Sir Maui Pomare's Life Long Quest

Sir Maui Pomare was a remarkable man - an adventurer, a sports champion, a scholar and chief. He was New Zealand's first Maori doctor and he travelled miles on foot to improve the health of his people.

There were many times when Sir Maui's advice was not welcome and he was mocked and told to leave marae. But Sir Maui Pomare was a determined man in more ways than one and that's just what this story shows.

Rewind to the time of New Zealand's first doctors: 1840-1910

True or false?

1. Doctors are divided into those who could ride and those who could not.
2. Travel is the biggest burden for New Zealand's early doctors. Buying and keeping a good horse is expensive and riding long distances to see patients is dangerous.
3. Most of New Zealand's doctors have been trained in New Zealand.
4. Doctors in the bigger towns generally earn more than those in rural areas.
5. Many doctors give up medicine or get other part time jobs because patients can't afford to pay.

What do you know?

This story begins with five-year-old Maui Pomare on the day troops rode in to conquer his village. Maui lived at Parihaka and Maori today call that special day, the day of the Pahua or plundering. You can find the whole Parihaka story here but for now just read the first part down to the heading "Day of Pahua". Find out how many soldiers marched on Parihaka, what they were expecting and how they were greeted.

Likely or unlikely?

Before you read this week's story label the things below likely or unlikely to have happened. Check your answers once you have read the story.

1. The events at Parihaka would always be remembered by Sir Maui.
2. Diseases brought to New Zealand by new settlers were harming Maori.
3. Nobody studied medicine in New Zealand before 1900.
4. Land confiscation was one reason for health problems among some Maori.
5. Superstition was one barrier to good health among Maori.
6. Taranaki Maori were more determined to rely on traditional health care than Maori in other parts of New Zealand.

Word wise

All the words below appear in this week's story. Decide on the best meaning and check your answers once you have read the story.

1. taonga (a) priest or (b) treasures
2. mana (a) unique or (b) authority, prestige
3. eloquent orator (a) a fluent and effective speaker or (b) a bilingual speaker
4. alienation (a) transfer of property ownership or (b) separation
5. tohunga (a) priest or (b) an expert in a particular skill or knowledge
6. philanthropist (a) someone who helps people by their activities or donations or (b) someone who collects stamps
7. superstition (a) myth, fallacy (b) magical
8. much maligned (a) unliked (b)having harmful statements made about you
9. charlatans (a)  quacks or frauds or (b) medicine people
10. personal vendetta (a)when a person is determined to do a good job or (b) a feud by one person on a group

Read on

Click on this story and read through to the sub heading "Bound for the US". As you read look for these things:

Who are the guardians of Sir Maui's taonga now?

What happened to five-year-old Maui at Parihaka?

What made Maui Pomare decide to study medicine?

Thumbs up?

All sorts of people and events had an impact on the young Maui's life before he left New Zealand to study medicine. Decide whether the impact of those below would have been positive or negative then compare your selections with a classmate. Show them with a thumbs up or thumbs down.

1. Living at Parihaka
2. The last words of Maui's father
3. The elders and kaumatua who encouraged him to study law.
4. The schools he attended
5. Maui's aunt Heni
6. The tohunga from Taranaki

In the headlines

The next three parts of this story tell of Maui's life in America and beyond. Who knows? Some of the things he became involved in might have hit the headlines. Read through to "Working for his people" and write three headlines that tell of three big things that happened to Maui Pomare during his time away from New Zealand.

Get the message?

Read right through to the sub heading, "Entering politics" and as you read take note of the things Maui Pomare wanted people on marae to do to stay healthy.

These days the Ministry of Health advertises healthy living messages through the media. You see them on TV and radio and in magazines and newspapers. List a set of messages Dr Pomare would want to get across if he could have used the media in the same way in his day.

Unpopular solutions

Do this by yourself, in pairs or in a small group. Draw up three columns with one of these headings at the top of each column.

Type of health problem. Solution. Effects.

List the problems Dr Pomare was trying to solve in column one. In column two list his solution to each problem and in column three list the effects of each solution. You may find there are both positive and negative effects. Share your ideas with others.

Ask me!

What if the Taranaki Herald newspaper of 1903 decided to write a story about Dr Pomare's health care ideas. Health stories like these are published today because people are affected and that's part of what news is all about. List some people the reporter might have talked to in 1903 for a balanced story - one that covers all points of view.

High five

Finish the story and take special note of what else Sir Maui Pomare did to help his people.

Choose five words from the list below that you believe best describe this remarkable man. Think carefully about Sir Maui's work and what he believed in. Look for five words with different meanings because some of these words mean the same or nearly the same as others.

courageous, determined, strong minded, persistent, businesslike, understanding, optimistic, assertive, gracious, skilled, respected, visionary, honourable, tireless, dedicated, tenacious, responsible, enthusiastic, incomparable, devoted, a leader, staunch, knowledgeable, faithful

Read all about it

Click here to read the amazing story of Sir Maui Pomare's grandmother and her courageous swim in a time of war.

Fast forward to 2004

Thousands of people celebrated Waitangi Day at Taranaki parks and beaches this year. Patea's Paepae in the Park attracted 2000 people and the official Waitangi Day celebrations at Ngamotu Beach were popular too. They were organised by the New Plymouth District Council and than 1000 people of all cultural backgrounds enjoyed music, art, waka demonstrations, abseiling, games and a hangi. People could even learn a bit more about the Treaty.

Up at Waitangi there were violent scuffles and protests. Prime Minister Helen Clark was there to commemorate the signing of the treaty but protesters targeted her with taunts and jostling. National Party leader Don Brash was splattered with mud the day before.

The Prime Minister's stance on the seabed and foreshore issue angered protesters. A recent speech by Don Brash didn't impress them either. Mr Brash called for an end to any government funding in health and education that is based on race.

Where to now?

Helen Clark later said she felt no fear for her safety and though the rudeness was not pleasant, dissent was expected on Waitangi Day.

What do you think? The organisers of Patea's Paepae in the Park had invited the Prime Minister to their event. Should Helen Clark go to celebrations like these or should she always go to Waitangi? Think, pair and share your ideas.

To find out more about government handling of the seabed and foreshore issue look here.

In the hotseat

What would Sir Maui Pomare think of a speech that called for no special health funding for Maori? Imagine if the Leader of the Opposition party made such a speech in Parliament while Sir Maui was Minister of Health.  Jot down at least three things Sir Maui might say in reply.