Long wait for letter

Press, 23 May 1978, Page 25

Long wait for letter

NZPA Washington Ms Cecile Guidote, a United Nations official, scans her mail each day hoping for a letter from New Zealand that will tell her the Government will pay travel costs to allow a number of Maoris to participate in International Year of the Child Activities in the United States. So far no letter has arrived. Ms Guidote, director of the Childyear Culture Corps project, wants 25 members of Auckland's Te Roopu Manutaki to take part in a Pacific cultural festival in San Jose, California, from August 18 to 28. She wants the young Maori actor and writer, Rawiri Paratene, of Nae Nae, Wellington, to join a subsequent eightmonth training and teaching programme in New York. The invitations have gone out but the catch is air fare to the United States. Letters asking for Government help to meet the cost of air travel and $5BOO for Mr Paratene's board and lodging were sent to New Zealand’s representatives at the United Nations and passed on to Government author-

ities in Wellington last month. Ms Guidote has written again to New Zealand’s representatives at the United Nations, and to the Minister for the Arts (Mr Highet). She also has been in touch with other New Zealand groups that she hopes might be able to help with finance. “We need to know one way or the other by the end of next month,” she said. "The organisers in San Jose are getting concerned. It would be a pity if we could not have Maoris at these events.” The San Jose festival probably will have 10 or 12 groups from Pacific nations, including Samoans and Australian Aborigines. It is designed to focus on the “rich cultural resources and artistic gifts of the Pacific peoples and demonstrate the dynamic possibilities of its use as a vehicle for education and social development,” says a United Nations release. Ms Guidote has asked Dr Peter Sharpies, leader of Te Roopu Manutaki, to bring one child capable of doing solo dances or songs. If the group comes, San Jose officials will pay for board and lodging.

Te Roopu Manutaki, which is based at Te Atatu, has won many honours at the annual Polynesian cultural festivals in Rotorua. Mr Paratene is one of about 60 artists from Western minority groups and developing countries chosen to attend the New York school from September to April, 1979. The school aims to create cross-cultural resources for expanded service for the full development of children and to train key folk artists to lead the programmes. Mr Paratene, aged 24, was with the Mercury Theatre in Auckland for seven years and is now working at Downstage in Wellington. He has a particular interest in theatrical work for children’s community groups. He appeared in the television series “Joe and Koro.”