Pei Te Hurinui Jones

Tainui, Waikato, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Maniapoto

1898 - 1976

Pei Te Hurinui Jones was born in Mercury Bay and was educated at Ongarue Primary School from 1906-1912 and at Wesley Training College in Auckland in 1913. From 1914-15 Jones had private tuition from Rev. Monfries and attended a Presbyterian Secondary School in Taumarunui. After leaving school he joined the Māori Affairs Department as a clerk and interpreter. Jones made a huge contribution to Māori literature with his numerous writings, translations and editing in Māori and English. With Sir Aprirana Ngata, Jones co-edited and translated a four-volume collection of songs of the Māori entitled Nga Moteatea. He chaired the revision committee for H. W. Williams’ A Dictionary of the Māori Language. In 1945 Jones translated Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice into Māori and went on to translate Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Othello also. Jones wrote the script Uenuku a ‘mythical folk opera’ which was taken from Māori mythology and was to be the first production of the newly formed Māori Theatre Trust. Don Selwyn directed Jones’ Merchant of Venice as a stage play at the Koanga Festival in 1990 and in 2002 the play was made into a film Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti directed by Don Selwyn and produced by He Taonga Films. Jones also wrote many non-fiction publications and articles which were published in various periodicals including Te Ao Hou and the Journal of the Polynesian Society. He was awarded an OBE in 1961 and an honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of Waikato in 1968. He was a keen sportsman and was the national Māori singles tennis champion and doubles title-holder with his brother in the 1920s. Jones stood for Parliament in the Western Māori seat as a National Party representative and an independent candidate on a number of occasions. He was a key figure in the Māori King Movement, was a chief adviser to the Māori Queen, and is recognised as a key figure in the renaissance of Māori culture in the 20th century. Jones married Hepina Teri and they adopted a number of children. After the death of Hepina in 1956 he went on to marry Kate Huia Apatari in 1958. He was a Justice of the Peace and died on 7 May 1976 in Taumarunui.

Biographical sources

  • Correspondence from Hēmi Whaanga, 9 July 2004.
  • Phone conversation with Brian Jones, 14 Sept. 1998.
  • Biggs, Bruce. "Jones, Pei Te Hurinui – Biography." The Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Updated 1-Sep-10. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/4/11/1
  • Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z., Heinemann, 1982.
  • Taylor, Alex. "A Giant of Māoridom." Te Māori 5.1 (1973): 22-25.

    Biography

  • "Te Hurinui." Into the World of Light: An Anthology of Māori Writing. Ed. Witi Ihimaera and D. S. Long. Auckland, N.Z., Heinemann, 1982. 8-12.
  • Jones writes an interesting account of his two tipuna who possessed the name Te Hurinui. He describes two ancient tribal rites that were performed on him in his childhood: the Tohinga or Initiation Rite which cured him of his disturbing dreams, and the Tohi-whakaara or "Raising Up" ceremony. It was after this latter ceremony that Jones’ grand-uncle began to instruct him in the ancient tribal traditions, ritual, whakapapa and waiata; from this early training Jones developed ‘an abiding love for the ancient lore of our Māori people.’ He concludes his article by recounting one particular ritual which when invoked causes storms to cease or pass by. The editors of Into the World of Light, state that this autobiographical work was especifically written for Into the World of Light in 1975.

