Reverend Herepo Harawira (Jerry Hadfield) - Christmas

Rights Information
Year
1969
Reference
41310
Media type
Audio
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Rights Information
Year
1969
Reference
41310
Media type
Audio
Categories
Interviews (Sound recordings)
Sound recordings
Duration
00:10:01
Taonga Māori Collection
Yes
Credits
RNZ Collection
Harawira, Herepo, 1899-, Interviewee
REARDON, Tony, Interviewer

Reverend Herepo Harawira (Jerry Hadfield) of Whangarei is interviewed by Tony Reardon about early Christmases.

Reverend Hadfield begins by speaking about Christmas Day in 1814, when Samuel Marsden preached the first Christian sermon in New Zealand, in the Bay of Islands. Marsden spoke to a congregation of Nga Puhi chiefs, including Ruatara.

He then speaks about the tradition of gift-giving, saying that Māori did this in their own way - presenting gifts to their chiefs to indicate their honour and respect. For example, a mere, cloak, taiaha, or hani.

From the 1800s to the 1900s - Christmas Day on the marae. Reverend Hadfield says in the early 1900s, Māori were living in their tribal communities. At this time, Christmas Day would be celebrated together on the marae. Presents weren't given out to children; it was more a day for togetherness.

He then speaks about the religious implications of Christmas fifty or sixty years ago [1910s], when he was younger. He says it was a day of great religious importance. Christmas was held at the marae with people from different hapu. People travelled from all around, and dressed in their best. There was carol singing, and choirs. Food was brought by each hapu, and a church service was always held first, followed by the hakari (feast), then singing and discussion.

Reverend Hadfield mentions that Santa Claus wasn't known then, children only learned about him later in life, usually through school. He recalls being scared the first time he saw someone dressed as Santa, saying it initially gave him more dread than joy - until he handed out lollies. There was no such thing as hanging up a Christmas stocking when he was young.