Tapsell - Pukaki: a comet returns

appendices

list of narrators

,

, 132

F irst and foremost I wish to acknowledge my elders, almost all of whom have now passed on. This is their book, their vision. It was conceived so it might follow their mokopuna across the horizon coming to rest upon a nearby shelf at school, in the local library, or at home and fill them with ancestral pride and hope that transcends their commonplace urban realities.

I wish to extend my wholehearted appreciation to the whanau of Hamuera Taiporutu Mitchell, especially Kiri, and aunties Matemoe and Frances, for helping see Koros book to completion thank you so much for your wonderful guidance and offers of assistance and encouragement. Also to Auntie Bubbles, tena koe e kui mo to aroha tohutohu, tena koe. To my people, Ngati Whakaue and Te Papa-i-Ouru trustees, thank you for supporting me on this long and sometimes difficult journey. To our ariki, Wihapi Te Amohau Winiata and whanau, my deepest gratitude for your unwavering spiritual guidance over the years, especially after Hikos sad departure. E Hiko o te Rangi, takoto mai. Takoto mai ra e te tohunga ahurewa, takoto i te wahangutanga o te tangata, i te okiokinga pumau mo tatou katoa. Ka mohiotia e te katoa, na te maramatanga, te tohungatanga, te aroha hoki i waenganui i a koe i whakataki i te ritenga tika ki ahau e noho ana nei i taku tauiratanga. Na reira e kore koe e wareware. E koro, moe mai, moe mai, moe mai ra i roto i nga ringaringa a te Ariki

With great pride I would like to pass on particular recognition to the Ngati Whakaue Education Endowment Trust Board for sponsoring this project. To Hamish Macdonald, thank you for your time and dedication in producing the many photographs throughout. I am grateful both to Te Waka Toi for their financial assistance , and to the NewZealandHerald for providing the cover and title page images to this book. Also, to the helpful staff at Reed Publishing, a special acknowledgement for embracing my elders vision.

Thank you to the numerous Te Arawa tribal trusts, Waikato Raupatu Lands Trust, Te Maori Maanaki Taonga Trust and other agencies who have financially assisted my academic endeavours. Special thanks to the Centre for Cross-cultural Research at the Australian National University, Canberra, for supporting me during the final stages of writing in 1999. To my academic supervisors at the universities of Auckland and Oxford, thank you very much. There are many other people and institutions that have also assisted me including artists and museum colleagues throughout New Zealand. To all of you, my sincerest thanks. Finally, to my family, Whanau a Tapihana elders, my many cousins and friends, and most importantly my wife Merata and her whanau, I extend my heartfelt appreciation and gratitude for all your patience, support and guidance over the past five years. Kia ora koutou katoa.