NOVEL COMPETITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 3, 5 January 1927, Page 8

NOVEL COMPETITIONS.

HAKA AND FOI DANCING.

THE JUDGES DISAPPOINTED. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Shannon celebrated the New Year with a "people's picnic," at which over 1200 adults and children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Interest centred chiefly in the poi and haka competitions, which carried with them the New Zealand championships. Unfortunately the Maoris were not over-enthusiastic about their national dances and only two haka teams and one set of poi dancers faccd the judges (Messrs. Tom Parata and Taiti te Toino. The hakas performed by the Moutoa and Shannon teams pleased the spectators more than the judges, who did not want to award the shield, but at the wish of the promoters a further contest was staged and was won by Moutoa. exhibition of poi dancing by the Waikato Tani Wharau troupe from Ngaruawahia ten dusky maidens, accompanied by their own string band—delighted the spectators beyond measure. , , T- Parata, one of the judges, thanked the committee for endeavouring to revive the haka, which, he said, was becoming a lost art. He stated it was important that the British should have a war cry. To-day England was without °® e - H e went on to refer to the landing at Gallipoli, where the only war crv used was the haka by the New Zea"landers. In conclusion he impressed upon the Natives the necessity of keepmg up the traditions of their ancestors, and pointed out how essential it was that the children should be taught the haka properly, which, he said, was becoming a farce and a joke.