N.Z. FLAG RAISED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 1

N.Z. FLAG RAISED

Folk Dance In Tokyo (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) TOKYO. September 30. New Zealand’s flag is flying j over the Tokyo Olympic j village. The flag, along with those of four other nations, was raised in a colourful official ceremony watched by a crowd of several hundred Japanese on the village plaza, j A spirited haka by the New Zealand hockey team completely captivated the Japanese onlookers and members of the other national teams on parade. The introduction, in splendidly broken Japanese, was possibly the most unusual ever for a Maori haka. A Japanese girl announcer introduced it by saying: “The New Zealand team is so kind as to perform some folk dances. Please to keep clear of stand.” But the New Zealanders were quickly surrounded by dozens of excited, stampeding cameramen.

The other four national teams —from Austria, Chad, Mongolia and Niger—quickly broke ranks and rushed for their cameras. The New Zealand contingent was led by the Auckland oarsman, D. G. Boswell, who carried the flag, and almost the full complement of 85 paraded. Official guests at the ceremony included the New Zealand Ambassador in Japan, Mr E. B. E. Taylor, and Mrs Taylor, the chairman of the New Zealand Olympic Games Association, Mr H. I. Austad, and Mrs Austad, and the New Zealand Olympic attache, Mr Shigeru Konno. The flags of the five nations were raised in turn and New Zealand's became the eighth national emblem to be hoised over the village.