Subj : Former All Black Ian Jones' journey to reconnect with his roots
To   : All
From : News
Date : Wed Apr 24 2024 01:00 pm

He hails from Northland and is known nationally as the "Kamo Kid" but former
All Black Ian Jones recently embarked on a journey to discover more about his
South Island whakapapa.


Jones is of Ngai Tahu descent, which he said he knew about growing up in the
1970s and 80s. "I was never discouraged to understand that... was never
encouraged as well."


That disconnect, he explained, is why the 79 test-cap All Black never put his
name forward for selection in the Maori All Blacks.


"In today's eyes, I would have loved to have done that and loved to have
connected with the Maori All Blacks, but in the eyes that I had in the early
90s, I didn't have that connection."


It was only when his children, now young adults, began exploring whanau
history that his interest was piqued.


"Just the sense of purpose they got from that started to fire me up a bit,"
shared Jones.

Jones' son Flynn speaks te reo, studies Maori at university, and helps his
father learn the language.


"Normally, Dad is teaching me things, so it's nice to be able to teach him
things every now and then," said Flynn.


Seven Sharp joined Jones on a section of Ngai Tahu's Hollyford Wilderness
Experience - a three-day guided exploration of the Hollyford Valley in the
South Island, once a vital route for the pounamu trade.


"The trail we're about to do, my ancestors have been doing it for 700 years,"
Jones noted at the start of the track. "Just think about that... so
empowering.


"While I've spent a lot of time in the South Island, I don't know if I've
ever connected with the South Island."


Jones made his All Blacks test debut in Dunedin in 1990, scoring a try
against Scotland. He's since discovered his marae is north of Dunedin, at
Puketeraki.


His great-great-grandmother was Piraurau, who married a Boston whaler and
settled at Pigeon Bay on Banks Peninsula. Legend has it that a young Piraurau
was one of three women who guided Te Pouho's war party across the Haast Pass.

Jones' trek saw him exploring Fiordland bush and learning more about early
Maori and European settlers from Hollyford guide Bard Crawford.


"In the last 10 years, a lot more Kiwis are wanting or maybe being open to
learning a bit more about our history," Crawford said, "and they want to
learn from you - not from a book."


Crawford could fill several books with the knowledge he's acquired over a
25-year stint guiding and exploring Fiordland.


On the trail, he was quick to identify plants, imparting snippets of
interesting information and offering "tastings" along the way - including a
chew on a supplejack root or a spicy horopito leaf.


"Probably the highlight of the trip for me is that engagement with the
people," said Crawford. "How do you get people interested in something they
didn't know they'd be interested in?"


Jones is fascinated by all he's learning and urged other New Zealanders to
embark on their journey.


"If I can start it, any New Zealander can start it," he said.


"Let's hop on this waka together, folks, and let's go forward."

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A44 2020/02/04 (Windows/64)
 * Origin: S.W.A.T.S BBS Telnet swatsbbs.ddns.net:2323 (63:10/102)

.