SPEAK THAT I MAY SEE

For hundreds of whanau in Te Hiku, IMB started last Saturday, and we, like countless others, had to make the choice between our kids’ sport and a hui. I went to the hui-a-marama at Kareponia for Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngati Kahu while Doug got the hard job (NOT) of going to the Rippa Rugby. Apparently, in his first game ever, our five year old, raised on watching the adult game, failed to connect the concept of ripping a ribbon off opponent’s shorts with the game of ‘rugby’ and tackled everything in sight. He now answers to the name ‘Sin-Bin.’

I went to a hui once where the first guy up said, “Kaore a au e mōhio he aha au i haere mai ai i tenei ra.” Like my mokopuna, he had failed to connect the concept with the outcome, and he too got promptly sin-binned by my feisty karani who stood and told him if he didn’t know why he was there – sit down, listen and learn. Then she did an A-grade job of laying out the issues and kick-starting the whakawhiti-korero. She did the mahi of the Taumata which, traditionally, has been done by men, and is critical to the progress and effectiveness of any hui.

The ideal Taumata has good speakers with good minds and hearts who help clarify the way forward for the people. The best will work together and can offer love as an antidote to hate, counterpoint wrong with right and challenge lies with truth, all the while stitching and mending any tear in the fabric of the hui.

I tenei ao hurihuri the Taumata need solemn wisdom and a wicked sense of humour, topped with some life experience. So, when the scarcity of men who can man the Taumata came up on Saturday, Te Runanga-a-Iwi o Ngati Kahu delegates talked about the pros and cons of teaching our boys to do it. How to protect them from being gored in the cut and thrust of the task at hand? How to ensure they enjoy their childhood before being asked to take on a man’s work? They talked about the pros and cons of women doing it, with lively recollections of Muriwai Popata who spoke whenever she wished because the only thing she cared about was whether or not the talk was walked. Are today’s women as strong? Are we prepared to take on other traditionally male roles? Will we butcher the beast, collect the kai moana and cook the hangi? Are we prepared to see a man take on our role of kai karanga?

You know, I hate weekend hui because they chew up precious whanau time. So when I do have to sit through one it at least helps when the quality of the korero is as good as what went down last Saturday. Regardless of who we think should be on the Taumata, we all have a right to expect quality from it. We can take a leaf from my forthright karani and sin-bin the wafflers. Or, if we are of gentler persuasion, we should at least take them aside and help them get up to scratch. And if there is a woman or a younger man there who can do a better job, then just do it – please.

Speak that we may all see.

Hei konei. Hei kona.