HAKA AND POI

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 25, 24 October 1936, Page 14

HAKA AND POI

Maori Men and Maidens

Entertain

Brown Maori maidens whirling potballs sturdy bare-chested Maori stalwarts stamping in the baka. drew an uuexucetedlv large and enthusiastic audience o the Wellington Town Hall last night, when D. Nicora’s Pukekaraka concert, partv, aided by Miss Anna Hate, gave a very delightful entertainment in the native manner. Against a background of black curtains relieved by a number of Maori carvings lent by the Dominion Museum, the graceful reed skirts and gaily-colour-ed dresses of the performers stood out in bright relief. _ The programme was a varied one. including solo and choral songs, pois and action dances and warjjke” hakas. . Miss Hato’s fine soprano voice, heard for the first time in Wellington, and her charming personality, won her repeated recalls; it was noticeable that the slight but typically Maori songs she chose as encores were even more appi'eciatcd than her first, selections. She sang, among many numbers, the inevitable “YVaiata Poi.” Heini Rcikihana. a young man wt.b a decided flair for the violin, showed skilled technique and inspiration. Ollier solos were Father J. Hunting's song. “E Pari Tai.” and a delightful dance with the long pois by Maraea Cribb. The Nicola brothers, in “Hoki. Hoki, TomiMai.” were excellent, and a most graceful Maori girl danced to their accompaniment. Another good trio comprised A. Hakaraia, M. Cribb and R. Rauskell. Outstanding numbers by the whole party, the opening “Haeremai,” the action songs, “He Aha kei Taku Unia ’ and “Manurere.” and the Ripeka Poi and Whaka Poi. The Titi Tores, or traditional game, in which sticks of wood are lightly tossed from hand to hand, to the measure of a rhythmic chant, were interesting. and the spirited hakas awoke some echo of the savage war-songs of a hundred years ago. Father Dnrney pointed out that rhe proceeds of the concert were tn be devoted to the furtherance of Maori education, than which no cause was more vital or more urgent. The concert closed on a note very typical of Polynesia, “Aroha Nui.”