TRIBES GATHER AT ROTORUA It has now become traditional for the Maori people to entertain Royalty at grand functions at Rotorua. In January almost 1000 performers gave haka, poi, and action song items in honour of the Queen, while over 10,000 supporters applauded them. Such giant gatherings have, in the past, been held only to honour Royalty, and in the future it will most probably be the same. All the tribes selected to perform at Rotorua were able to put forward well-trained, ably-led parties, still imbued with the spirit of Maori dancing. Arawa and Ngati Tuwharetoa put on a fierce and exciting peruperu; the haka, not only of the Ngati Porou, but also of the Aotea people were powerful and impressive; among the traditional and ancient items, the magnificent chanting of the Poi Aotea by the women of Taihauauru, aroused the admiration not only of the Queen, but also of the entire audience. It was a good idea of the organizers to alternate these traditional items with lively, modern, occasional songs, such as performed by the 300-strong combined Arawa Poi and the Mataatua parties. It says much for the richness and variety of the programme, and the uniformly high standard of performance, that the dancers could captivate such a huge open-air audience for two hours. This could be done only by dancers who put all they had into their performance. The organizers of the Rotorua reception followed the precedent of previous receptions in most matters. We must be grateful that, as on previous