Kia ora. I respond to the challenge last week by Richard Prince for Tommy Kapai to produce 'hard evidence” of lack of toilet facilities for Maori women within The Strand last century.
In the 1930's our family occupied a small house in Elizabeth St approximately opposite Durham St- there were no shops in Elizabeth St at that time, our whanau knew where we lived. As mother told it, early one afternoon there was a loud knocking on our front door with cries of ' Mere, e Mere- Mere e Mere”. When mother opened the door, there stood the old kuia from Whakamarama who had been shopping down town, felt the need to go to the toilet so headed up Grey St to Heke and Mary's house. Tragically before reaching our place our kuia had an accident - she soiled herself- so there she stood at our front door weeping in absolute humiliation ' Mere to wharepaku” (Mary your toilet) was her cry.
My mother, my grandmother, old Mrs Heke from Whakamarama, and most other Maori women were as clean, modest, proud and as conscientious as any Pakeha woman, but they and all Maori children while in town were treated to this indignity. What were they expected to do, sneak under some hedge?
Richard Prince, you asked for 'hard evidence.” Herewith is a copy of a humble petition dated 8 August 1936 from Sam Kohu of Ngaitamarawaho Hapu and 50 others appealing to the Tauranga Borough and County Councils, who were considering 'making further provision in Tauranga for a Rest Room for (Pakeha) ladies and children” to make provisions for Maori women and children also. The toilets already available to Pakeha had been funded from rates to which many Maori had contributed. But what did Tauranga Borough and County Councils do? They sent 'a series of letters” to the Native Affairs Department requesting it take responsibility for the funding of a toilet for Maori women and children.

Colin Bidois, Pyes Pa.