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Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta recordings

 Collection
Identifier: AMPS 2022/45

Scope and Contents

The collection mostly contains recordings made during Mahuta’s studies as research material for his thesis on whaikōrero. Various hui and events were recorded, mostly centred around Turangawaewae marae.

Some recordings relating to his teaching activities also feature, including speak and response exercises, a conference recording, and a sampler of whaikōrero patterns made from field recordings.

Dates

  • 1960 - 1971

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

PARTLY RESTRICTED.

To request or comment

To request access to items in this collection, or to provide comment or corrections, please complete the following: Archive of Māori and Pacific Sound request form

Biographical / Historical

Sir Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta (26 Apr, 1939 – 1 Feb, 2001) was born a relative of a leader within the kahui ariki, and at 4 weeks old was adopted by King Korokī becoming the brother of Princess Piki – later the Māori Queen, Dame Te Atairangikāhu.

Mahuta studied at the University of Auckland, completing a master’s thesis entitled ‘Whaikōrero: a study of formal Māori speech’. He went on to become the director of Māori Studies and Research at the University of Waikato from 1972-1977. In 1977 he left to study at Wolfson College, Oxford. He also served as a Treaty of Waitangi fisheries commissioner, chairman of the Māori Development Corporation, and chairman of the Tainui Māori Trust Board.

One of Sir Robert’s greatest achievements was to be the first Māori leader to negotiate a compensation settlement through the Waitangi Tribunal, completing the deal in late 1994. Significantly the settlement included the first formal apology from the Crown for historical wrongs during colonisation.

For services to the Māori people, Mahuta was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996.

Extent

0.54 metres (Includes 26 open-reel tapes, 1 audiocassette)

Language of Materials

Maori

Arrangement

Recordings were deposited with the Archive over time and fall into two general themes: recordings made for personal research into whaikōrero, and resources and events relating to the teaching of Te Reo. Items within these two series are listed in recording date order, with undated material moved to the end of the series.

Track listing have been added from notes on the archive's original index cards.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Robert Mahuta in 1989.

Title
Inventory of the Robert Te Kotahi Mahuta recordings.
Status
In Progress
Author
William Hamill
Date
December 2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Archive of Māori and Pacific Sound, University of Auckland Repository

Contact:
Level 3, General Library
5 Alfred Street
Private Bag 92109
Auckland 1010 New Zealand
+64 9 923 5008