Issue 96 - Editorial

Season of change

Tena ano tatou

As we gingerly make our way out of the coldest and wettest winter I can remember we can all pause to remember with sadness our many whanaunga who didn't make it through to spring and the coming summer. We all know someone and limited space means I can only mention a few: Te Kapunga (Koro) Dewes, a larger than life teacher/ farmer who was Ngati Porou to the bone – we have a few yarns about him in Maimai Aroha; Te Miringa Hohaia – a similarly colourful Taranaki character whom we also feature. But I also want to mention others who have made their contribution to our society. Bruce Poananga was a young officer with the 15th reinforcement for the Maori Battalion, which arrived in Italy when fighting had ended. He went on to join the occupation force in Japan. He was one of, if not the, first Maori to train as an officer at Duntroon in Australia and he made a career as an army officer serving as a peacekeeper in the Middle East along with other roles. Bruce's younger brother Brian who died some years ago, followed in his footsteps to Duntroon and went on to command the NZ Army as Major-General Poananga.

Jim Nicholls showed leadership qualities early when he was Head Boy at St Stephen's school and went on to represent the Hauraki area for many years on the NZ Maori Council. Latterly he pushed for and was successful in having a TV documentary made on the life and times of his mentor Sir Graham Latimer – who survives Jim. And Sir Archie Taiaroa – a charismatic Whanganui and Tuwharetoa leader. Archie was a rarity among Maori leaders, one of the few who could foot it in the Pakeha world but was still steeped in his Maori tikanga and language. Moe mai kotou katoa.

But back to the living and if ever Maori were going to declare a living treasure it should be George Henare, our cover guy. He is without peer in New Zealand theatre and for decades has quietly and humbly played every role that has come his way, to perfection. We salute you George.

Another salute goes to Ngati Kahungunu for taking firm steps to stamp out smoking within its rohe. Despite all the information and evidence we have that smoking is killing us, somehow our people are still becoming addicted and heading towards an early, horrible and unnecessary death. We meet Mohi Waihi, a man who has cheated death and found a novel way to get the anti-smoking message through to our young people.

As usual Mana is chocker with great stories and we have giveaway tickets to some of the Four Nations League games. But there's a bit of bad news this time too. We can no longer hold back the tide of increased costs and so for the first time in nearly 20 years of publishing we are putting up the subscription price and, for only the second time, we're lifting the cover price too. We hope you understand. After all $7.90 is still much less than a packet of cigarettes, which average around $13 for a packet of 20. And there's no evidence that anyone ever died from reading Mana – it's a safe addiction.