Second Polynesian Festival

Te Ao Hou, July 1973, Page 38

Te Rangiwewehi, of Rotorua, fourth in aggregate N.P.S. South Taranaki choir, which came third N.P.S. Second Polynesian Festival March 24 1973, saw the second Polynesian Festival held once again at Rotorua, and by the time the festival ended on the Sunday morning, the thousands of people gathered at the Rotorua Racecourse to look, listen, praise and criticise, had witnessed yet anther feat of the culture of Polynesia—Maori and Island. As the winning teams were announced, it was hard to determine the thoughts and moods of the other competitors and their supporters. That there should be moans of disappointment was to be expected, yet when the kui and pakeke of the winning team went forward to receive the award for her club, the very humility of Ma-wai-hakona Auckland Anglican perform their winning haka N.P.S.

The Governor-General, accompanied by the chairman of the festival committee, the Rev. Kingi Ihaka, is challenged as he arrives to open the festival was shown for the whole of Te Arawa and the other clubs gathered. The blazer worn by their leader and president showed the emblem of what has long been regarded as the tuakana club in Wellington, Ngati Poneke, surely a gesture of sharing with them the triumph and mana of first placing. There were tears, true, tears of joy as well as gratitude, to all those who participated throughout the two days of the festival, in particular the runners-up, who by their own high standards ensured that Ma-wai-hakona will be a worthy representative in Australia. No reira mihi atu nei tatou kia korua Ma-wai-hakona, kia kaha nga waiata kori, me nga mahi mo te iwi Maori. N.P.S. The Hon. Matiu Rata presents Rev. Napi Waaka, leader of the South Taranaki group with the Tairawhiti trophy for the best traditional item. South Taranaki were also first in costume, third in poi, and second equal in the aggregate Members of the Ma-wai-hakona Maori Association pose outside the Whakarewarewa Model Pa for photographs to be sent to Australia where they will represent New Zealand later this year when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth opens the Sydney Opera House. The team won the Ikaroa trophy for the best action song, was first in entrance and exit, second in poi and costume, and was first in the aggregate. They also came first equal in the choral competition N.P.S.

N.P.S. Trevor Maxwell receives the Aotea trophy for the best poi. His Rangiwewehi group came second in both haka and action song, third in costume and fourth in aggregate. Trevor also won the Taitokerau trophy for the outstanding leader N.P.S. Presentation of the Waipounamu trophy to Auckland Anglican, for the best haka. They came second in the traditional item and second equal in aggregate. They also were first equal in the choral competition N.P.S. Kemara Tukukino, haka leader of the winning Ma-wai-hakona team receives the MacIntyre trophy, for the best aggregate below: The Auckland Niue team performs, and Ma-wai-hakona complete their entrance