Other Taonga - Nga Manu Korero - Maori Education Trust

Te Ohomauri Taharakau (Joss) and Ihipera Roti (Rose) Stewart were involved in Ngā Manu Kōrero from the late seventies, until they passed away.

They both followed Gisborne Girls' and Gisborne Boys' High Schools all over the country every year. In the late eighties, Rose came to teach at Makoura College in Wairarapa. Here, they encouraged all the schools in the area to participate in Ngā Manu Kōrero. In Whangarei in 1988, Joss, on behalf of the Whanganui-a-Tara/Wairarapa region, asked that the next national competition be held in Wairarapa.

It was here that Joss felt that there should be a tāonga, a material symbol, of the hidden principle protecting the vitality and mana of Ngā Manu Kōrero. This was supported by the late Sir John Mokonuiarangi Bennett, Chairman of the Māori Education Foundation, and the Whanganui-ā-Tara/Wairarapa region.

The inscription on the tāonga reads:
He waka tohu aroha na te Wairarapa

At the end of the competitions, the host region hands the tāonga over to the hosts for the following year. In Wairarapa in 1989, the beautifully carved canoe was presented to Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka, the National Organising Committee for 1990.

The waka was carved by Joss' nephew, Te Aturangi Clamp of Turanganui-ā-Kiwa, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Ruapani, Te Aitanga-ā-Mahaki tribal affiliations. The waka has not been named. I te kōrero a te kaumatua nei, kia kore ai e tumekemeke ngā iwi. No reira, ko tēnei tāonga he tāonga nā ngā mātāwaka o runga o Aotearoa.

In 1998, a carved hoe was presented by Tai Rāwhiti in memory of Rose and Joss. Kia noho tahi ai te waka me te hoe hei kawe i te mauri mō Ngā Manu Kōrero.

Haere ngā mate, haere atu kōrua i te huanui, i te ara kua papatauria e te tapuwae kauika tangata. Takoto mai kōrua i te moenga e kore nekehia, i te moenga e kore hikitia.

He puna wai e utuhia, hei wai kei aku kamo.
Te pua korau e ruia e tipu i te waru
(Nga Moteatea 134)

In 1994, another tāonga was added to the competition. This was to commemorate the centenary of the capping of the first Māori graduate at a New Zealand University, Sir Apirana Ngata.

This tāonga is awarded to:

1. The student who gains the highest aggregate in both Māori and English languages; or in the event of no student qualifying
2. The school who gains the highest aggregate in both Māori and English; or in the event of no school qualifying
3. The region with the highest aggregate in both Māori and English languages
4. In the event of a draw or equal aggregate, the award will be made to the individual, school or region with the highest aggregate in Māori.

The first winning school was Hillcrest High School in 1995. The first winning individual was Rawiri Tinirau, of Wanganui Collegiate in 1997.

In 1998, the Māori Education Trust decided to make a special presentation to all the national finalists in the Ngā Manu Kōrero, and their schools. This taonga was to commemorate Sir John Mokonuiarangi Bennett, QSO. Sir John was Chairman of the Māori Education Foundation/Trust for 25 years and on his retirement became its inaugural patron. He was a staunch supporter and a key figure in the organisation of Ngā Manu Kōrero during his many years with the Trust.