Abstract of Maiatua TOU, 2020
Item — Box: 7
Identifier: H00620002
Overview
Maiatua Tou
Interviewer: Lisa Tou
Abstracter: W. Brent Coats
Interview: 28 May 2011
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview introduction
00:46 MAIATUA TOU – Born 1 March 1939 MITIARO COOK ISLANDS – Self is retired
01:18 Mother – ETE TERA – Maiden name TE TUPU ARIKI – Born RAROTONGA
01:54 Siblings – Brothers WILLIE – TAMAIEWA [sp?] – TARA – Self – TE PA [sp?]; Sisters – TONY – AKIRONG [sp?] – NO TU [sp?] – NA POU [sp?] – [?] – ESTHER – [?]
03:00 Grandparents unknown
03:22 Born MITIARO – Family relocated to RAROTONGA – Mother’s birthplace – Returned to MITIARO – School at ATIU with cousin 1949 – Stayed with uncle [?] – Details
05:11 Sibling’s births not remembered – Mentions
05:39 First house – Not remembered – Possibly limestone walls – Family’s house biggest in MITIARO – Father Ariki [chief] – Discusses
07:00 Most people live in Kiko house – Built in Kiko [coconut] leaves – Small population Explains
08:00 Schooled in ATIU – Not missionary education – Schooled for 5 years – Returned with mother to MITIARO – Describes
09:11 Childhood – Played – Fishing – Help father plant vegetables – Other siblings raised by different families - Called feeding children - Self is 5th eldest in family - Describes 12:42 Food – Ate Taro, coconut, arrowroot – Pigs, goats, hens – No shops – Food sent by boat from NEW ZEALAND – Supplies every six months – Sometimes no flour – Bake own bread – Describes
14:32 Wore shorts – Played rugby – Mentions
15:00 End of Track 1
TRACK 2
00:00 …Rugby – Mentions
00:35 Jobs as child – Helped father – Collected coconuts – Before school picked up TOU TREE leaves – Mentions
01:34 School in MITIARO – Teachers from ATIU and RAROTONGA – Mentions
02:33 Learned English, art, maths, woodwork – MITIARO school – 100 children – 5 teachers - Began school eight o’clock – Finished twelve – Self had to stay behind – Describes
04:45 Influences – Mother and father – Mentions
05:38 MITIARO school – Helping to build school as child – Mentions
06:11 Siblings – Not much contact with most – Closest to SAM – TE PAI [sp?] bay – Sisters in MITIARO – Describes
07:33 Church on Sundays – Christmas day church – Lunch – Presents – Clothes and sweets – Describes
08:35 Ships stopping at MITIARO – Before Self born – Ship passengers dance in local hall – Visitors from other Islands – Local musicians played – Describes
09:58 Discipline - Father carried Self on shoulder to plantation – Eight kilometres – Climbed trees for oranges – Owned by families – Recalls
12:05 Church – ATIU – Three days per week – Wednesday, Friday, Sunday – Services hour and a half – Sang without organ – Children’s Sunday School – Self attended Boys’ Brigade – Exercises, drills – Happy childhood – Describes
14:55 Arrived NEW ZEALAND
15:00 End of Track 2
TRACK 3
00:00 …Arrived on MONTEREY boat – 9 August 1961 in AUCKLAND – Brothers took self to sister’s house – Describes
01:03 First job – TURNER’S AND GROWERS - Prepared fruit and vegetables – Came for better life - Describes
02:08 First impression – AUCKLAND was a big place – Self was excited – Stayed at sister’s house – Then at brother’s – Describes
03:20 Left from RAROTONGA – First job in JOE BROWN’s clothing shop – Payed 10 shillings per week – Second job in ice-cream shop – Next job at hospital – Spraying mosquitos - Stayed in Kiko house with sister - Describes
06:08 Moved from AUCKLAND to BLUFF – Job advertised in newspaper – Met other Islanders - Describes
07:47 Better money in Bluff – Returned to AUCKLAND for one year – Returned to SOUTHLAND for freezing works – Remained until 1964 – Moved to WELLINGTON – Worked at car factory in PETONE – Returned back to SOUTHLAND for freezing works – Explains
10:06 [Pause]
10:38 Worked at OCEAN BEACH - 1961 to 1968 – Explains moving between AUCKLAND and BLUFF – Meets friends on train – Lived at 58 ANTRIM STREET 1963 to 1964 – Lived in NEWTOWN WELLINGTON – Explains
14:24 Relocated for better money – Mentions
15:00 End of Track 3
TRACK 4
00:00 …Wanted to stay in INVERCARGILL – Worked at OCEAN BEACH wharf – January 1969 – Alliance Freezing Works to 2010 – Describes
02:40 Recalls mother’s death – Self aged 14-15 – Siblings supported each other – Father travelled to ENGLAND
06:42 Highlights of life – Family - Married twice – Four children – Seven grandchildren – Farm – Good wife - Describes
09:01 Built holiday house in RAROTONGA – Hard worker – Enjoys family – Pleased be in INVERCARGILL – Acclimatised to cold - Describes
11:33 Self dressed well – Enjoyed dances when young – Mentions 12:20 Interview ends
15:00 End of Track 4
Interviewer: Lisa Tou
Abstracter: W. Brent Coats
Interview: 28 May 2011
TRACK 1
00:00 Interview introduction
00:46 MAIATUA TOU – Born 1 March 1939 MITIARO COOK ISLANDS – Self is retired
01:18 Mother – ETE TERA – Maiden name TE TUPU ARIKI – Born RAROTONGA
01:54 Siblings – Brothers WILLIE – TAMAIEWA [sp?] – TARA – Self – TE PA [sp?]; Sisters – TONY – AKIRONG [sp?] – NO TU [sp?] – NA POU [sp?] – [?] – ESTHER – [?]