    • Non-fiction

  • "Mahinarangi." Te Wananga 1.1 (1929): 57-76.
  • Observations of the Ngaruawahia Meeting March 1929.
  • Mahinarangi (The Moon-glow of the Heavens): A Tainui Saga. Hawera, N.Z.: J. C. Ekdahl, 1945.
  • "Te Kōrero O Tainui." Tainui Sexcentennial Canoe Celebrations. Ed. M. Winiata. [Ngaruawahia]: Turangawaewae Māori Adult Education Committee and the Tainui Sexcentennial Canoe Celebrations Committee, [1950]. n.p.
  • This paper is published in a pamphlet sent out in conjunction with the celebrations of the 600th anniversary of the landing of the canoes, which were held at Te Kaha, Gisborne, Otaki, Hastings, Whakatane and Ngaruawahia from 21 January - 10 October, 1950. The pamphlet contains a foreword providing a background to the celebrations and "Nga Kōrero" - a programme of the speakers and their topics. The pamphlet reproduces the Māori text of E. C. Reweti’s talk "Te Whakamaharatanga Mo Nga Waka.", M. Winiata’s "Hekenga Nui Mai O Nga Waka/ The Coming of the Māori" in Māori and English, and Pei Te Hurinui’s ‘Te Kōrero O Tainui" in Māori.
  • "Mahinarangi and Turongo." Te Ao Hou 3 (1952/3): 15-24.
  • Text taken from The Story of Mahinarangi by Jones.
  • "Funeral Oration." Te Ao Hou 9 (1954): 41-43.
  • Jones gave this oration at Okoki Pa before the service of internment of Te Rangihiroa’s ashes and the unveiling of his memorial on 8 August, 1954. Jones writes of Te Rangihiroa’s return to his u-kai po to his fathers in the Twelfth Heaven of his Polynesian Valhalla. Noting the presence of the Governor General at the funeral, Jones states that "it is in keeping with the life of Te Rangihiroa that representatives of both races should be gathered by his tomb"; he thanks the Hon. M. Corbett for assisting in bringing back to New Zealand Te Rangihiroa’s ashes. Jones sends condolences to Te Rangihiroa’s people on behalf of the Tainui and members of King Koroki’s family and he closes by quoting from the famous lament ‘Taku tiki pounamu ko te huanga anake/ My ornamental greenstone pendant. Alas we saw thee as in a dream.’ The text is in Māori and English.
  • "A Valedictory Message: Te Rangiatahua Royal." Te Ao Hou 14 (1956): 12-14.
  • This is a biographical tribute in Māori and English to Rangi Royal on the occasion of Royal’s retirement as Controller of Māori Welfare. Jones writes of Royal’s work as departmental officer in the Rotorua office of the Native Department, of his association with Ngata in the Land Development Schemes and of his long association with Te Arawa tribal affairs. During World War Two, Royal rose to the rank of Major Royal, M.C. and Bar, and after the war he worked on revising Williams’ Māori Dictionary.
  • "Judea Meeting House in Retrospect." Te Ao Hou 16 (1956): 23-26.
  • Jones opens this report on the opening of the Judea Meeting Houses with a glowing review of the souvenir booklet "Opening Ceremonies of the Tamatea-pokai-whenua Meeting House and Iwipupu Dining Hall, Saturday, May 5th 1956". This booklet includes Māori text of ancient chants and genealogies with English explanations. Jones writes that the Māori text includes references to missionary influence prior to the land wars; these prompted the taking of biblical names for principal tribal marae such as Huria/Judaea, and Maungatapu/the Sacred Mount. He gives a description of the four year project to build the Judea meeting house and notes the role of Henare and Mere Toka in supervising the carving, decorative scroll work and weaving of the tukutuku panels. The Ngāti Ranginui hosts of the opening ceremonies are praised for their hospitality, catering and excellent whariki.
  • "Māori Genealogies." Journal of the Polynesian Society 67.2 (1958): 162-165.
  • Pei Te Hurinui Jones writes this article to address queries raised by Andrew Sharp and J. B. W. Robertson in their articles in volumes 67 and 66 respectively of Journal of the Polynesian Society concerning variations in the number of generations of Māori whakapapa and questioning the Māori account of the great migration of tribal waka arriving in New Zealand in 1350. Drawing from his own whakapapa Jones presents a number of explanations for the variations.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: First Instalment." Te Ao Hou 28 (1959): 11-16.
