origins of Name Place Pukepaukena (Pumpkin Hill) ,Tairua

At Te Karo Bay looking toward centre right of photo Pukepaukena ( Pumkin Hill ) Tairua 
- Photo courtesy Chris Ball 2015

 Origins of Name Place Pukepaukena (Pumpkin Hill), Tairua

  Researched and compiled by Anne Stewart Ball 

 Introduction

 Pukepaukena (753 ft) a mounded hill is recorded on a map – Topographical Map of Whitianga Survey District compiled and drawn by G E Harris, December 1911 (Bell & Fraser, p11 1912) Research has shown that Pumpkin Hill, Tairua (referred to as this name in 2021), received this name in 1974 – the outcome of a subdivision in that area which has been the name used for the last recent forty-five years. 

 Pukepaukena

 Although a map compiled and drawn by G E Harris (1911) shows this place named on a map, Bell & Fraser (1912) did not document any further information in this NZ Bulletin on this other than discussion about siliceous sinter deposit occurring within or upon propylitised andesite of the Beeson's Island Series. 

Page 11,Bell, J., & Fraser, C. (1912). The geology of the Waihi-Tairua subdivision, Hauraki division. Wellington : Government Printer.

Research across online and hard copy records indicate the following: -

According to Swindale and Hughes (1968):-

“The deposit is about 1 mile north of Tairua, on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. It forms the prominent, white, rounded hillock of Pukepaukena (N.Z.M.S. 1, Sheet N44/3 38451), to the east of the Tairua Whitianga road as it winds from the township up and over the Tairua Hill” (p .1162) 

The Tairua- Whitianga road is also known as SH25.

The shape of Pukepaukena and colours of the clays and minerals (pyrophyllite, kaolinite, diaspore, dickite, and quartz) described by Swindale and Hughes (1968) give a description of this area.

 A search of the online Maori Dictionary for meaning of Pukepaukena in English gives meaning of Puke as a noun hill, hillock, mound and meaning of paukena as a noun pumpkin.

An earlier 1842 drawing of a view of HMS loading at Whakahau (Slipper Island) attributed to Henry Domville shows the shape of Pukepaukena (right forefront of drawing where trees and rocks drawn) 

Domville, Henry Jones.  View in New Zealand, H.M.S. Tortoise loading at Wakahou Is., near Tairua River, 1842 [picture] / attributed to Henry Domville 1842  http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-134565244

According to Wilton in Wilton and Ritchie (2015) location of drawing is confirmed Pumpkin Hill (p 186). Pumpkin Hill being the name used for this location in 2015.

A Whitianga topographical map in 1957 (NZMS 1: N44) does not show the name Pukepaukena on this map. There is reference to the vegetation in this location being fern and scrub. A photograph taken by White Aviation in 1955 confirms this with a good pictorial view of the area Otara and Te Karo (AKA Sailors Grave) looking back toward Tairua and over  Pukepaukena - vegetation grass, ferns and scrub.

December 1955 View of Otara and Te Karo Bays with Sailors Grave Road and the coastline looking south back to Tairua, Thames-Coromandel District. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-40144-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/30112475

It is known that at the end of 1914 – two years after Bell & Fraser’s 1912 NZ Bulletin was published, William Beattie, photographer for the Auckland Weekly News took a number of photos in the Tairua Valley. Including the felling and logging operations in and around Te Karo. This would have impacted on the surrounding vegetation and terrain. It is known that bush contractor, Collins, felled and logged this area during that time. (Reed,1953)

Beattie, W Auckland Weekly News Auckland 17 December 1914 Showing logs being lifted into the sea near Tairua, preparatory to rafting them to the mill. With an inset photograph of a man holding a large saw.  Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19141217-48-2

Pumpkin Hill

Fourteen years later in 1928, another photographer for the Auckland Weekly News took a photo of this area, calling Pukepaukena, Pumpkin Hill.

9 February 1928 staff photographer Auckland Weekly News THE BEAUTIFUL STRETCH OF COAST-LINE AT THE MOUTH OF THE TAIRUA RIVER, ON THE EAST COAST OF THE NORTH ISLAND: A STRIKING VIEW SECURED LAST WEEK FROM PUMPKIN HILL. Beattie, W  Auckland Weekly News Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19280209-49-2

Note this area, now mainly devoid of trees and vegetation being shown in photo, that of grass and scrub.  A Whitianga topographical map in 1966  has recorded the location Pumpkin. By 1972 a further Whitianga topographical map in 1972 has records  the location Pumpkin Hill.

