Maori Spirit motivates Cambridge University
Cambridge University, who race Waikato University for the Harry Mahon Memorial Trophy, have announced they will be carrying a 'teka' (Maori carving) in their boat to motivate them during the Great Race, on Saturday 2 September.The teka, named 'Taniwha', was carved by a member of the Maori Royal House to commemorate the passing of the Maori Queen, and the first major event on the calendar of her Waikato River following her passing. It was presented to the visitors last Wednesday during their official welcome ceremony at the University of Waikato.
The taniwha is a guardian spirit, both in the physical as well as the metaphysical sense. In pre-European times and into the late 19th Century, there was a significant settlement at each bend of the Waikato River, in particular the area of the Great Race. These settlements were protected by the prestige of the chiefs there, as well as the guardian spirits.
This gave rise to the saying 'Waikato taniwha rau - he piko he taniwha! He piko he taniwha!' 'Waikato of the myriad taniwha - at every bend a taniwha.'
Cambridge Coach Rob Baker believes that 'with the spirits of the Waikato being with us, we will be guided along the best course on the river. It is a huge honour to have received the teka and by carrying it with us we seek to acknowledge its significance, while also having 'Taniwha' ensure a safe and successful journey.'
Collectively, the people of the area take their name from that river and are known as the Waikato people.
This maxim was also quoted in the choice of the present Maori monarch's ancestor Potatau Te Wherowhero as the first Maori King, involving not only the physical river, but also the genealogical linkages to every major tribe in Aotearoa/New Zealand, with a notable chief at every bend of that genealogy.
Thus another tribal adage: 'Ko Taupiri te Maunga, ko Waikato te Awa, ko Potatau te Tangata.' Taupiri the Mountain, Waikato the River, Potatau the Man.
The teka is representative of the taniwha, and of the passing of one of them - the Maori Queen, Te Arikinui Dame Te Atairangikaahu.
E Te Arikinui - moe mai i roto i nga parirau o to Kaihanga.
Great Queen - rest in peace nestled in the arms of your Creator.
This is not the first time the Cambridge crew has used its links to Maori, through the Great Race, as a motivation for success. In 2004, after their success on the Waikato River against an unbeaten University of Waikato crew, they went home and named their boat 'Kia Kaha' for the 2005 Boat Race against Oxford University.