MAORI PART IN CENTENNIAL

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23002, 23 April 1940, Page 10

MAORI PART IN CENTENNIAL

CELEBRATIONS AT AKARGA REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY TRIBES UNUSUAL ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTED The participation of about 400 Maoris in the centennial celebrations at Akaroa on Saturday and again save the occasion an unusual quality, ft Ys not usual in the South Island to see so large a' gathering of Maoris, or so fine a display of singing dancing, and warlike play by performers clad 8 in the true Maori costume. The Maoris Present came from places as far away as the Bay ot is lands. Stewart Island, and the Chat h3 ln Maori*'history the occasion was probably unique, according to state ments by Maori leaders yesterday At Akaroa for the first time since the disastrous wars of 110 years ago, between the northern Ngatitoa and Ngatiawa and the local Ngaitahu, representatives from many northern tribes met as friends with the southern Maoris on the marae of the Ngaitahu. „ , Among the 400 Maoris were official parties including 40 North Island visitors and 25 representatives of the different kaiangas of the South Island!. All were the guests of the New Zealand Government. The South Island party arrived on Thursday last and the northern Maoris on Friday. They will disperse to-day. Camp Established To accommodate this large number of Maori visitors a camp was established at one end of the recreation ground at Akaroa, with large marquees as sleeping accommodation, mess tents, and places of assembly. Unfortunately the bad weather, which made the ground waterlogged, made it necessary to find sleeping quarters for the Maoris in other buildings, including the old Technical school. The camp was set up by the Public Works Department, but it was controlled by the Maoris- themselves. The whole marae was a co-operative effort by the South Island Maori people, assisted by the Ngatiponeke group, who came from Wellington under Chief Kingi Tahiwi and Mrs Heketa. The Maori committee in charge of the marae comprised Messrs E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., T. Robinson, J. H. Kingi, Te Ari Pitama, T. Ropata, M. Ropata, and M. Whitau. Yesterday’s Entertainment Yesterday an entertainment by the Maoris was the chief event of the celebrations at Akaroa. On the recreation ground where the hoisting of the flag was re-enacted on Saturday, a large audience assembled, including the Mayor of Akaroa (Mr F. R. E. Davis) and the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr R. M. Macfarlane, M.P.). Against a background of reproductions of carved Maori whares the stage was erected in the middle of the ground. Most notable among the performers were the Ngatiponeke group of girls and young men, singers with fine voices, who moved in their action songs, hakas, and poi dances with the precision and rhythm of a well-trained ballet. They wore Maori costume, and their programme was entirely Maori, in keeping with the purpose of the Ngatiponeke to restore among young Maoris the traditional culture of their race. The Ngatiponeke, conducted by Kingi Tahiwi, began with a song and a haka of welcome. Then they sang the action song of farewell specially composed for the Maori battalion now in camp. In contrast to these were three tuneful Maori love songs, followed by poi dances and further action songs, one of them presenting the arrival of the Arawa canoe. At the end of this section of the entertainment, Chief Kingi Tahiwi thanked the pakehas and the South Island Maoris for their kindly reception of the Ngatiponeke. Warlike Play The most striking item of the day was a presentation of the Maori method of fighting with the wero or taiaha by Mr E. T. Tirikatene, M.P., and his son, Mr Nuku Tirikatene. Taiaha play has its nearest European parallel in quarterstaff drill. . The display, taking the performers through a series of traditional moves, with challenge and attack, showed that the taiaha was a formidable weapon among the ancient Maori. Further action songs and hakas were then presented by groups from Tuahiwi and Christchurch, followed' by songs and hakas by Maoi children from Tuahiwi and Little River. Individual items by some of the child performers were very popular, although some of the songs were of American rather than Maori origin. During yesterday’s celebrations as well as on Saturday, the Christchurch Boys’ High School band paraded through the town and played selections at several of the ceremonies.

THANKS OF SOUTH ISLAND MAORIS HELP FROM NORTH IN CELEBRATIONS

Mr P. H. Mac Donald, leader of the Ngaitahu delegation at the Akaroa centennial celebrations yesterday, expressed the gratitude of the South Island Maoris to the North Island tribes for their presence and assistance in the celebrations. Practically all the northern tribes were represented. Some of their principal representatives whom Mr Mac Donald mentioned were: North Auckland, Messrs K. T. Hemana, H. W. Hui, H. K. Waiaua, and Riri Maihi Kawiti; East Coast, Mr Harris; West Coast, Mr Takarangi Metekingi and his brother, Mr Mete Takarangi; Wellington district, Mr Hohepa Winera and Mr Hari Katene. Mr Mac Donald said he especially wished to thank Chief Kingi Tahiwi, of the Ngatiraukawa, and his able Ngatiponeke troupe of entertainers. Chief Tahiwi was ably assisted by Mr Purere Katene. He also referred to representatives from other centres of the South Island—Messrs T. K. Bragg (Stewart Island). T. Spencer (Bluff), Matapuri Eirihana, and his brother, Teiwi Eirihana (Otago), Tuhuru Tainui (West Coast), Rawhiri Meihana (Takaka), H. Hakopa (Kaikoura and East Coast), Mr W. D. Barrett (Tuahiwi), , , Thanks should be expressed also to the Maori members of Parliament who had attended—Mr P. K. Paikea (Northern Maori), Mr E. T. Tirikatene (Southern Maori), and the Hon. Rangi Mawhete, M.L.C. Sir Apirana Ngata and Mr H. T. Ratana, M.P., had been unable to attend. Mr Mac Donald considered that Mr A. W. Mulligan, secretary of the Centennial branch of the Department of Internal Affairs, who as in charge of the celebrations, had the biggest job to do, and deserved the thanks of Maori and pakeha alike. He had made what seemed impossibly difficult run smoothly. In addition, Mr Te An Pitama, who had been liaison officer between the department and the Maoris, had worked hard for the success of the gathering, and had been ably assisted by the Robmson brothers and Mr iWhitau Tupaoa.