Tairua, Thames-Coromandel District. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-73150-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22683316

A Whites Aviation photograph taken 25 March 1976, shows in bottom right corner of photograph, housing and roading in the location of Pumkin Hill. This indicating subdivision.

Historian Dr. Ann McEwan (2009) attributes the heritage values of the Pumpkin Hill Reserves, as an:-

“Area is thought to look like the outline of a pumpkin, also known as Whakaruruhao (windy owl). Reserve resulting from land subdivision in 1974.”

Subdivision of Pumpkin Hill in 1974, is confirmed in the TCDC Tairua Pauanui Reserves Management Plan, May 2014 which states: -

“This reserve was vested in Thames-Coromandel District Council as a recreation reserve subject to the Reserves and Domains Act 1953 in 1974, from sub-division of the surrounding land.”

Conclusion

Pukepaukena and Pumpkin Hill are the two different place names for the location of this mounded hill discussed in this research document.  

Reference:

Have tried to use Primary Source documents as far as possible.

•          Bell, J., & Fraser, C. (1912). The geology of the Waihi-Tairua subdivision, Hauraki division. Wellington: Government Printer.
•      Reed, A. H.(1953). The Story of Kauri. Wellington , New Zealand: A.H & A.W Reed.
•       L. D. Swindale & I. R. Hughes (1968) Hydrothermal association of pyrophyllite, kaolinite, diaspore, dickite, and quartz in the Coromandel Area, New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics, 11:5, 1163-1183, DOI: 10.1080/00288306.1968.10420245
•        https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00288306.1968.10420245
•       Wilton, David & Ritchie, Neville. (2015). HMS Tortoise, Sailors Grave and the 'Camp in the Forest', Te Karo Stream, Tairua area (T11/2792). Archaeol. N. Z. 58. 170-187.
•       Online Maori Dictionary accessed 15/04/2021.https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=Puke+
•       Whitianga: topographical map. 1st ed. NZMS 1: N44., 1957 Historical Maps of the Waikato Region. The University of Waikato Library   accessed 16/04/2021.
• Whitianga: topographical map. 1966 3rd ed. Historical Maps of the Waikato Region               The University of Waikato Library   accessed 16/04/2021.
• Whitianga: topographical map.1972 4th ed. Historical Maps of the Waikato Region The University of Waikato Library accessed 16/04/2021.
•  McEwan, D. A. (2009, December 18). TCDC Heritage Review Project Coromandel Peninsula Thematic History and Mapping. Retrieved from https://docs.tcdc.govt.nz/store/default/2457529
• TCDC. (2014, May). Tairua Pauanui Reserve Management Plan. Retrieved from https://docs.tcdc.govt.nz/store/default/5199761.pdf

 

Music and Art - wellbeing for the soul

  Piano - photo courtesy Chris Ball

Last year on ANZAC Day 2020, we were in COVID lockdown. Commemorations were at home. This year it was so good to be able to take part in the 2021 commemorations in our home place. Even more of a special treat, was an evening of music with an accompanying art exhibition, venue  the Tairua Community Hall. Baroque music from Bach to the Beatles and beyond bought to Tairua by haumusiknz  - well known musicians Rita Paczian ( mezzo and harpsichord ) and John Green ( baroque oboe).

The  Art Exhibition was presented by the local Tairua Art Group, demonstrating  the talent there is in this community. Typical of a small rural, coastal community, the evening event was well attended by a full house, with a standing ovation at the end. Certainly a befitting place to have such an evening – The Tairua Community Hall. Music from Bach and Handel filled the hall, paintings in the Art Exhibition could be enjoyed while the music flowed. Thoughts  and energies turned to the events that have been held over the many years.

      hausmusik.nz  capturing the audience of Tairua residents - photo courtesy Chris Ball April 2021
 

Tairua Community Hall

 A typical venue of New Zealand rural communities, “if the walls could talk” would be able to tell many family and community stories of gatherings in this place – concerts, balls, plays , dancing,  music evenings, weddings, 21^st birthdays, farewells to community residents. 

