Reading and writing questions for Helen Brown

The Nga¯i Tahu researcher and archivist has co-edited a second book of stories about Nga¯i Tahu women – a true tribal album.

Tell us about the significance of wahine in this volume

Wa¯ hine have always been central to Nga¯ i Tahu culture and identity. But the dual impacts of colonisation and patriarchy have frequently led to our women’s contributions and accomplishments being omitted or overlooked.

When planning for this volume began in 2018, it coincided with the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand. While the story of the fight for the women’s franchise is predominantly a Pa¯ keha¯ one, the suffrage kaupapa drew attention to the need for us to make more Ma¯ ori women’s stories visible.

Among these, were several wa¯ hine whose stories I felt compelled to feature because they were simply so remarkable – these included wa¯ hine such as Hira Po¯ hio Traill, Hera Stirling Munro, Jean Rawei, and Aunty Jane Davis who is one of the few wa¯ hine in the book whom I knew personally.

Was there a story in volume two that really resonated with you?

One who will stay with me is Hira Pohio Traill. Born in 1894, Hira was a proponent of the arts, she composed and published music and carved pounamu. In the 1930s and 40s she emerged as a prolific and outspoken Nga¯ i Tahu commentator on social, economic and political issues. She railed against both central and local government about the inequity of treatment of Ma¯ ori under the law.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi was at the heart of her thinking about seeking equality and justice for Nga¯ i Tahu and she frequently questioned why Te Tiriti had not been honoured. I was drawn to her passion, her staunchness, her incisive language, her creativity, and the fantastic juxtaposition she embodied as a wa¯ hine who is remembered by her wha¯ nau as a sweet well-dressed lady, but who was also a firebrand with the pen and formidable in an argument.

What are the challenges of archiving?

Like its 2017 predecessor, this volume is literally, a tribal family album. Numerous wha¯ nau contributed to its making and this is most evident in the richness of the illustrations. Family photographs were peeled from albums and shuffled out of boxes to be shared. Wha¯ nau also arranged for precious family portraits hanging on their walls to be de-framed for copying.

With the challenges of Covid-19, we had to arrange for images to be carefully couriered around the country to be professionally digitised. Taonga held in family collections were also photographed.

These objects have an immediacy and an intimate connection with the subjects of the biographies and tell stories in a way that words cannot. We were also extremely fortunate to have Neil Pardington working on the design and image work. He restored and enhanced many of the photographs with digital wizardry, mending tears and scuff marks on well-loved prints and bringing out the luminosity of early photographic studio portraits.

Who is this book for?

This book belongs to Nga¯ i Tahu wha¯ nui but is for everyone. The product of four years of research, writing and collaboration it is a taonga for future generations, and it is our hope that it will serve not only as a celebration of lives lived, but as an inspiration for emerging leaders, and a catalyst for further developments in tribal storytelling.

Helen Brown (Nga¯ i Tahu) is part of the Nga¯ i Tahu Archive team at Te Ru¯ nanga o Nga¯ i Tahu. She has co-edited the second volume of Ta¯ ngata Nga¯ i Tahu | People of Nga¯ i Tahu (Bridget Williams Books, RRP $49.99).