OLD RITUAL REVIVED

Northern Advocate, 6 February 1934, Page 4

OLD RITUAL REVIVED

GRAND GALAXY OF DANCES SYMBOLICAL DANCES. TRIBUTE TO TH.EJ If EXCELLENCIES. (Special to “Northern Advocate”) WAIT AX'GT, This Lay. .Rivalled by no gathering .since the Duke of Cornwall’s visit .12 years ago, the welcome of the tribes to the Gov-ernor-General and Lady Bledisloe yesterday afternoon crowned the crusade for the renaissance of Maori culture. Weeks, in fact months, of preparation had equipped the Maoris to present their message, in actions which were more meaningful than words, and as tribe after tribe made its contribution to a performance which harked back to the seeds of history sown before the coming of the European’, the hugr assemblage, containing thousands of modernised Maoris and their Pakeha comrades, was left in no doubt as to the feelings which Waitaugi has ox.-, pressed in actions rather than words. The morning’s reception to the Parliamentary party was a memorable one, but was surpassed by the welcome reserved for the representative of the Grown of England. Long before the appointed hour for the arrival of the, Vice-Regal party, the marae ground was crowded by a cosmopolitan crowd comprising representatives of the initiators and signa tories of the Treaty. The weather, after the queer twists of the previous week, was kind, and the Bay of Many Isles has never looked more charming. Gunfire and Cheers. Punctually at 2.30, the Vice-Regal party left the Government steamer Matai, a salvo of gunfire. from the warships anchored in the Bay coinciding with the arrival at the wharf. Cheers from the assembled multitude, numbering close on .10,000, greeted Lord and Lady Bledisloe, as, escorted by Kepa Ehau and three aides-de-camp, they made their way to the official grandstand. They hhd been preceded some minutes previously by “King” Koroki, leader of the Waikatos, who took his position, with other representatives of the native race, in the place of honour in "the front row. War Steps and Poi. Pour movie cameras clicked as the Ngapuhis, 150 strong, and led by Mutu Kapa and Turei Heke, commenced the war dance, .peculiar to the Tai Tokcrau people. Showing the emblematic rod of the pohutukawa in their dresses, the female dancers from the same tribe did the poi, as a wee girl, led by Fanny Hare Tana, presented Her Excellency with a beautiful floral bouquet. The mite must have been the proudest person on the ground, for, as she handed the token to Her Excellency, Lady .Bledisloe bent down and bestowed a kiss upon her. Tlic* words of the poi conveyed the same tribute as the bouquet, being as follows: — “We, the people of the North, extend to Your Excellencies a most cordial welcome to Waitangi, the most historic spot in New Zealand. You bring hither peace and goodwill for both races to treasure now and hereafter. Such gifts shall always be stored in our memory arj something of great value. •' ‘ We, the masses of the people, hereby extend to you a most cordial welcome.” The elder women of the tribe then danced a powhiri of welcome, and, as it concluded, the’ braves advanced through the lines of wahincs, to add their tribute in song. This movement was most involved, but its requirements did not prove too exacting for the Ngapuhis, who have specialised in such presentations. The Penvperu. Bearing tewhatewha weapons (or wooden axes) in their hands, the Xgalituwharetoa, from Taupo, delighted with one of the most impressive demonstrations of a memorable afternoon —a pernperu. This tribe presents the poruperu in a manner quite unique, leaping high from the ground and scoping their raised feet parallel with the ground.

The gracefulness of the pois by the Waikato party organised by Princess To Puoa, is quite beyond description. They were the most traditional of all, the first illustrating the flight of the white crane, while the second might bo likened to the gliding passage of the fantail. With quicker movements, the girls intermingled double and single pois in a manner quite bewildering. They made a striking picture in Die display of multi-coloured flaxen robes, the choice tanikh designs in head-dress and bodices contrasting with the rare richness of pinphis, or waist nulls. Before their retirement, the Wai kotos engaged in further pm dances, Die individual leaders holding the a! tention of the crowd by the movements of their abdominal muscles, facia! grimaces and protruding tongues, used for the purpose of warding off evil.

This display is known as the Tukana. Migrant Associates. The local natives were particularly interested in the next group, comprising the Matututua tribe ("Bay of Plenty), who are said to have come out in the same canoes as the Ngapuhis. This common association was shown 1 11 the similarity of the pernperu. | The great, variety of entertaining talent possessed by the Maori race was further indicated by the Kahunguru (Hawke’s Bay) people. Here, the influence of the West has permeated native culture and art, and the action .song which the Hawke’s Bay people presented could easily have been mistaken for a. modern ballet. Although in all songs the gestures and actions count more than the words among emotional Polynesian peoples, this number showed the ability of the Maori to demonstrate perfect harmony. A re-creation of the same war dance which was given in honour of the Duke of Cornwall, was staged by the Arawa braves. Perhaps to the pakeha mind, the most attractive offering of the afternoon followed, a. hundred maidens oT the same tribe performing five distinctive pois at the one time. This was not traditional, a modern arrange ment being followed, but the art was of the highest. Demonstrating the coming of the Maori from the now forgotten Hawaiiki, and their right to claim lineage from the first voyagers to cross To Moana-nui-a-kiwa (or the Tasman Sea) the Wanganui warriors bore canoe paddles in their hands, while giving vent to facial grimaces in an age-oliT dance. An old. dames’ haka folloived, here again being substantiated the view that, in all his ceremonial, the Maori expresses creation. Maidens’ Chant. The Taranaki maidens wore white bodices, thickly tied with black strings, hanging from each being a shark’s tooth. Their traditional chant was of an almost invocational character, emanating from Te Whiti and Tohn, the two philosophers of their people. Here, as with the Arawa performance, the rhythmic movements were given with groat exactitude. The womenfolk wore succeeded by the Taranaki braves, who danced an expressive, welcoming -haka'. Old Gods Exorcised. The first act of the Ngatiporou, who were the last Maori group to appear, was to clear away the gods of other tribes, by .making incantations to deities who held such sway before the advent of Christianity. The vocal part was hero more a feature than in other dances of a similar kind. A haka of I thanksgiving was a vigorous expression I cf the allegiance and loyalty of the 1 Maoris to ■ his Majesty the King, and a similar haka to that given in honour of the present reigning monarch when in Rotorua, was also afforded. The sentiment was one of great appreciation that the King has placed the shadow of his Royal protection upon the people of New Zealand. Grand Finale. The finale, however, led by Sir Apirana Ngata, expressed .feelings of a different kind, epitomising discontent of the Maoris in the dispossession of their lands and the imposition of rates upon the original owners. The haka also conveyed a sly stab at present and past Governments, who, it showed, in their efforts to do the best for the natives,-had acted actually to their detriment. “Therefore, O Governor,” the haka concluded, “we say to the Government of New Zealand: < Gb and boil your heads.’ ”