  • This is the first of seven articles by Jones on the life of Puhiwahine. Te Ao Hou notes that this is ‘the first detailed study ever made of the Māori poet’ and that Jones has ‘made a painstaking study of her, and translated and edited all the songs of which her authorship is certain.’ In this instalment, Jones writes of Puhiwahine’s whakapapa on her mother’s side and notes that her mother, Hinekiore, was a famous song-leader and composer of songs. Jones describes Puhiwahine’s early life and how at a young age ‘she became an accomplished singer and an artistic performer in all the popular action songs of the tribe.’ Her love for Hauauru is thwarted when her brothers forbade her to marry a married man, which would have reduced her to a position of secondary wife. Instead, she and her party travelled around the country; her travels included a trip to the south where she was entertained by her Ngāti Toa relatives, and a visit to the South Island at the invitation of the famous chief Taiaroa. On learning that Hauauru had taken another wife, Puhiwahine was overcome with melancholy, and composed two songs expressing her love for Hauauru. Jones includes the text of these songs and provides an English translation. He also adds an action song in which Puhiwahine describes her trip to the south.
  • "Werihe Te Tuiri." Te Ao Hou 29 (1959): 11-13.
  • Jones gives a brief reminiscences in Māori and English of the late Werihe Te Tuiri whose memorial was unveiled at Tapeka, the Tuwharetoa tribal meeting house in May 1959. Jones also provides a background to Te Tuiri’s lengthy waiata, "Te Waiata Poi A Werihe", which he includes in the text with an English translation.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Second Instalment." Te Ao Hou 29 (1959): 17-21.
  • In this second part of Jones’ essay on Puhiwahine, he writes of her romantic interludes with Te Poihipi, chief of Ahuahu, and with a distant cousin, Te Mahutu Te Toko. In both relationships marriage was forbidden by Puhiwahine’s family; her brothers decided to take her back to Taupo. On the way they stopped at Owairaka, where Puhiwahine composed a love song for Te Mahutu which is printed in the text with an English translation. The song became very popular and when Mahutu heard it he wrote a song in response; Jones includes this song in the text with an English translation. Jones writes of Puhiwahine’s meeting with and subsequent marriage to John Gotty, and describes their early years together in Miringa and Wanganui, and the birth of their two sons. Jones provides the text of another waiata by Puhiwahine entitled "He Waiata Mo Te Pakanga (A Song of War)".
  • King Potatau: An Account of the Life of Potatau Te Wherowhero, the First Māori King. Wellington, N.Z.: Polynesian Society, 1960.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Third Instalment." Te Ao Hou 30 (1960): 10-13.
  • Jones’ biography of Puhiwahine continues with her years in Wanganui with her husband John Gotty. Puhiwahine’s wit, charm and songs made her a popular guest at the various marae along the Whanganui river. Jones includes the text of one of her famous songs "He Waiata Ki Ana Whaiaipo/Song of a Coquette", in which she describes her many romantic encounters. The second part of the article entitled ‘The Sons of Puhiwahine", describes the lives of Puhiwahine’s sons, John (Hone), and George (Te Oti). Jones includes one stanza of John’s poem, "Electra: Congratulations from the Māoris of Lower Rangitikei" which was published in The Advocate 11 Dec. 1915.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Fourth Instalment: Grandmother To Be." Te Ao Hou 31 (1960): 17-20,64.
  • After the marriage of Puhiwahine’s two sons to Parewahawaha women, Jones writes that Puhiwahine was thrilled to hear that both her daughters-in-law were pregnant. She wrote an oriori or lullaby called ‘Te Oriori A Puhiwahine’ which Jones notes is unique because it was written before the births. Jones then shifts to Puhiwahine’s interest in the Māori Land Court sittings in Taupo and Otorohanga in the mid 1880s when Maniapoto chiefs asked the Land Court to investigate titles of tribal lands. On her departure from Otorohanga, Puhiwahine sang a special song she had composed, "He Waiata Mo Nga Mahi Whenua/A Song about Land Affairs" in which she expresses her sorrow over ancestral land disputes. Jones discusses a fragment of a song provided by Te Keehi: he suggests that because of its content, it may well have been a part of "He Waiata Mo Nga Mahi Whenua". The article concludes with Jones’ overall summary of the characteristics of Puhiwahine’s songs.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Fifth Instalment: Gotty, Man of Mystery." Te Ao Hou 32 (1960): 12-14.