This Tairua community hall opened in November 1932. It would appear that two events were significant for the Tairua people that occurred near to each other timewise. The first was an aeroplane visit to Tairua. Could be said to be a fore runner of aeroplane tourism in the Tairua Valley. The Thames Star wrote: -

“Many local residents, including Mrs Cory- Wright, Mrs Phelan, Mrs Heath, Miss C Heath, Miss T. Agnew, Miss Grey and Miss R Savage enjoyed flights.” (Thames Star, 29/11/1932)

The second event was the opening of the Tairua Hall. Typical of rural events back then , people came from the other surrounding places – Mercury Bay, Coroglen, Whenuakite and Whangamata. 

 Looking back over various newspaper reports seems the building progress was quick. Following the  laying of the first foundation stone. The Thames Star wrote: 

“The foundation stone of the Tairua ' Hall was duly laid by Mr Charles Oldham, the oldest resident of Talrua, at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 6, before a large and representative gathering. The , hall will be4soft by 30ft, and will be equipped with a stage, dressing rooms and all the necessary conveniences. Mr Webb is the chief architect. A working bee is busy laying the foundation blocks, which were donated by Mr Martin Hutchinson. Another working bee will fence in the site as soon as possible, posts and strainers  being . gratuitously supplied. Mr Cory-Wright will saw the timber.” ( Thames Star, 12/03/1932 )

 Typical of New Zealand rural communities – fund raising via stalls and concerts,  working bees, labour contributed and donations of building materials has seen many community halls in New Zealand built and a testimony today of the input by many to give a building for the greater benefit of many.

 

Jamie playing piano - photo courtesy Chris Ball 

Certainly following the opening of the hall at the end of  1932, it became much used. Eight  months later it was a Tairua school concert and dance. The Thames Star reported that :- 

" Among those present were: Mesdames Nicol, Cory Wright, Phelan, Sheppard, Sylvia, Hazeldene, H.McGregor, G. McGregor, Agnew, Kreamer,. E. Hutchinson, W. Hutchinson, Prescott, Lowe, Heath, Beach, Lennar, R. Hutchinson, G. Petley, W. Lopes, and the Misses 0. Sheppard, T. Agnew, D. Lennan, E. Webb and L. Viera. " Thames Star,17/07/1933. 

The families of the Tairua valley - interlinked and intertwined by occupation, community and marriage. Some of the names reflected also the other valleys of Wharekawa, Whangamata and Whenuakite. Typical of those rural halls, Tairua hall became the focal point for weddings, an the after do - the wedding dance. The Lowe wedding in 1934 was said to be attended by 300 guests. The Petley and Heath wedding the following year in 1935,at the Tairua hall, reported 200 guests at the wedding breakfast.  The Thames Star also reported at both weddings, that Olive Sheppard played the music.   

Calf Club Day in Rural New Zealand

    

        Getting calf ready for calf club

 CALF CLUB DAY

Up early at the crack of dawn,

Trudging across paddock, in sun's piercing ray.

To catch my calf, of colour fawn,

For the moment, of the year, Calf Club Day.

 

Last minute, things to do.

 Halter and lead to whiten,

Washing down and brushing too,

 Her coat to gleam and brighten.

 

Off to school, with flowers under arm.

 To create, a posy, trim and neat.

Bringing to the day, beauty and charm.

 When community, gather to meet.

 

The calves have now arrived.

Coming. in many different contraptions.

 Along the fence, they are lined.

 Ready, for the day's, big competition.

 

The judges, in their white coats, stand,

As the calves are put through, their paces.

Grooming, type and leading by hand,

Hopeful looks, on their owner's faces.

 

And slowly, as the day, passes by,

The odd ribbon, here and there, is seen.

Owner of calf, with proud look, in eye,

For the colour of red, blue, yellow or green.

 

The end of the occasion, has now come,

 And the moment, we've been longing.

A Proud time, for the lucky some.

Champion of each section, for year ensuing.

 

Disappointment shows, on some of the faces,

 For they were sure, their calf, was the one.

 To have been, the best, at all paces,

To be top calf - Champion.

 

At home, I proudly dangle,

Upon, my bedroom wall.

A ribbon, of red and yellow,

For my best calf, so far, of all.

 

And now, as I look, at faded ribbon,

I think back, in my mind.

To long hours, of happy preparation,

Of those days, at Calf Club time.

 

Poem by Anne Stewart Ball 

Written July 1985

         Judging calves at Calf Club