Saturday 17 July I travelled with friends to a rugby match at Katikati. After the game the speeches were started off with a lengthy address in Maori by one of the visiting officials, an address which took me back years as my father loved the Maori language. When he was alive he spoke and taught it whenever possible and boasted that he could converse in that language anywhere in New Zealand. To my own regret I never did learn it properly but still enjoy hearing it spoken.
I was disappointed that no English translation was given as that was something my father always did. He believed that it was a matter of good manners to translate what was said and a way that non speakers could get greater enjoyment of the language. However, I digress. The above address was replied to by a portly gent who banged his beer bottle on the table to get attention then he replied in Maori with prompts when he lost his way from his wife, a course of great amusement amongst my friends on the way home. Again sadly no English translation.
Forward to last Saturday, again to Katikati and an entertaining game. The after match speech was presented this time in English by a senior player visitors, and replied to by the same portly gent who has been practicing as he needed no prompting this time but who presented according to my Maori friends basically the same address as last week. We were not impressed and felt the whole sorry performance gives Maori protocol a bad name. Anyone who is not fluent in the spoken word should not be charged with the right of reply, and I am still of the opinion that it is basic good manners to translate to English.
Rowena Kete, Tauranga.