Awatuna Homestead

http://www.awatunahomestead.co.nz

I have arrived at the home and family ground of Pauline and Hëmi Te Räkau.

I have learned much in a short time with this interesting family about the Maori and their beliefs and history. We have walked the gound and discussed the ancestral heritage which extends from this place. The family history of Hëmi Te Räkau goes back a recorded 84 generations and one of his older relatives can recount the names and relationships of every generation. This knowledge of the family relationships has become central to claims made against the crown beginning in 1975.

The Maori are great navigators who were able to put their large outriggers into the currents of the sea and travel along them throughout the Pacific. Learning ancient songs by adding a line at a time, they were able to find their way home avoiding the dangers of depths of the sea, including the kraken, with the protection of the ancient ones - the whales. Hëmi has possession of the "talking stick" which recounts the history of his family with 84 windings of the strings where it hold together the wood portion from the portion which is green jade stone. It has a top which has head of a bird and the eyes of the bird are stones from Easter Island. When he attends meetings of tribal leaders, that particular stick, which is quite ancient, is recognized by others as that of his family.

A wonderful dinner of venison, home made tomata soup, green beans and a Greek salad had been served. Later, after crisp apple cobbler, we sat in the living room and discussed how Hëmi has been involved in the claims process on behalf of the Maori who have successfully made claims for reparations against the crown of England. We talked on into the night about their traditions. The windows of the home are open and sweet fragrances of roses, orchids and many other flowers fill the home.

The backyard of the Awatuna Homestead.

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