MAORI HAKAS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 168, 18 July 1941, Page 5

MAORI HAKAS

FOR GREEK ROYALTY PRINCESS TAKES "MOVIE" 1 3 (From the Official War CorrrKpondcnt witfc j the Sccoiid JC.Z.E.F.) ! CAIRO, June 25. j The performance of traditional I Maori hakas and the singing of jmelodious Maori songs by members iof the Maori Battalion before an iaudience mainly comprising members of the Greek Royal family conjstituted one of the most unusual jspectacles yet seen in a New Zealand Icamp in Egypt. The occasion was a (visit to the Maori ramp by King George of Greece, and other mem* bers of the Greek Royal family. 'I With the striking snap and precision which characterises the drill i of the Maoris, the battalion accorded 'King Geo rue a Royal saluie. Afler [the inspection the members of the ;battalion removed hats and crounded arms preparatory tr> enu-riaining the ivisitors in true Maori fashion L/C-d by an «>fTi<-e r . one pai ty performed an ..ntiMial haka which is base<3 on me ph> ~i<;■ 1 training so familiar to '-.'•rv soldK-r. Xn l.nnhsh arm;. ofTic-v am or:? ihe J-pec-ia l or> re in at k<-«l ilial the haka was e\eel ent J'.T " H< had interp: eted ihe ]n : !"vm:.nci- "orrediv. It was enjoyed by tlv Ma>.r> 1 hem- ■ M-lvcs St'-- 'n ti<h 'as :t w»- oy ihe di.-r ' t;:nn,..-h"<: y 1 1 aU»rs. Othd haka- vu: t- p. er t»> two j (liferent panic-. one hem? Ed by the v.T.'er nf th< Maori Bai- ' ta:;nn song. Particularly tflectne l * «-is the .-mcing of "I!:»ere Ra" in l " tins, desert t amp as th*. : oise of the dav was v-ehJinc n'ace to the quiet '"of" a bea Mitul Egyptian summer evening. King Georc s and iinem- ' hers of his " iara.ly were deeply moved. I^3tet. a- ihe whole l>attalion sjt;'- r the:: battalion sung • aider the ]oad<:>hip ol the composer. the .-irgei s were greatly i- amused a- a i'J-ki, Trh'-er 1 . an ■ <-r.ihe' ia-• .. . ad-