Spectrum 125. Ko oku kainga waewae - The places my feet have walked

Rights Information
Year
1975
Reference
32608
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1975
Reference
32608
Media type
Audio
Duration
00:28:45
Credits
RNZ Collection
Harsant, Florence, Speaker/Kaikōrero
Owen, Alwyn (b.1926), Producer
Blake, Buck, Speaker/Kaikōrero

Florence Harsant returns to the lakeside settlement of Waitahanui near Taupo where she lived as a child at the turn of the 20th century, growing up in the Māori community there. Her father was the first local school teacher. She spoke fluent Māori and is welcomed once again onto the marae there by Buck Blake, a local elder.

Known to the Māori as "Flossie", she talks to Alwyn Owen about the loss of Māori land around the lake. She recalls how day to day things were done in a Māori settlement, such as cooking and traditional marriage, tangihanga, housing.

She remembers some of the elders of her childhood, including a kuia who was the widow of a great chief who worked with Te Kooti. She was tattooed all over and greatly disliked pakeha, who had brought alcohol and tobacco to their community.

Tai Rawhiti, a life-long friend, welcomes Florence her to her home. They talk about memories of the past, gathering water-cress. Tai talks about all the 'pakeha weeds' which now grow all over their land and remembers catching pigeon, trout and inanga. She says Flossie's father was a great man, who acted also as their doctor and Bible class teacher.

Florence visits the Waitahanui cemetery and recalls the people she knew and loved.