  • Jones presents a biography of Puhiwahine’s husband, John Gotty. He traces his arrival in New Zealand in 1838 and his subsequent work farming and running the Rutland Hotel in Wanganui. Jones also discusses some of the claims that Gotty was a son of the German poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Sixth Instalment: The Last Days of Puhiwahine." Te Ao Hou 33 (1960): 18-19.
  • In this penultimate instalment of Jones’ biography of Puhiwahine, he traces her last days following the death of her husband, John Gotty. Puhiwahine longed to return to the place of her birth and moved to Ongarue to live with her son George. Jones describes the visit of the hari mate group who came to mourn with Puhiwahine the loss of her husband. Finally, Jones concludes with some of his own childhood recollections of Puhiwahine.
  • Puhiwahine, Māori Poetess. Christchurch, N.Z.: Pegasus, 1961.
  • "Puhiwahine - Māori Poetess: Epilogue." Te Ao Hou 34 (1961): 12-13, 15-16.
  • In this epilogue, using the voices of author, ghost and Te Rangihirawea, Jones presents his rather complex theory of John Gotty being the grandson of Goethe.
  • "The Whakapapa of Puhiwahine." Te Ao Hou 34 (1961): 14-18.
  • Jones provides six tables of the different lines of Puhiwahine’s whakapapa. Tables 1 and 2 deal with her descent from the Tainui canoe on her father’s and mother’s side, with the latter containing the Ngāti Toa rangātira line. Table 3 shows Puhiwahine’s connection with Ngāti Toa, and link with Te Mahutu Te Toko. Table 4 shows her descent from the Arawa canoe. Table 5 records her relationship to Rewi Maniapoto, and Table 6 demonstrates her kinship with Hauauru and Wahanui.
  • "Hawaiki, the Original Home of the Māori." Royal Soc NZ Proc 89 (1961): 99-113.
  • A Souvenir Memoir: The Dedication of Auau-ki-te-rangi Meeting House at Maketu, Kawhia. [Hamilton, N.Z.]: Offset Printers, [1962].
  • "Whakapapa of Ahumai Te Paerata." Historical Review: Journal of Whakatane & District Historical Society Inc. N.Z. 12.2 (1964): 79.
  • Jones presents the genealogy of Ahumae te Paerata, whom he describes as ‘the central female figure at the Battle of Orakau’ of 1864. This whakapapa begins with Pare te Kawa and Te Momoirawaru.
  • "Māori Kings." The Māori People in the Nineteen-Sixties: A Symposium. Ed. Erik G. Schwimmer. Auckland, N.Z.: Blackwood & Janet Paul, 1968. 132-173.
  • An account of the rise of the King Movement and detailed biographies of King Potatau, King Tawhiao, King Mahuta, King Te Rata and King Koroki. Jones used King Te Rata’s manuscripts in his descriptions of the first four kings. He also draws upon his own eye witness accounts for the sections on King Te Rata and King Koroki. Because King Koroki died during the publication of this essay, Jones has added a postscript describing the King’s tangi and the process which led to Princess Piki’s succession as Queen Te Atairangikaahu.
  • "Māori Welcome to the Queen - Loyal Address." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 1.5 (1970): 25-27.
  • As president of the New Zealand Māori Council, Jones welcomes Queen Elizabeth II on her third visit to Aotearoa. The Queen visited New Zealand on the occasion of the Bicentennial Anniversary of the first voyage of Captain James Cook to New Zealand. This welcome is given prior to the rise of the 1970s era of protest and land marches; Jones gives a positive account of Māori-Pakeha relations.
  • Turanga-waewae: Souvenir of Golden Jubilee, 1921-1971. [Taumarunui, N.Z.: s.n.], 1971.
  • "Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones speaks for Māori People at Waitangi Hui 1971." Te Māori: The Official Journal of the New Zealand Māori Council 2.2 (1971): 2-3.
  • In this Waitangi Day speech, Jones reminds the Crown of the words of Sir Turi Carroll eight years earlier when he called for the Treaty of Waitangi to be embodied in New Zealand’s Statutes. Jones recounts the long history of Māori effort to persuade Parliament to give the Treaty statutory powers, and he also draws attention to other Māori grievances.
  • Ngapuwaiwaha Marae: Souvenir Booklet to Commemorate the Official Opening of the New Carved Meeting House, Te Taura-Whiri a Hinegakau, Saturday, 20th December 1975. [Taumaranui, N.Z.: ?, 1975]
  • Nga Iwi o Tainui: The Trsditional History of the Tainui People. Comp. Pei Te Hurinui Jones. Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland UP, 1995.
  • Compiled by Pei Te Hurinui Jones; edited and annotated by Bruce Biggs.

