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Rangatira

3.36 of 5 stars 3.36 · rating details · 28 ratings · 5 reviews

Auckland, June 1886. Ngati Wai chief Paratene Te Manu spends long sessions, over three long days, having his portrait painted by the Bohemian painter Gottfried Lindauer. Hearing of Lindauer's planned trip to England reminds him of his own journey there, twenty years earlier, with a party of northern rangatira. As he sits for Lindauer, Paratene retreats deeper and deeper in...more

Published (first published October 31st 2011)

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2012 New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists

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The Faster I Walk, The Smaller I Am by Kjersti A. Skomsvold

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Oct 21, 2012 Kiwiflora rated it 3 of 5 stars

It has taken some years for Paula Morris to finish her meticulously crafted and told tale of her tupuna's (ancestor's) journey to England in 1863. Her tupuna was Ngati Wai chief Paratene Te Manu. He was a fierce warrior who fought with Hone Heke against other tribes, and fully embraced the arrival of the European with their muskets and other influences. After a time he converted to Christianity, quickly taking on the mores and ways of the European Christians around him. In 1863, now an exemplary...more It has taken some years for Paula Morris to finish her meticulously crafted and told tale of her tupuna's (ancestor's) journey to England in 1863. Her tupuna was Ngati Wai chief Paratene Te Manu. He was a fierce warrior who fought with Hone Heke against other tribes, and fully embraced the arrival of the European with their muskets and other influences. After a time he converted to Christianity, quickly taking on the mores and ways of the European Christians around him. In 1863, now an exemplary convert, along with 13 other chiefs, he made the long and not very pleasant voyage to England. The chief objective of this tour was to meet Queen Victoria, as was fitting for their chiefly status in Maori society. The trip was organised and funded by members of the Wesley Methodist church in New Zealand, three of whom also made the journey. As well as an audience with the Queen, the other aims of the trip were to allow the chiefs to see what a great nation England was in its industrial and economic development and to allow the English themselves to see first hand the high ranking Christianised chiefs from England's furthest outpost.

The whole adventure, that started with such high hopes and I would say honorable intentions, fairly quickly descended into disorder, sickness, exploitation, misunderstanding and tragedy.

The story is narrated in the first person by Paratene himself, some twenty years later. He is now an old man and has agreed to undertake a number of sittings for a portrait to be completed by the artist Gottfried Lindauer. This is the picture that is the cover for the book, although apparently the original painting was done from a photo. However we won't let that get in the way of a good story! Mr Lindauer is shortly to leave on a long sea voyage himself and this, combined with the long sitting sessions allows Paratene to reflect on his own life changing long sea voyage.

The research the author has put into this book is extraordinary, and it shows in the richness of detail and quality of writing. We experience the discomfort and confinement of being in steerage for the sea voyage through the eyes of Paratene, who has never been in such a situation before, and already sees this an omen for how the rest of the tour will turn out. Hardly an appropriate accommodation for a group of chiefs. We also see the squalor, poverty, violence and ugliness of Dickensian London through the wide-open eyes of Paratene, as well as the luxury and grandeur of the higher echelons of English society they find themselves in. Amidst the chaos the tour turns into, Paratene documents the kindness and concern they receive from perfect strangers who see the Maori chiefs for the symbols of conquest they become.

Throughout Paratene maintains his dignity and manners, unlike some of the others in the party. This makes him the perfect narrator for such a tale as at all times he tries to see both sides of what is going on around him. At times I did find his objectivity frustrating - I don't think any person of such intelligence and perception could remain so distanced, almost passive by what was going on around him. Nevertheless, as he is narrating his story some twenty years after the event, it is hardly surprising the urgency, emotion and immediacy of the situation has faded over time.

Perhaps what I found most interesting about the whole book was how emphatically and righteously the Christian Maori totally embraced everything European and openly rejected their traditional Maori ways, all in the space of one generation. This included things such as European dress, performance of haka, songs and prayers, learning to read, write and speak English. Quite different from today! As the quote from the Bible on page 137 says 'For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?'

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Oct 07, 2012 S. Austin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theme-identity, theme-humanity-in-extremis

I found this a fascinating read. Paula Morris deals with notions of New Zealand identity and the often uncomfortable relationship between 19th Century England and the people of colonial territories. Using the portrait of the rangitira Paratene as a way in to the story, we see the way Maori were frequently misrepresented to the world - either because cultural nuances (such as the significance of moko and cultural dress) were lost in translation, or because the Pakeha representing them sought to u...more I found this a fascinating read. Paula Morris deals with notions of New Zealand identity and the often uncomfortable relationship between 19th Century England and the people of colonial territories. Using the portrait of the rangitira Paratene as a way in to the story, we see the way Maori were frequently misrepresented to the world - either because cultural nuances (such as the significance of moko and cultural dress) were lost in translation, or because the Pakeha representing them sought to use them for financial gain. I found the descriptions of the lectures where Paratene and his peers were used as exhibits to support the entrepreneurial Jenkin's aims particularly poignant.

This novel is not without moral ambiguity. It would be too simplistic to say that this is a story about how the Maori were duped and used by Pakeha. The touring party are a mixed bunch, and they all respond in different ways to Jenkins and his plans. Some try and use the Pakeha's contracts to their own advantage, some object to the 'heathen' Maori displays, some take up alcohol, and some find ways to capitalise on the image of the Maori Warrior.

The one thing I will say against the novel is that I found it difficult to connect with the narrator. Looking back at his journey after a long period of time, Paratene seems objective to the point of distant. I sometimes felt that in trying to capture the events, Morris neglected to paint Paratene as vividly as she could have. The beauty of first person narrative is that it allows the narrator to be as opinionated as he pleases, and it forces the reader to make decisions about the trustworthiness of these opinions. But a narrator who fairly and objectively summarises the actions of all those around him loses some of this strength. Through the narrator, Morris describes other characters, but Paratene himself is not well fleshed-out.

Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read. Despite the lack of development in the narrator, it is a great story with some thought-provoking moments. (less)

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Dec 18, 2011 Marjorie Doole rated it 4 of 5 stars

I found this a beautifully written book which, though a novel, detals a real episode in the author's ancestor's life. This was his trip to England in 1863/4 with a number of other rangitira where they were feted by the aristocracy including royalty and then travelled more mundanely through England giving talks. The book moves slowly narrated by Paratene but is very compelling reading.

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Dec 26, 2012 Jakey Gee rated it 3 of 5 stars

NZ Book Award winner 2012.

Likeable, low key and pretty deft. I like the ambiguity of the point of view (if someone told me it'd been described as 'revisionist' it wouldn't surprise me) and the handling of memory and historical judgement. We never really get a clear idea of Jenkins' intentions; who is and who isn't in portraits. Nice epilogue too... obviously a work of love.

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Aug 17, 2012 Chris F rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, new-zealand-fiction

A good story, which I mostly relly enjoyed. however, I didn't find the narrator convincing as a nineteenth century Rangatira (Maori chief), more the authors vehicle to tell the story as she wanted to. Still the story was worth the read.

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May 14, 2013 June Ramsay-Tesoriero rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Shelves: fiction

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About Paula Morris

Paula Morris, a novelist and short story writer of English and Maori descent, was born in New Zealand. For almost a decade she worked in the record business in London and New York. She now lives in New Orleans, where she teaches creative writing at Tulane University.

Paula's first novel, Queen of Beauty, won best first work of fiction at the 2003 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Hibiscus Coast, a l...more

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