Aroha Harris, one of the editors of the book, is ian associate professor of history at the University of Auckland. She hopes people who read it will learn something new about Māori history. Photo / Supplied
Aroha Harris, one of the editors of the book, is ian associate professor of history at the University of Auckland. She hopes people who read it will learn something new about Māori history. Photo / Supplied
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A new book featuring essays from leading Māori scholars, researchers and writers has been released to help broaden understanding of facets of Māori history.
Maranga! Maranga! Maranga! The Call to Māori History is a collection of essays from Māori history collective TePouhere Kōrero, which held its inaugural hui at Rongopai Marae in Gisborne in 1992.
The book includes contributions from people connected to Tairāwhiti through whakapapa such as Anglican minister Hirini Kaa and university history lecturer Nepia Mahuhika. Other contributors are Alice Te Punga Somerville, Arini Loader, Aroha Harris, Basil Keane, Danny Keenan, Kealani Cook, Megan Pōtiki, Melissa Matutina Williams, Pareputiputi Nuku, Peter Meihana, Rachel Buchanan, Rawinia Higgins, Rawiri Te Maire Tau, Te Ahukaramū Charles Royal and Tiopira McDowell.
The book was co-edited by Aroha Harris (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi) – an associate professor of history at the University of Auckland – and Melissa Matutina Williams (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Maru), an independent historian.
Independent historian Melissa Matutina Williams co-edited the book.
Photo / Supplied
Harris was a “young and naive” researcher at the Waitangi Tribunal when she attended the first Te Pouhere Kōrerohui hui alongside people from such places as the tribunal, universities, libraries and the Historic Places Trust.
“It was a really special time where we all got together and all shared the same interests in history,” Harris said.
Te Pouhere Kōrero was a way to connect and be influenced by one another.
“The hui was an opportunity to think about producing history from a Māori perspective.
Harris remembers the late Māori educator and spiritual leader Rose Pere being there with husband Jospeh, and historian and writer Monty Soutar.
Not everyone in the book is an academic. There are people who worked on various iwi claims or are part of museums, libraries and archives.
“What we share is an interest in research and writing about the past,” Harris said.
The essays were selected from the 10 volumes of the Te Pouhere Kōrero journals.
The new book Maranga! Maranga! Maranga! The Call to Māori History features essays on a diverse range of Māori history.
The essays explore subjects such as reo Māori, moko kauae (female chin tattooing), storytelling and the “pervasive myth of Māori privilege”.
As well as chronicling Māori history, the book brings conversations on sovereignty, identity and historical methods to the forefront – offering insights that inform contemporary understanding of Aotearoa’s history and indigenous rights.
Hirini Kaa, of Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu and Rongowhakaata, writes about Te Hāhi Mihinare (the Anglican Church) in the book.
Harris said they attempted to organise it chronologically but also thematically, where some essays connect.
This book could be people’s first experience with learning about Māori history, she said.
“It’s the type of book that you can dip in and just read one or two essays – as they stand alone – and learn from it.”
Harris said it was interesting the release of the book coincided with the submission writing phase of the Treaty Principles Bill.
“We started working on it long before the Treaty Principles Bill got into Parliament. But this book could be quite timely as there are bits of Māori history to learn that will help people understand why Māori were so quick to mobile protests and submissions on the bill.
“There are opportunities in here to learn and get these stories out to a wider audience.”
Harris said the book showed the diversity of Māori history.
“It can be both specific and broad while talking about big ideas in that diversity. I hope it shows that Māori are active, engaged, interested, resourceful and innovative, and ... we have been that way for generations.”
