Looking southwards, Te Kooti invoked Tamairangi, a woman of great influence at Porirua in the 1820s. Turning northwards, he reminded Nati Porou iwi of Hinematioro, a woman of high standing at Tolaga Bay in the 1770s.
Then looking westwards, he called on Mahinaarangi, a high-ranking Kahungunu woman who artfully used perfume from raukawa leaves to attract and marry Turongo, a young chief from Kawhia harbour.
In total contrast, we have "Mara, Maori maiden proud, famed for poi play" in Alfred Hill's song Waiata Poi.
Hill's Mara was a high chief's daughter who came to the rescue of John Smith, a music hall performer who got lost near the Pink and White Terraces and was almost killed when he was mistaken for an Australian politician attempting to make New Zealand part of Australia.
Smith's rescue also involved four pantalooned female mountain-bikers, Polly, Molly, Dolly and Folly. If that sounds increasing improbable, it's because it was the plot of a highly popular 1903 musical comedy Tapu, the Tale of a Maori Pah.
Mara was only a stage character, but the play introduced the poi and Ka Mate haka to thousands of theatre-goers in a dozen New Zealand and Australian cities.
JOHN ARCHER, Ohakune
Ada's story
May I bring to the attention of those interested in women's suffrage a book by Rachel McAlpine published several years ago.
It is a fictionalised account of Ada Wells who was very closely involved in the movement.
She was a much poorer person than Kate Sheppard, yet worked as an executive for Kate. It is a well-written and enlightening story of a very different kind of woman from a different walk of life yet determined to help.
EDWINA DOVE, Whanganui
Spare the ratepayers
The Chronicle story about chief executive's pay (September 19) raises some interesting facts.
It shows the Whanganui ratepayers are well and truly under the hammer. The comparison of salary between Whanganui and Nelson chief executives is only used to blur the reality. One big reality - Nelson has a fully-functioning port.
Kym Fell's pay puts him third overall at $13.44 per ratepayer, with Nelson's chief executive either first or second at $17.28 per ratepayer.
Fell's salary of $287,027 divided by cost per ratepayer $13.44 equals 21,423 Whanganui ratepayers, so 21,423 Whanganui ratepayers multiplied by debt per ratepayer ($6556) equals $140.5 million.
The council's 10-year plan informed the WDC ratepayers that their debt for 2018-19 was $123 million reducing to $88 million by 2028. The sums indicate an extra $17.5 million of debt that the Whanganui ratepayers hold. Council finance general manager Fermor may need a new abacus.
The New Zealand Taxpayers Union argues chief executives should be scrapped and councils revert back to more modestly remunerated town clerks. How we, the Whanganui ratepayers, long for the good old days.
Other comments from the Taxpayers Union:
1.Unlike businesses, councils have the power to dig endlessly deep into ratepayers pockets. Don't we know that. All power and no accountability.
2This power should come with a sense of public service. Hallelujah.
F LAW, Springvale
New pokie rules
The Chronicle reported that Whanganui has lost six pokies through the amalgamation that has formed Club Metro.
A Wellington City councillor has called for all pokies to be banned - a call that can't be answered. We could, however, revamp the laws around pokie parlours, like the operating hours, and not let them open before midday and close for an hour at three so some players can attend to children's needs.
G R SCOWN, Whanganui