03:00 Grandparents unknown
03:22 Born MITIARO – Family relocated to RAROTONGA – Mother’s birthplace – Returned to MITIARO – School at ATIU with cousin 1949 – Stayed with uncle [?] – Details
05:11 Sibling’s births not remembered – Mentions
05:39 First house – Not remembered – Possibly limestone walls – Family’s house biggest in MITIARO – Father Ariki [chief] – Discusses
07:00 Most people live in Kiko house – Built in Kiko [coconut] leaves – Small population Explains
08:00 Schooled in ATIU – Not missionary education – Schooled for 5 years – Returned with mother to MITIARO – Describes
09:11 Childhood – Played – Fishing – Help father plant vegetables – Other siblings raised by different families - Called feeding children - Self is 5th eldest in family - Describes 12:42 Food – Ate Taro, coconut, arrowroot – Pigs, goats, hens – No shops – Food sent by boat from NEW ZEALAND – Supplies every six months – Sometimes no flour – Bake own bread – Describes
14:32 Wore shorts – Played rugby – Mentions
15:00 End of Track 1
TRACK 2
00:00 …Rugby – Mentions
00:35 Jobs as child – Helped father – Collected coconuts – Before school picked up TOU TREE leaves – Mentions
01:34 School in MITIARO – Teachers from ATIU and RAROTONGA – Mentions
02:33 Learned English, art, maths, woodwork – MITIARO school – 100 children – 5 teachers - Began school eight o’clock – Finished twelve – Self had to stay behind – Describes
04:45 Influences – Mother and father – Mentions
05:38 MITIARO school – Helping to build school as child – Mentions
06:11 Siblings – Not much contact with most – Closest to SAM – TE PAI [sp?] bay – Sisters in MITIARO – Describes
07:33 Church on Sundays – Christmas day church – Lunch – Presents – Clothes and sweets – Describes
08:35 Ships stopping at MITIARO – Before Self born – Ship passengers dance in local hall – Visitors from other Islands – Local musicians played – Describes
09:58 Discipline - Father carried Self on shoulder to plantation – Eight kilometres – Climbed trees for oranges – Owned by families – Recalls
12:05 Church – ATIU – Three days per week – Wednesday, Friday, Sunday – Services hour and a half – Sang without organ – Children’s Sunday School – Self attended Boys’ Brigade – Exercises, drills – Happy childhood – Describes
14:55 Arrived NEW ZEALAND
15:00 End of Track 2
TRACK 3
00:00 …Arrived on MONTEREY boat – 9 August 1961 in AUCKLAND – Brothers took self to sister’s house – Describes
01:03 First job – TURNER’S AND GROWERS - Prepared fruit and vegetables – Came for better life - Describes
02:08 First impression – AUCKLAND was a big place – Self was excited – Stayed at sister’s house – Then at brother’s – Describes
03:20 Left from RAROTONGA – First job in JOE BROWN’s clothing shop – Payed 10 shillings per week – Second job in ice-cream shop – Next job at hospital – Spraying mosquitos - Stayed in Kiko house with sister - Describes
06:08 Moved from AUCKLAND to BLUFF – Job advertised in newspaper – Met other Islanders - Describes
07:47 Better money in Bluff – Returned to AUCKLAND for one year – Returned to SOUTHLAND for freezing works – Remained until 1964 – Moved to WELLINGTON – Worked at car factory in PETONE – Returned back to SOUTHLAND for freezing works – Explains
10:06 [Pause]
10:38 Worked at OCEAN BEACH - 1961 to 1968 – Explains moving between AUCKLAND and BLUFF – Meets friends on train – Lived at 58 ANTRIM STREET 1963 to 1964 – Lived in NEWTOWN WELLINGTON – Explains
14:24 Relocated for better money – Mentions
15:00 End of Track 3
TRACK 4
00:00 …Wanted to stay in INVERCARGILL – Worked at OCEAN BEACH wharf – January 1969 – Alliance Freezing Works to 2010 – Describes
02:40 Recalls mother’s death – Self aged 14-15 – Siblings supported each other – Father travelled to ENGLAND
06:42 Highlights of life – Family - Married twice – Four children – Seven grandchildren – Farm – Good wife - Describes
09:01 Built holiday house in RAROTONGA – Hard worker – Enjoys family – Pleased be in INVERCARGILL – Acclimatised to cold - Describes
11:33 Self dressed well – Enjoyed dances when young – Mentions 12:20 Interview ends
15:00 End of Track 4
Dates
- 2020
Conditions Governing Access
Access to oral history recordings is via the Archives Research Room only. We are unable to provide access to this material remotely. Where access agreements allow, abstracts, audio extracts and photographs will be accessible online.
Conditions Governing Use
This material is copyright of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives. In accordance with agreements held with interviewees, it is strictly prohibited to reproduce (copy) oral history recordings, abstracts, audio extracts or photographs without prior written consent. Applications for the reproduction of these recordings and associated materials, in whole or part, must be made in writing to the Southland Oral History Project Co-ordinator, c/o Invercargill City Libraries and Archives.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Tou, Lisa Essetera (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
