POSTNEWS
DON STAFFORD: 1927 – 2010
Rotorua
lucky to
have Don
by Alison King
[email protected]
Every city should have a historian and Rotorua was lucky to
have someone as passionate as
Don Stafford to fill the role.
That’s the view of University
of Waikato Professor of History
Giselle Byrnes, who said the city
was ahead of many other New
Zealand communities.
Professor Byrnes said the role
was vital for all communities as
not only was it about chronicling
the past, it was also about being
able to interpret events.
‘‘I think every city needs to
have a historian,’’ she said.
‘‘The fact that Rotorua had one
and was as recognised as Don
because of his long associations
was terrific. The city was way
ahead of other cities.
‘‘Historians are very critical in
terms of being able to speak the
truth to power and not just record
and chronicle events but also
interpret those events.
‘‘Don could do that with Te
Arawa communities and that’s of
incredible value for historians.
‘‘Rotorua was leading the way
in that regard. He was a heavily
respected figure who had support
from Maori and Pakeha leaders.
‘‘He leaves a big hole.’’
Professor Byrnes said public
historian was a role some
districts offered. It is generally
offered by councils but in
Rotorua’s case she said it would
usually require the backing of Te
Arawa.
She said the role was sig-
nificant to Mr Stafford — who
was awarded an honorary doctorate from the university —
because of his close ties to Te
Arawa and his Pakeha kaumatua
tag. ‘‘He’s been recognised as a
public historian in the Rotorua
area for many, many years and
he’s managed to cross that bridge
between Maori and Pakeha.
‘‘In a sense his work has stood
the test of time very well. He’s
one of the last of that generation
of Pakeha scholars outside
academia.
‘‘Historians are phenomenally
important. If the city perceives
there’s a vacancy now with his
passing, for Rotorua to be at the
forefront of chronicling and
interpreting the community’s history they need to move along.’’
She said Mr Stafford’s death
was a blow to the historian community and she likened his
breadth of knowledge and ability
to bridge the cultural divide to Dr
Michael King, who died in 2004.
‘‘The way Don was elevated
was by virtue of who he was —
he created the role. He was
thoroughly respected and revered
by the academics community at
large.’’
In 1982 Mr Stafford was
officially commissioned by the
Rotorua District Council to write
the history of Rotorua.
This resulted in the publication
of two books. Although he was
not paid by the council he had
been regarded as the district’s
historian since and the authority
on historical matters.
■ Our View, page 6
Beloved Rotorua personality and historian Don Stafford’s casket was taken to Te Papaiouru Marae at Ohinemutu
to lie at Tamatekapua meeting house yesterday. The Daily Post photographer BEN FRASER was there.
BLESSING: A powhiri greets Don Stafford’s casket as it arrives at Te Papaiouru Marae (above). PALL BEARERS: Don Stafford’s casket is carried by, from
left, Environment Bay of Plenty chairman John Cronin, Rotorua councillor Charles Sturt, Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin, Rotorua
mayor Kevin Winters. Deputy mayor Trevor Maxwell, and former Rotorua mayor Grahame Hall are obscured. TRIBUTE: Hundreds of mourners pay their
respects as Don Stafford’s casket arrives. STANDING ROOM ONLY: A Maori warden listens to the tributes being delivered.
From the left: Mac Rivers - Strategy and Portfolio Manager, Rochelle Macklin - Business Client Manager, Lee Millen - Customer Service Rep,
Shaneel Sidal - Communications Consultant, Barbara Pritchett - Retail Store Training Manager, Catherine O’Kane - Client Manager Gen-i ,
Karma Wilde - Communications Consultant, Frank Dowling - Head of Telecom Retail Stores, Gemma Roper - Head of Network and Operations,
Fiona Sutherland - Communications Consultant.
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PAN 0459_RDP
The Daily Post
Thursday, April 8, 2010
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