KAWA CEREMONY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 70, 15 December 1939, Page 11

KAWA CEREMONY

Tapu Lifted By Tohungas

The old-time kawa rite of lifting the tapu from a Maori meeting-house was carried out yesterday at the Maori Court at the Exhibition by two tohungas or priests of the Arawa tribe, Te Kapo o te Rang! and Tuoro Rango, after which Princess Te Puia Hereangi and Mrs. Sullivan crossed the ■threshold, so driving out all evil spirits and making the building available for common use. Finally, the ActingNative Minister, Mr. Langstone, formally opened the court. The indoor ceremony in the marae or courtyard of the house began with a thunderous hafca by men of tin? Maori Battalion, eyes goggling, tongues protruding, led by Lieutenant To Whetu Werohia, an expert in gesticulation and facial expression. Then the two tohungas, wearing cloaks and carrying taiahas, began to weave ,in and out across the marae, intoning lengthy incantations, in the responses to which the members of the battalion jolne-z. The white-haired tohungas, brandishing their weapons, drew near the entrance to the court, when the Maori princess led Mrs. Sullivan forward, and all four disappeared into the house.

On their return women of the Arawa tribe danced an exquisite poi, the delicacy and deftness of their movements and twirling of the poi-balls drawing keen applause. Mr. Langstone then declared the building open.

Sir Apirana Ngata presented a number of carved Maori articles Io the distinguished guests. The Minister of defence, Mr. Jone,s, presented three radio sets to the Maori Battalion, on behalf of the Ngati Poneke, the carvers and builders of the house, and the Ngati Porou tribe, and a number of taniko napkin rings ami carved oilicers’’ sticks on behalf of the Arawas.