MAORI ENTERTAINERS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 144, 21 June 1933, Page 4

MAORI ENTERTAINERS

CONCERT IN TOWN HALL Maori entertainers from the Otaki district, vsho have been welcome and popular visitors to -Wellington on numerous occasions, gave a performance in the Town Hall last • night in aid of the Mayor's Relief of Distress Fund. • There was a capacity audience, the enthusiasm of which was Mich that encores had to be given after practically every item. The party comprised representatives of the Ngati-Rau-kawa, Ngati-Toa, aud. Ngati-Awa tribes. Native costumes were worn, and _ there were appropriate surroundings. With the exception of one or two items the programme was essentially Maori, diversified, 'and entertaining. The opening scene showed a Maori tribe outside their meeting house delivering the karanga, or call of welcome. Then followed the reply call by the visiting tribe, who came up the body, of the hall giving the approach and haka of welcome. After the two tribes had saluted each other in the customary manner, the hari kai, or presentation of food, took place. This scene served to introduce the performance, aud thereafter followed quartets, part songs by the choir, retrains by the whole party, solo items, war dances, and poi dances. The two lastnamed items proved very popular. Miss Kura Tahiwi pleased with her vocal solos. As an encore to "Hine c Hine" (Alfred Hill) she sans a songt of her own composition. The other soloists during the evening were Messrs. H. K. Tahiwi (baritone), D. Nikora-(tenor and instrumentalist), and Hemi Eikihana (vidlinist). The poi dancers were under the leadership of Mrs. H. Te Hana, and Mr. Takerei Kohika lead the hakas and war dances. Credit is due to the organisers for the careful arrangement of the programme, and for the characteristic manner in which all the items were presented.