    • Other

  • Nga Moteatea (The Songs) A Selection of Annotated Tribal Songs of the Māori with English Translations. Comp. Sir Apirana Ngata. Pt. 1. 1928. Rpt. Polynesian Soc. 1959. Facsim. ed. 1972 (with the addition of Sir Apirana Ngata’s draft introduction of 1949 and a page of errata to 1959 edition, supplied by Mr Pei Te Hurinui Jones). Rpt. 1974. Rpt. Auckland, N.Z.: Polynesian Soc., 1988.
  • The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. "Omar Khayyam Translated." Te Ao Hou 10 (1955): 22-24.
  • This includes eight poems by the 12th century Persian poet Omar Khayyam’s Rubaiyat. Jones has translated them into Māori. The English version was translated by Edward Fitzgerald and is included alongside Jones’ Māori translation.
  • "Huria Hiha." Te Ao Hou 33 (1960): 40.
  • This is a Māori translation of Mark Antony’s speech in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar Act III, scene 2. Jones translated the play in 1942.
  • Nga Moteatea: He Maramara Rere No Nga Waka Maha: The Songs: Scattered Pieces From Many Canoe Areas. Comp. Apirana Ngata. Trans. Pei Te Hurinui. Pt. 2. Wellington, N.Z.: Published for the Polynesian Soc. by A. H. & A. W. Reed, 1961.
  • "Ki Te Etita." Te Ao Hou 36 (1961): 41.
  • "He Maemae Mo Wahine-iti/A Death Chant for Wahine-iti. (Ngāti Raukawa)." Trans. Pei Te Hurinui. Te Ao Hou 55 (1966): 19-22.
  • Jones provides explanatory notes for this death chant and gives background information concerning the events leading up to Wahine-iti’s death.
  • "U.S. Ambassador Leaving: Farewell to Mr Henning." Te Kaunihera Māori: New Zealand Māori Council Newsletter 6.4 (1969): 1.
  • A letter of farewell and appreciation written by Jones to the retiring U.S. Ambassador, Mr Henning. Jones writes this in his capacity as Vice-President of the Māori Council.
  • Nga Moteatea: He Maramara Rere No Nga Waka Maha. The Songs: Scattered Pieces From Many Canoe Areas. Comp. A. T. Ngata. Trans. Pei Te Hurinui. Pt. 3. Wellington, N.Z.: Polynesian Soc., 1970.
  • Nga Moteatea: He Maramara Rere No Nga Waka Maha. The Songs: Scattered Pieces From Many Canoe Areas. Comp. A. T. Ngata. Trans. Pei Te Hurinui. Pt. 4. Auckland; Wellington, N.Z.: Polynesian Soc.; Alexander Turnbull Library Endowment Trust with assistance from the New Zealand 1990 Commission, 1990.
  • Pounamu [music]: Flute and Choir. Wellington, N.Z.: Promethean Editions, c. 1997.
  • Music by Helen Fisher. English translation of a Tainui whakatauki by Dr Pei Te Hurinui Jones.
  • Te Tangata Whai Rawa O Wēneti./The Merchant of Venice. Palmerston North, N.Z.: Young, 1946. An extract is printed in "Te Moana." Nga Puna Waihanga Annual Hui: Te Rua Tekau Tau 1973-1993. Comp. Averil Herbert. [Rotorua?, N.Z.]: Nga Puna Waihanga, 1993. 13. Rev. ed. Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Aotearoa, [Wellington, N.Z.]: He Mea Whakaputa Tēnei Pukapuka mō Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga e Huia, c.2008.
  • Written by William Shakespeare. Māori transl. Pei Te Hurinui Jones.

    • Performing Arts

  • Uenuku. Script was written by Pei Te Hurinui Jones ‘from an old Māori myth about the Rainbow gods.’ The musical score was written by Paul Katene in collaboration with Thomas Taurima.
  • This was the first production of the Māori Theatre Trust which was established in 1966 (?) with Mr P. Keiha, Mr D. Selwyn, Mr T Te Heu Heu, Mr Puoho Katene and Mr T. Taurima as the five members of the trust. ‘There is no orchestration [for Uenuku] and the programme’s only accompaniment will be a few effects from flutes, conch shells and authentic Māori percussion. It is hoped that the Trust will tour Russia next year with the opera.’ [Ref. "Māori Theatre Trust Formed." Te Ao Hou 56 (1966): 57.]

    • Reviews

  • Rev. of Tamihana the King-Maker, by L. S. Rickard. Te Ao Hou 48 (1964): 49-50.

    Other

  • Taylor, Alex. "A Giant of Māoridom." Te Māori 5.1 (1973): 22-25.
  • A tribute to Jones on his standing down from leadership of the New Zealand Māori Council in 1973.
  • Benton, Richard A. Materials for Teaching and Learning the Māori Language: A Bibliography of Published Materials for Teaching Māori to Speakers of Other Languages Compiled and Annotated by Richard A. Benton. Wellington, N.Z.: New Zealand Council for Educational Research, Māori Unit, 1979. 22-23.
  • Erai, Michelle, Fuli, Everdina, Irwin, Kathie and Wilcox, Lenaire. Māori Women: An Annotated Bibliography. [Wellington, N.Z.]: Michelle Erai, Everdina Fuli, Kathie Irwin and Lenaire Wilcox, 1991. 14.
  • Taylor, C. R. H. A Bibliography of Publications on the New Zealand Māori and the Moriori of the Chatham Islands. Oxford: Clarendon, Oxford UP, 1972. 83, 92, 112.

  • Reviews

    Mahinarangi
  • C.R.H.T. Journal of the Polynesian Society 56 (1947): 120.
  • Nga Moteatea Part 1.
  • Oppenheim, Roger. Journal of the Polynesian Society 70 (1961): 384-386.
  • Puhiwahine, Māori Poetess
  • Asher, John and Biggs, Bruce. Journal of the Polynesian Society 71 (1962): 290-291.