Comments on: Carvings and other Cultural Treasures of the Tchakat Henu

By: scooter74

scooter74 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:18:47 +0000

Kia ora Rekohu,

thanks for those comments. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you were Ngati Mutunga, not Moriori. What are relations like between the two on Rekohu nowadays?

I don’t know Richards, but I note he says he was asked to write his book by Moriori. My interest in Moriori culture and history really comes from frustration with the myths that have grown up around the subjects amongst Pakeha – myths which I think do a lot to hinder historical understanding and set back race relations in our country. You might be interested in this recent blog post, where I reproduce a copuple of e mails I’ve sent to the owner of one of the Auckland websites which is perpetuating the Moriori myth:
http://stuff.co.nz/AAMB0/aamsz=760×120/4591509a8153.html

I was wondering whether you were aware of Canterbury museum ethnologist Roger Fyfe’s podcat about the Moriori myth. I think this could be a very good educational tool – certainly I found it educational!
http://www.museumdetective.com/?p=18

I hope you keep blogging.

Cheers
Scott

By: rekohu

rekohu — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 22:40:01 +0000

Firstly Scott,
Despite the non de plume of Rekohu, my views neither represent those of Moriori, nor of a Moriori. I have never calimed to be such, in fact in earlier correspondance I have stated that sadly I am not Moriori, but that my children whakapapa to Ngati Mutunga O Wharekauri. I represent my views and mine alone. Take it or leave it. You asked a question, you got an answer, from me, NOT from Moriori.
Whilst some may doubt the validity of a blog about the “Chatham Islands” administered by someone with the pen name of Rekohu, espousing their views in relation to the history of these islands where I do live, they have the choice to use their back buttons to return to whence they came.
Yes I have read Rhys Richards earlier books, and dont have a problem with them, in fact they are exceptionally well researched etc.
What I do have a problem about, with this latest book is the lack of acknowledgement and usurping of intellectual property rights of an indigenous people. (This is a global issue) This abuse of property rights would not be condoned by any other significant group of people would it. Didint the NZ rugby union have to consult with Maori when they cahnged the haka? Doesnt every individual or organisation in NZ have an obligation to consult with Iwi under the RMA, and I could go on and on…
So what gives anyone the right to use imagery of sacred treasures of the Moriori in a book without permission, or did he have permission? I dont know, but I (and this is just my personal opinion, to which I am entitled) would have thought that if he did, then he would have acknowledged it.
I have read the thesis in the link that you sent and find it very interesting. I also find it interesting in that the dissertation about a people, who’s roots are polynesian, does not make use of the singular method that Maori and Moriori historically and traditionally recorded their own histories: orally.
In the list of sources used there is reference to a number of papers written by individual Moriori, but there is no evidence of the author actually asking Moriori the crucial questions relating to her topic. Why not. Surely in todays politically correct academic environment, that would be an essential step towards authenticity of debate?
If you are writing about Moriori, then why not ask Moriori?
If one were to believ that the sole sum of Moriori knowledge rests in the writings of Tapu, or Shand, then one is sadly underestimating the determinations and resilience of the Moriori people.
To put a “cultural” slant on academic writing is not a crime. it would give it veracity.
I do not know the authors genetic background, nor why that topic was chosen. I ony know that (as I have made this mistake) no-one can justify representing a view on the hows, whats and whys of Moriori without the views of Moriori. It is presumptuous, condescending and patronising.
Moriori today are acomplished in many fields and are quite capable of representing and verifying their own history. One only has to ask.
Me rongo

By: scooter74

scooter74 — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:58:16 +0000

Hi Rekohu,

thanks very much for those comments. I was very curious to hear a Moriori opinion on the book.

My understanding is that Richards has a long association with your islands, and if I remember rightly he says near the start of the book that Moriori asked him to write it. Perhaps, though, he didn’t consult widely enough when he was preparing it? Have you seen his earlier books on the Moriori language and the sealing and whaling industries in the nineteenth century Chathams?

I too was puzzled by the boldness of Richards’ references to Rapa Nui. I also note that his claim that some Moriori are descended from people who arrived directly from East Polynesia does not seem to be echoed by most other authorities (Sutton, King, Maui Solomon etc). I have heard that David Simmons, the Auckland musuem ethnographer who did a survey of the dendroglyphs in the ’60s, believes that a direct connection with East Polynesian is possible.

Richards only presents oral history as evidence for a group arriving direct from Eastern Polynesia. But I think there might be one or two bits of material evidence that might possibly point in that direction. If I remember rightly, Doug Sutton’s team unearthed an amulet with a motif found in Eastern Polynesia but not Aotearoa during one of their digs in the ’70s. Sutton mentions this artefact in the long essay for the Journal of the Polynesian Society that Michael King used when he wrote his book. Why was it in Rekohu but not in Aotearoa? he asks. Sutton’s view was that a similar motif would turn up in Aotearoa eventually, thus eliminatingthe apparent anomaly – it’d be interesting to know whether that has been the case.

I have read Jefferson’s book on the dendroglyphs, and also Skinner’s 1920s study. There is a very interesting discussion of Skinner and his work on Rekohu in an online Masters thesis by a Canterbury Uni student about the role of the Moriori in the imagination of Pakeha:
http://digital-library.canterbury.ac.nz/data/collection3/etd/adt-NZCU20070628.114755/
I always imagined Skinner as one of the good guys – the slayer of the racist myth of Best and Smith – but he emerges as a more complex character.

I very much hope that I haven’t misrepresented the dendroglyphs and Moriori culture and history in general in my review of Richards’ book. Perhaps you could work your comments up into a review of the book? I could ask the editor of the Scoop Review of Books to run it. Are you currently living on Rekohu?

Sincerely
Scott