“MAORIS’” SUCCESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21317, 1 February 1944, Page 4

“MAORIS’” SUCCESS

CONCERT IN YORKSHIRE

ENGLISHMEN TRAINED

(Special Correspondent.) (9 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 31. If you were to visit a certain bomber station in Yorkshire you might at first sight think that there were many New Zealanders theie because “Haeremai” and “Kia ora would be heard frequently. Actually there is only one New Zealander there, Flight Lieutenant C. H. Lattimcr. New Plymouth, and it is solely duo to him that the New Zealand greetings arc becoming familiar. It all arose from a station concert Flight Lieutenant Lattimcr decided that there was no reason why they should not include a New Zealand item. While on leave in London he browsed in the library at New Zealand House and borrowed a pui-pui, poi and headband from the receptionist, Miss Joan Evans, Gisborne, and also a v.'?.bine’s cloak, pui-puis, and kiwi feather cloak from the New Zealand Forces Club. Returning to the station, he collected a coterie of English cnthusiasfs and they got 71b. of raffia made into pui-puis and a design painted on copied from that loaned by Miss Evans. They also made headbands and constructed a whare for the stage. Three W.A.A.F.s dressed up as wahinos and the air-crew tattooed themselves They learned Maori songs and a liaka, and the whole _ camp turned out to see the “Maoris,’ who were thunderously applauded. As a result Flight’ Lieutenant is now expected to give a haka at every opportunity, while “Kia ora” and “Haeremai”' are favourite forms of greeting throughout the station.