Biography on Maori-Pakeha ‘bridge builder’
Even after retiring from a distinguished career as a civil servant, Jock McEwen continued to promote Maori culture throughout the Wellington region.
A founding father of Orongomai Marae, McEwen made a career in the public service dealing with Maori and Polynesian affairs.
In later life he taught carving and his creations and those of his pupils can still be seen in maraes and convention centres throughout the lower North Island.
Five years after his death his daughter-in-law is launching a biography of the man who she described as a ‘‘bridge builder’’ between Maori and Pakeha.
Te Oka Pakeha Kaumatua: The Life of Jock McEwen by Mary McEwen documents the evolution of Jock from a young student of Te Reo and amateur carver to a senior civil servant in the Maori Affairs department and resident commissioner to Niue Island.
Although he was a ‘‘stern’’ man, Jock led a ’’remarkable’’ life, Mary said.
From a very young age he displayed utter fascination with everything Maori.
He learned to carve when he was a little boy, living near Aorangi marae.
One of his first attempts was creating a mere to lead the haka.
‘‘He showed his first attempts at carving to Uncle Jim,’’ who was fluent in Te Reo, Mary said.
‘‘And he said ‘no boy that won’t do’... poor little Jock was crushed by that.’’
But many could see that McEwen was a ‘‘very bright’’ and an ‘‘unusual kid’’ who wanted to know everything about Maori.
He entered the then named Native Affairs department in 1932, hired by Sir Apirana Ngata who would become his mentor.
In 1937 he was one of the founders of Ngati Poneke Maori Club, he was the president of the Polynesian Society Council for 21 years and played a lead role in revising the Standard Maori Dictionary.
After his retirement McEwen, who lived in Silverstream, acted as a carving tutor.
The two six-metre pou in Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre were created at his direction by inmates of what is now Rimutaka Prison. At his insistence, the carvings were created away from the prison.
McEwen stayed involved with Orongomai Marae until the very end and when he died aged 95, he laid in state at the marae for two nights.
He lived by the philosophy of ‘saying little and doing much’.
Te Oka Pakeha Kaumatua: The life of Jock McEwen on Sale from October 17.