HAPPY RETURN: Ngahiwi Tomoana and David Nelson at yesterday's confirmation of the return of the Tomoana name at the showgrounds. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR
The restoring of the Tomoana name to the profile of the showgrounds in Hastings has brought some extra responsibilities - like pronouncing it correctly.
Thus the formalities at Waipatu Marae yesterday - moved indoors to the whare Heretaunga as the rain referred to as "tears of joy of the ancestors"
bucketed down outside - became a tutorial as Ngati Kahungunu Iwi chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana grabbed the moment to set it straight.
As tangata whenua faced a gathering representative of the history of Hawke's Bay A&P Society show manpower, and after a few mispronunciations, he would highlight: "Tor, Mor, Ana. Tor, Mor, Ana." In unison, the reply: "Tomoana."
E, ka pai, it was all in the spirit of the occasion, Mr Tomoana having noted the significance of the society's approach to the people of Ngati Hawea and the iwi over reasserting the name, and its contrast to the otherwise more regular manner of recovering use of Maori land names, such as Treaty claims.
Clearly mission accomplished, as the korero passed to champion Southern Hawke's Bay dairy stud farmer Simon Collin who had no challenge with the pronunciation at all. It was a remarkable introduction to his role as A&P Society president, which started at the AGM less than 24 hours earlier.
